Conservatism according to Webster is ‘a disposition in politics to preserve what is established; a tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change.’ It is quickly noted that the definition of conservatism is nearly opposite to that of progressivism, a predominate tenet of liberalism.
The polar opposite of the major political parties in our great constitutional republic spells gridlock. The solution according to the liberals in the senate is compromise, i.e. both sides should give a little to arrive at a consensus.
The idea of compromise is even more prevalent on the international scene. An excellent example is the Palestinian demand to have a sovereign state in the land of Israel. The United States believes that Israel should recognize Palestine as a sovereign state and is encouraging Israel to compromise and let it happen. However, if the truth was made known, the Palestinians have absolutely no intention of compromising; they want Israel destroyed so they can ‘reclaim’ the whole land as their own.
Should Israel compromise for the sake of a pseudo peace? God addressed that issue prior to the Israelites entering their promised land.
“When the LORD your God brings you into the land which you go to possess and has cast out many nations before you…and when the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them…” Deuteronomy 7:1-2
Israel was to make no covenant or treaty with their enemies. Compromise was not an option then, nor is it a Biblical option today.
Paul addressed the issue of compromise in his letters to the church at Corinth. He instead taught separation of members of the Kingdom of God and the rest of the world.
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14
Lawlessness means to transgress God’s divine laws.
Lawless ones can also be described as citizens of the world, from the Greek kosmos, which means order, or arrangement. It connotes the material and transitory vs. spiritual and eternal. The ‘world’ is presently dominated by the evil one and the object of future judgment.
As such there is constant conflict between the citizens of the ‘world’ and the children of the Kingdom of God. Jesus taught His disciples about the conflict.
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19
Now let’s focus on the present political gridlock between the senate democrats and those pesky tea partiers. Harry Reid insists that gridlock could be eliminated if those radicals on the right would just compromise.
For example, consider the ongoing conflict over raising the debt limit. If the debt limit is raised to increase spending, then borrowing from other nations would be required.
There is presently ample tax revenue to fund the government as defined by the Bible. Therefore, if the debt limit is raised to allow for more spending, then funds would be used for non Biblical purposes. In addition, borrowing from other nations is a sign of God’s disapproval.
Thus the question is, should conservatives compromise God’s instructions to appease the opposition or should they stand fast on Biblical principles.
For those who might think that it is more important to eliminate friction and division among those governing, perhaps the words of Jesus might shed some light on the issue.
“Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not all, but rather division.” Luke 12:51
The principle of compromise is found nowhere in the Bible. Either a person is totally committed to the word of God, or totally rejects it. There is no such thing as a moderate Christian.
And those who refuse to compromise God’s principles will be hated more each day and each day the opposition continues to blame conservatives for the gridlock in Washington.
Therefore, if the principles on which conservatives stand firm are Biblically based, there will be division.