There may be some uncomfortable shifts from where you are while reading this article. Truth is, I have put a lot thought into this subject. I’m not perfect by any means, so I hope you, the reader, don’t take this personally or as a condemnation against you. This is just an observation as I’ve started to adjust my lens to see the world through God’s lens, instead of leaning on my own understanding. However, if at any point you want to chuck your device, it’s probably something you need to hear—especially if you claim to have the Christian faith.
I grew up in suburban America. My family has strong morals and values. We love America and the Constitution. How many can relate to the previous statement? How many can say they grew up in Christian household? Now, there is nothing wrong with this at all. I have no shame in my upbringing—it’s what conservatives champion as the ideal society, which I don’t disagree with. That’s more than what many are growing up with in urban America; but just because we grow up different doesn't make us different from urban America, who tend to vote left. Sure, we aren’t growing up in predominantly single-parent homes, with higher crime rates, idolizing the Hollywood and athletic crowd to the same capacity someone in urban America might be. Yet don’t forget Romans 3, where it states that we’ve all fallen short of God’s perfect standard. This is where I must call on conservatives, more specifically all those who follow Christ, to have a moment of introspection, because even the right has demons in the basement.
I cannot stress this enough: this is just an observation; however I want to provoke thought to reconsider our culture—the culture conservatives put on a pedestal. Again, I have nothing against it. However, lately I’ve noticed there has been a secularization of this culture, with a belief that it’s possible to have these values, structure, and morals just off of human effort. The culture war against Marxism, the ideology that reeks from the pits of hell, is being fought without inviting God into the room. A lot of the new social battles are being conducted with the mindset that human thought alone can persuade the heart. A lot of conservatives do this to gain political acceptance. Many fear that by bringing God into the conversation, it somehow discredits their argument. We’ve started to adopt the left’s version of separation of church and state, in that God doesn’t belong in the conversation of public debate. Ironically enough, this mindset is what made the left become filled with unhealthy and destructive thoughts about humanity. Conservatives are heading down this same path, just with different idols.
(26) “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” - Ezekiel 36: 26-27
God said let there be no idols before Him. There is a reason for that. The efforts to win back the culture will be futile if God isn’t being invited into the room. That means understanding that when talking about family, we don’t just believe the nuclear family is the ideal structure because it represents American values, but because it honors God. When we point to the Christian Bible as the best source for truth, it’s not merely for the benefits of humanity; instead it brings glory to God. When we speak about loving our neighbor and enemy, it’s not for the sake of getting along, it’s because it’s commanded to us by God. This also means denouncing anybody, even within the conservative circle, that is in violation of God’s law. We’re called to a higher standard than our Founding Fathers. We’re called to a higher standard than any country singer may sing about concerning America, family, guns, or heartbreak. No human being is worth being put on a pedestal—otherwise we’re no better than the culture we claim to be fighting against.
America’s foundation wasn’t exceptionalism. The foundation wasn’t the nuclear family, the Constitution, individualism, hard work, capitalism, or whatever other conservative talking point there is. Christ was our foundation. You know that expression, “Remember where you came from?” That couldn’t be truer for this conversation. People left Europe to seek freedom to worship Christ without government oppression. And because people put Christ first, God blessed this land for generations. People putting Christ first led to the end of slavery. Christians in America prioritizing Christ led our racial relations to drastically improve, to the point where Jim Crow is just a historical name now. Prioritizing Christ allowed Americans to recognize our sins to create a better tomorrow. The priority of honoring Christ created the greatest country on earth. All the talking points in the conservative circles mentioned are the result of Christians seeking to honor God. Only God can persuade the heart. Never forget that.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. (34) The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. (35) They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” (36) Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.” - Ezekiel 36:34-36
Author’s Note: Anything underlined is a link for you to click on if desired. Readers are encouraged to educated themselves and seek other sources for information.