Mountain Top International

Conservative or Liberal?

In my latest article “Prophetic Hope” some seemed to think my affection toward liberals was at the same level of conservatives. Now of course I could have just replied, “God sent His Son for the whole world, not just the conservative ones.” While that might sound like a no brainier to some, others would find it a bit challenging. However, I felt like I wanted to explore this a bit further. Sometimes the most basic views of life are often the largest barriers to seeing clearly.

Politically speaking, when people hear the word “conservative” they think of someone who is more wholesome and reserved in how they live their life. They see a conservative as someone who has a higher standard of morality, whereas a “liberal” politically speaking, is considered to have a lower standard of morality, thus a lesser wholesome approach to life. Now I’m sure while some would debate the two differences of the two, others would not, and, it appears that while one side or the other might be in error, both sides believe they are equally right.

Undoubtedly the political conclusions from both sides come from a long history of watching each side make political choices one way or another. Interestingly enough, democrats were once considered to be the most conservative group, while republicans no so much. I remember as a teenager in the late 70’s and early 80’s, Jimmy Carter was elected because of his conservative disposition of eating peanuts. After all, you can’t get any more conservative looking than being a peanut farmer, who by the way was a democrat. Over the years each side has ridden on a political rollercoaster until finally arriving to a more definitive understanding of a democratic or republican mind.

While the titles of democrat and republican, or conservative and liberal, have a distinct tone in the political world, their meanings are viewed much differently from a kingdom of God perspective. I say, “kingdom of God perspective” because the majority of people in the church view conservative and liberal much the same way as do the political world. But what if we were to take these same two as nouns, conservative and liberal, and place them in a different text? What if we viewed them from a heavenly perspective rather than an earthly one? Amazingly enough, their meaning and character would convey something entirely different.

CONSERVATIVES

Webster defines “conservative” as, “resistant to change, cautious, avoiding excess.” According to Webster’s definition, a conservative is someone who is reluctant to accept changes or new ideas. Now if you are a conservative then you’re probably thinking that Webster is definitely a liberal. As you search the word out further, you will also discover that conservatism is a political and social term from the Latin verb “conservare” meaning to save or preserve. As the name suggests, it usually indicates support for tradition and traditional values though the meaning has changed in different countries and time periods.

Now without negating some very good wholesome core values that the conservative mind presently represents, in the kingdom of God, a conservative could be your worst enemy. In fact, it was the religious conservatives of Jesus day that nailed Him to a cross. Jesus came to deliver them from something old, into something new. He came to offer them a better way of living. Though He often used their traditions and culture to teach them about the kingdom of God, He knew that their greatest challenges in life would be to see beyond the glory of Moses and the ancient veils of tradition. In the days of Christ, a conservative would’ve of been labeled as a Pharisee or Sadducee. These two groups would often show up at most of Jesus’ town hall meetings and interrupt Him while He was speaking. They would openly challenge His kingdom teachings; strongly resisting His wild notions of a better life.

You see, from the perspective of the kingdom of God, most conservatives are more interested in hanging on to their Christian traditional values, (valued traditions) more than they are pressing onward into a another dimension of the Spirit. In one sense, conservatives can be wonderful God fearing people, but in another, they can be lethal obstructions to anyone who is striving to break free from the old and enter into the new. Conservatives are afraid of excessiveness. They want change, but not too much change. They are afraid of too much of heaven on earth. They are apprehensive of a spiritual radicalism that takes the kingdom of God by force.

A conservative mind has faith in God, but not enough to step out of the boat. They believe in Jesus and are willing to follow Him, but not necessarily to the point of death. Their motivation to serve God can be based more on fear than love. Conservatives tend to be more fearful of getting it wrong than they are of the possibility of getting it right. They live as far away from risk as possible and call it “playing it safe.” Conservatives love new creative ideas as long as they are confined within their own comfort zone.

LIBERALS

So what about the liberal? What sort of character do they emanate in the kingdom of God? Webster defines “liberal” as broad; demonstrating broad mindedness. A liberal is tolerant of change. A liberal is a person who favors progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties. A liberal is someone who gives freely and expresses the bounteous goodness of God.” Now you are probably thinking anyone who defines a liberal in this manner has got to be a liberal themselves. Now I know this might take some real effort on your part, but you have to disengage from your definition of a liberal as defined by the world and see it from the perspective of the kingdom of God. Obviously, like so many other things, the enemy has taken the title of a liberal in the political world and has perverted it to fit his pleasure. In the true since of the word, a liberal in the kingdom of God is someone who wants liberty and justice for all. It is someone who is not out to serve their own flesh.

Paul writes:

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (Gal 5:13-15)

There is a perversion of liberty in this nation that is being taken as an opportunity to serve the flesh; our own selfish ambitions. Political leaders of every sort are biting at each other like wild dogs, trying to devour one another. In the end, they are being consumed by one another through their own lack of true kingdom liberty.

The liberal spirit was designed by God to be an expression of kingdom generosity. It was designed to encourage favorable progress and reform; that is huge in God’s book. God is into reformation, not reformation as defined by the liberals of the flesh, but reformation as defined by the Spirit of God. Currently the body of Christ is right smack in the middle of one of the biggest reformations of all time. This is a Martin Luther moment when a new perception of the church and the kingdom of God is being nailed to the door of every religious institution that is stuck in an old form of liberty, which now produces death instead of life.

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” This is the heart of a true liberal in the kingdom of God. Kingdom liberators are destined to break off every restraint that is keeping the body of Christ from progressing into their next state of glory. Jesus was viewed as an extreme liberal in His day.

At the beginning of His ministry He declared:

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (Luke 4:18-19)

Everywhere He went He was setting the captive free. He was liberating them from the Law of Moses; from the law of sin and death. The ministry of Moses had glory, but now no more. What had once brought life was now implementing death. (2Cor 3:7-11)The staunch conservatives of Jesus’ day hated the liberty that was on His life.

On one hand the government of this nation promises the people liberty, while on the other they themselves are slaves of corruption; for the very thing that has overcome them is the very thing they are in bondage to. (2 Peter 2:19)

COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET

Ok. Listen up. I’ve got to share some very shocking news with you, “I am a liberal and proud of it!” I challenge you to say that right now. Come on. You can do it. Just say, “I’m a liberal and proud of it!” Ha! You will be amazed at how liberating that simple declaration can be. It’s time we stop letting the enemy use the title of a liberator as a device for bondage. Its time to come out of the closet and confess our true identity, not as the world does, but as a son and daughter of God.

Over the last ten years more and more people have been coming out of the closet for one reason or another. Some because of abuses while others for perverse and promiscuous ways, still others for more honorable and noble reasons. Whatever the reason for coming out of the closet may be, I am glad. I’m even glad that those who have chosen alternative life styles that are contrary to the word of the Lord are making it publicly known. Why? Because as long as they remain hidden their activities go unnoticed. Most of the victims of abuse that have surfaced over recent years were aided by concealed circumstances. So I am say, “Come out, come out, where ever you are and let the truth be known.”

The visible works of the enemy gives us opportunity to expose his deceptive nature. One of the primary impacts of the kingdom of God in the earth is visible manifestation of the kingdom.

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil”. (1 John 3:8)

As I have stated before, “the works of the devil were the very reasons why Jesus appeared on the scene. He came to liberate mankind from the works of sin and death.” Therefore these are visible times. These are the days when we will behold His glory unlike any other time in the history of creation. These are the days when the visible works of the enemy will be dismantled for all to see.

FINAL CALL FOR LIBERTY!

Finally let me close leaving you with this thought. The word “liberal” is the same Greek word “haplotes” which means bountifulness or extreme generosity. Therefore the liberty of any nation is marked with extreme generosity toward one another. Our God is extremely generous. One the greatest generosities ever expressed toward humanity was when He sent His only Son to set the captives free.

The enemy has tried to make this nation feel shameful for taking the initiative to help liberate the captives in other nations. He has tried to mock the heroic actions of the men and women who have dedicated their lives to the armed forces of this nation. At every turn liberty is being confronted with lame attempts of the enemy to lure this nation back into captivity.

So I speak to you with great boldness and confidence, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” As long as men and women continue to seek after the heart and mind of God there will be liberty. As long as we continue to move forward with a generous heart toward God and one another, there will be liberty. As long as we continue to declare, “Jesus is Lord!” there will be liberty. Beneath the hateful and corruptive rubble of every nation lies the faint ping of hope; a muffled sound for freedom. This is the final call for Liberty!

Blessings,

Michael