We’re hearing the labels “liberal” and “conservative” a lot lately. That’s something new in our culture. I don’t remember those terms being used so much in the past. When we label something (or someone), we tend to solidify within them whatever that label implies. And we tend to harden the lines that exist between them and those who have different labels. It becomes like a judgement—something God forbids, for very good reasons. Labeling tends to make us lose sight of what we share in common (the brotherhood and sisterhood of the human family) and focus, instead, on those heinous differences. Attacking, criticizing and condemning what we fear or hate in another does not tend to bring enlightenment in those areas. On the contrary, it tends to evoke entrenchment and defensiveness—walls that prevent new insight. We have the opportunity to discern and embrace the best aspects of liberalism and conservatism, while renouncing the worst aspects of them. The best aspects of liberalism might be described as healthy flexibility and openness to new and better ways of doing things. A certain freedom from rigid dogmatism. A willingness to think outside the box. The worst aspects of liberalism manifest as a demand for rights and entitlements that are not conducive to the common good, and do not represent true freedom, even though they may have the external trappings of it. Also, in the worst of liberalism, there is a need to suppress any voice that disagrees with its precepts (a dynamic that, thankfully, our Constitution has put up a wall to protect against). One of the best aspects of conservatism is its efforts to keep us rooted in what has been proven to be good for the human family—those tried and true pillars of faith, family and individual freedom from governmental tyranny (a very real, perennial threat, as history and current world events attest—but not something to be feared). Also, the best of conservatism holds us to compassionate individual responsibility, and it seeks to avoid the weakness of dependence on enabling, “bleeding heart” governance, which tilts the balance of power toward government and away from the individual. Tyrants want people to be dependent upon them. The worst of conservatism is its dogmatic, self-righteous tendencies toward rigid theocracy. Hate/fear-fueled violence are pathological aspects on both extremes of liberalism and conservatism. I pray (and I hope you do also) that we can embrace the positive aspects of “liberalism” and “conservatism” and move beyond the divisive and pathological aspects of their extremes. The Love of Christ can and will guide us in this endeavor.
