Why Am I Conservative?

My politics have long been defined by Psalm 144; particularly verse 15 (By the way, I dare anyone to challenge my interpretation of v. 12: "Our sons will be jacked and our daughters will be gorgeous").

Psalm 144, after an entire chapter of describing a nation that God has obviously blessed, ends with "Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord." Cross-reference that with Psalm 81:13-14 "If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!"

Now, I don't know about you, but a nation blessed by the Almighty God sounds like a good deal to me. But how should a nation blessed by God act? I don't claim to know the complete answer to that question, but I think there are some things in the Bible that are made pretty plain, and that's what I'm here to talk about

What follows is a compilation of Scriptures, with my interpretation of what they should mean to those who make our policies. (All Scriptures are from the NIV 1984 translation)

Verses:

2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, neither shall he eat.

1 Timothy 5:16

If any woman who is a widow has believers in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

Implications:

Do not reward those who do not work. There are those in a society who are legitimately unable to work; and for those, we have families first, and secondly the church. Nowhere is the government on that list. For families to be able to take care of each other, we first have to have stable families. Currently, in America, that is not the case. So, from these two verses, I think it is safe to reach these conclusions:

1. Eliminate unemployment benefits

2. The government should stay out of the way of the church as the church helps those in need.

3. The government should not work to disrupt the family. (This has extraordinarily far-reaching impact in arenas such as homosexual "marriage", abortion and social security. Namely, that they should be eliminated)

Verse:

Romans 13:4

For he is God's servant to do you good; but if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath sent to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Ecclesiastes 8:11

When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do evil

Implications:

In the very first post, we talked about assassinations, and how the state has the right to kill. Swords are killing weapons, that's their purpose. The state has been given the power to punish wrongdoers, both foreign and domestic, with the sword; and they ought to do it quickly. From this we can conclude

1. Capital punishment is legitimate, and once it is decided upon, it ought to happen quickly

2. There is a time for just war, and when that times, act forcefully and decisively; so that others are not encouraged to imitate the wrongdoers, and so bring more trouble

Verses

Romans 13:6

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing

Leviticus 17:32

The entire tithe of the herd and flock--every tenth animal that passes under the shepherds rod--will be holy to the LORD

Implications

Taxes are legitimate. But if God only demands ten percent of our income, then what right do his servants, the governors, have to demand more than that?