February 7,1998
Dear Br. George:
President Clinton has been making something
of a fool of himself lately. I don’t know what your political
beliefs may be, wether you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent,
or wether you believe him or Monica ? (I don’t know how to
spell her last name) is telling the truth or is lying, but the
scandal swirling around our president affords me a springboard
for discussing spiritual topics. (As you probably understand,
being an astute, highly educated, well informed man, the charges,
by the special prosecutor, Kenneth Star, do not concern President
Clinton’s sexual relations but rather his alleged perjury.)
The charge has been made, by his defenders in an attempt to justify or dismiss the allegations, that all the Presidents engage in extramarital sexual relations. Below is a list of some of our more illustrious Presidents, please place a check mark beside those you believe to be promiscuous.
1. George Washington
2. Abraham Lincoln
3. Franklin Roosevelt
4. Harry Truman
5. Dwight Eisenhower
6. John Kenneady
7. Lindon Johnson
8. Jimmy Carter
9. Gerald Ford
10. Ronald Reagan
11. George Bush
12 William Jefferson Clinton
Can you imagine, for one moment, that Abraham
Lincoln, honest Abe, would be found with his penis in the mouth
in a young, female intern, or that George Washington, at the height
of the Revolutionary war, would drop his pants in front of Dolly
Madison? The thought is preposterous. In the list of twentieth
century presidents, those alleged to have had sexual relations
with women, other then their own wives, Franklin Roosevelt, John
Kenneady, and William Clinton, are all Democrats. (It is true
that Dweight Eisenhower was alleged to have had a romantic affair
with his female chauffeur during World War 11, although, while
president, he behaved himself.)
There is something about the liberal, democratic
philosophy that either encourages or condones, or excuses behaviors
that are not generally found in those of a conservative persuasion.
Liberalism and conservatism, as political
ideals, flourish in both national political parties, although
liberalism finds a congenial home in the democratic party while
conservatism is associated more with the Republican party.
It has been my observation that conservatism,
as a life philosophy, inside or outside of politics, is characterized
by individual responsibility and accountability while liberalism,
as a personal philosophy, is associated with irresponsibility
and a desire not to be held accountable for one’s actions
or lack of them. I understand that there are many other differences
between these two personal life philosophies, but I think this
basic distinction lies at the root of many of them.
A person, who holds a conservative attitude
is more likely to abstain from improper sexual relations, and
if he or she does fall to the sins of the flesh, is more likely
to admit the transgression and seek to make restitution, where
possible, while a liberal will seek to evade detection, disclaim
any knowledge of the transgression, or shift the burden upon someone
else.
I believe these two points of view also
invade the personal spiritual life of the individual. A conservative
is more likely to acknowledge his guilt before God then is a liberal.
I am not suggesting that liberals are more godless then conservatives
or that heaven will be populated by Republicans, for sin and transgression
cross all party boundaries, but that those holding a certain life
view will respond to God and sin within the context or framework
of that life view.
I believe, in their fundamental sense, these
two contrasting views, which are manifested in a marked manner
in the political arena, are but an outward evidence of the success
of the Holy Spirit at influencing the life.
I am about to venture out onto very controversial
ground, but, knowing me as you do, that shouldn’t be surprising.
It is my belief that liberals cannot remain liberals after conversion
and that conservatives will not abandon these principals following
a life-changing experience with the Lord.
Let me cite just one example of what I mean.
Both conservatives and liberals deplore the increased incidence
of crime but each point of view proposes divergent solutions.
The liberal, believing that guns are the root of the crime problem,
would ban these weapons or control their sale and use contrary
to explicit constitutional guarantees of the right to bare arms.
The conservative, equally as concerned as
the liberal over the epidemic of crime would demand greater punishment
for the offender in the belief that the criminal must be punished
rather then rehabilitated.
The Liberal denies that the criminal is
responsible for his or her crime, therefor he or she should not
be punished, while the conservative believes the opposite, criminals
are accountable and must be punished. To instill the fear of swift
and immediate retribution in the mind of the would be criminal
is to thwart future crimes, the conservative believes, while the
Liberal excuses the perpetrator, casting the blame for the crime
on to societal pressures, family background, or economic circumstances.
The one philosophy says we are accountable, the other denies personal
responsibility. The liberal affirms the supposition that guns
cause crime while the conservative believes the criminal causes
crime. Ban the guns, and crime will decease, punish the criminal
and crime will decrease.
As a man familiar with the teachings of
the Bible, does God hold me or society accountable for my sins?
Liberalism is a delicious philosophy, for
all of us, sinner or saint, desire to be excused from the consequences
of our actions. That is the nature of sin. None of us, Republican
or Democratic, naturally desire to follow the path of righteousness,
but some of us, having heard the gospel of righteousness by faith,
believe that we may live without transgression through the faith
of Christ, and, having chosen the better way, surrender our wills
to the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit demonstrating,
through our living witness, that we are followers of the Lamb,
while others, having also heard the same gospel, refuse to yield
to God’s will, preferring to follow our own bent toward sin.
The nearer one tends toward personal accountability,
the nearer we approach to God for it is only through the influence
of the Holy Spirit that we see ourselves in a true sense and are
compelled to acknowledge our sinful state of being.
Therefore, it is my belief, based on an
understanding of the scriptures, that a Christian must relinquish
all liberal tendencies, both political and personal in order to
remain committed to God’s will and way.
Dear Brother, I know that these ideals are
controversial. I am not suggesting that all liberals are doomed
to the fires of hell for God is an equal opportunity savior. All
may freely choose to believe or disbelieve his salvation. As the
Holy Spirit is removed from the world, just prior to Christ’s
second appearing, the polarization between those who excuse their
personal accountability for sin and those who confess their transgressions
will become distinct.
What we are witnessing, today, in the political
arena, is the visible result of this polarization or the withdrawal
of the Spirit.
May we be found on our knees confessing
our personal accountability and responsibility for our sinful
actions and thoughts, that the Lord may forgive and heal our lives
of the curse of sin and transgression.
May the Lord richly bless you and your wife with health and a full understanding of these matters. Your brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson