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What does Scripture say about conservatism?
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand beside the roads and watch. Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is. Walk in it and find rest for yourselves. But they said, We won’t walk in it!’” (Jeremiah 6:16 International Standard Version)
“Do not add or subtract a thing to what I’m commanding you. Observe the commands of the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 4:2 International Standard Version)
“Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9 Berean Study Bible)
“I am amazed that so quickly you are deserting from the One having called you in the grace of Christ to another gospel, which is not another, except there are some who are troubling you and are desiring to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel out of heaven should preach a gospel to you contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed! As we have said before, even now I say again: If anyone is preaching a gospel to you contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-9 Berean Literal Bible)
“who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly, as Moses was divinely instructed, being about to complete the tabernacle. For He says, ‘See that you shall make all things according to the pattern having been shown you in the mountain.’” (Hebrews 8:5 Berean Literal Bible)
“Because I the LORD don’t change; therefore you children of Jacob aren’t destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6 International Standard Version)
“God is not a human male— he doesn’t lie, nor is he a human being— he never vacillates. Once he speaks up, he’s going to act, isn’t he? Once he makes a promise, he’ll fulfill it, won’t he?” (Numbers 23:19 International Standard Version)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and to the ages.” (Hebrews 13:8 Berean Literal Bible)
“Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of shifting.” (James 1:17 Berean Literal Bible)
However, the philosophy of conservatism can be a problem if we distort the definition of “conservative.”
Distortions:
“Conservative” can mean reliance on traditions of the past.
“Conservative” can mean conserving the current worldview, theology, or opinion.
“Conservative” can mean claiming to believe Scripture but actually believing a certain interpretation of Scripture.
“Conservatism” can mean having a form of religion but denying God’s power and authority in our lives. (2 Timothy 3:5)
“Conservatism” can mean traditional, anti-bible orders for the home, marriage, or the Church.
“Conservatism” can mean denying all parts of Scripture we haven’t been able to apply to our own lives.
“Conservatism” can mean denying all parts of Scripture that we haven’t yet understood.
“Conservatism” can mean lukewarm Christianity or being at ease in Zion. (Revelation 3:16, Amos 6:1a)
If we define “conservative” these ways, then it’s not good to be conservative.
God wants us to follow His ways. God doesn’t change. However, if we become mired in the clay of traditions and bankrupt religiosity not seen in the pattern of Scripture, then we reject Christ’s lordship over our lives.
And He said to them, “Because of this, every scribe having been discipled into the kingdom of the heavens is like a man, a master of a house, who puts forth out of his treasure new and old.” ~ Matthew 13:52 Berean Literal Bible
Not surprisingly, both old and new are necessary. Since our hearts are soft toward God, we’re willing to follow God where He leads, but, at the same time, we’re careful to follow God rather than following a false prophet or false teacher.
I commit to you this charge, Timothy, my child, according to the prophecies going before as to you, that by them you might wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, which some, having cast away, have caused a shipwreck concerning the faith, ~ 1 Timothy 1:19 Berean Literal Bible
“Do not be negligent of the gift in you which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elderhood.” (1 Timothy 4:14 Berean Literal Bible)
“For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6 Berean Literal Bible)
When the body of elders laid hands on him and prophesied over him, Timothy received spiritual gifts to wage a good warfare in the battles he would face. And Paul told him to hold faith and a good conscience. Then he said that those who cast away the power of the Spirit, faith, and a good conscience caused a shipwreck. Predictably, we see a “shipwreck” in those who try to war a good warfare by the power of the flesh rather than by the power of the Spirit.
Remembering the parable Jesus told about making progress, we see one man who let fear keep him from making progress.
“For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he promptly went on his journey.” (Matthew 25:14-15 Berean Study Bible)
Being faithful, two of the men made progress. They invested what they received, got a return for the Master, and received more responsibility as a reward. But look what happened to the one who succumbed to fear.
Finally, the servant who had received one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So in my fear, I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to the one having the ten talents.” (Matthew 25:24-28 Berean Study Bible)
So God isn’t looking for the form of conservatism that buries God’s gifts and makes no increase. Rather, we don’t let fear rule over us since we have no fear of losing the gift God gave us through Christ as long as we’re walking in the Spirit.
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