Conservative = Preservative

 

Sometimes while writing, I need a definition of a word to make things more clearly understood. In that situation I reach for Noah Webster’s Dictionary of 1828. From a Christian perspective I feel confident that the definition will give me a Godlier insight and truly a more conservative point of view.

 

As usual, I was initially surprised at the first definition of the word “conservative”. It simply stated “preservative”. But having learned from past experiences with this inspired dictionary, I continued my search for a more relevant definition. I eagerly went to “preservative” and found after a few typical definitions what Noah Webster often imparts in his dictionary…wisdom.

 

His description for “preservative” and ultimately “conservative” was “Habitual reverence of the Supreme Being is an excellent preservative against sin and the influence of evil examples.” There it was! The answer to the topic on my heart regarding Conservative Thought.

 

I am often disturbed by the selfishness, stubbornness and anger I see in the conservative Republican Party and its constituents. I see politicians running for office vilifying other candidates of the same party. Then when people vote, the losing candidates refuse to lose graciously, even refusing to support the winner of their party. As a mother of two young men who wrestled, they were taught that whether you win or lose you always shake hands and accept the outcome. There was no throwing off head gear, stomping off the mat or any emotional outburst. They learned to humbly accept the outcome. But not conservative Republican politicians?

 

We observed some members of the Republican Party do their best to keep Trump off the ballots even filing a lawsuit with the Colorado Supreme Court. We watched for three weeks as conservative Republicans fought with each other over four candidates as to who would be Speaker of the House. So humiliating.

 

But the Democrats were even worse, tearing up the President’s speech behind his back, shouting out during the President’s speech, walking out during a speech, and ultimately acting like spoiled children. I expected something like that from the raucous British House of Commons or a third world country, but our great Congress diminished to an elementary school food fight.

 

Our schools are filled with students who show no respect for their parents, teachers, administrators, or even each other. Yet, the Bible says, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

 

Citizens of our country are no better. One man on a jury hearing the testimony of a woman who killed three of her children and then jumped out of a window and paralyzed herself believed that she should be found guilty of the crime. No one else found her guilty and what has happened, the man and his family are being harassed, people want him arrested, he is being threatened with a lawsuit. Everyone wants his name and picture released.

 

Who among us wants to sign up for jury duty. Your life may be ruined because you don’t agree with the majority. Most of us would just throw in the towel, counting it as not worth the trouble. As conservatives we find ourselves shaking our heads and wondering what has happened to our country. I think we need to take the advice of Noah Webster; we need a preservative. We are all aware of the scripture “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) Many of us have been praying this scripture for a while now.

 

Maybe we need a return to “humble”. Webster says, “…having a low opinion of oneself and a deep sense of unworthiness in the sight of God.” Do we check our attitude each evening with the help of the Holy Spirit? Were we puffed up and proud that we knew better than others? Did we confess to God? Were we so right today that we may have moved to self-righteousness instead of God’s righteousness. Did we thank Him or pat ourselves on the back? George Washington warned, “Without a humble imitation of the divine author of our blessed religion, we can never hope to be a happy nation.”

 

Do we daily pray for our President and country? Do we seek to hear His voice or read His words to know Him better? When He shows us our faults, do we repent and try to do better? If not, we cannot expect for Him to forgive our sins and heal our land. It will take determination and commitment. We have to fight for our country while there is still time.

 

Kathleen Nunn