Libertarian Philosophy

Listening to "conservative" radio enough will give you a great education about the need for Christian worldview thinking about some of the major issues affecting our culture today. Don't think for one moment I am equating "conservatism" with "Christian" because I am not. They are not the same thing one bit. Libertarianism can be summed up as a humanistic philosophy that is fiscally conservative but morally liberal. Christianity is most definitely morally conservative but this is because we hold to a standard that transcends anything of human origin. Now before someone rejects this comment offhanded, let me point out that the pharisees attempted to follow the Torah to the letter but yet missed out on the point. For by practicing the "doing", they left out an awful lot. Things such as loving even their enemies and aliens living among them; things such as showing genuine heartfelt compassion for the poor. Being generous with the things God has given them; and mercy. But that is understandable when we live according to the law. We become proud about our accomplishments. But Jesus was not shy in exposing the hypocrisy.

So now comes the "conservative" Libertarians heard on talk radio personalities such as who I hear on 96.9 (Boston) Jay Severin and Michael Graham et al. Severin likes to promote the libertarian agenda particularly when it comes to our culture's social evils such as abortion rights, legalization of illicit drugs and anything that markets sex. For these things and other issues of a similar quality he echoes the libertarian song of "Anything goes as long as it does no injury to another." What I choose to do in my castle is my business and no one has any business telling me what I can't do. This is perfectly o.k to Severin. But as Christians submit to a higher calling and a higher law, these things are not perfectly permissible. The Golden Rule is far superior to the Utilitarian/Libertarian creed. But Severin and most others like him will look only to the surface to see if the water is safe. But where the real danger lies is under the surface where the currents pull and the sharks lurk. Truly the "best and brightest" desire to know not only what we can see, feel, taste and touch; but will also consider the deeper claims of Christianity to make real long lasting permanent decisions about life. If we live by the libertarian creed to determine all the choices we make in life will that give a man a sense of deep satisfaction and contentment? Or will it still leave questions unanswered; important questions? At least Jay is consistent with his perversion regarding women. Scriptures declares the value of men and women equally and differentiates between certain roles. But the status of women is never referred to purely in sexual terms as valuable to man. Value is placed much higher and it is in terms of God's love and mercy and specifically to the need for man to honor and treat with care and respect the "weaker" vessel. Talking to her as a sexual pleasure toy to the man degrades a woman beneath that of the man. But libertarian values are not values at all except what the current guy thinks. But Christianity does not deal in relative subjective values but in absolute, unchangeable standards applicable to all men and women equally. Libertarians and modern philosophy in general cannot come to terms with absolutes. Whatever our current worldview, we must work into it a check valve that allows for flexibility. Because you know, we cannot be right all the time and God forbid we say so to our neighbor! No, as Severin boasts on his broadcasts, he is right by virtue of the evidence prepared before him. Who can deny the facts? But facts are facts only if the context is understood perfectly, otherwise it is only how you personally perceive them. I have all the facts before me when I read the Holy Bible but yet there are others who cannot tolerate my reformed views on major doctrines that the scriptures teach. They choose to interpret things differently (and quite wrongly!). Severin does the same thing as it pertains to some of these major social evils. See I choose to place a moral perspective on them but he will not except as he reduces morality to something that man has created. And this is his prerogative but it is not biblical thus it contradicts a biblical worldview set in opposition to the rest of worldly culture. Frankly libertarian ideals are no ideals at all because they do not speak to the true condition of man. They epitomize humanistic thought which, under a broader heading, is sister to all of man's creations: feminism, communism, liberalism, socialism, utilitarianism, rationalism. It is merely that some of the principles in these humanisms people disdain and so they formulate a new "ism" that is more suited for their personal needs. Like people today calling themselves "spiritual", their "religion" is merely their own creation that makes them comfortable. For who would create a religion that made them really uncomfortable to the point of death? No one would; which is why Christianity is so unique, because no one ever did.

-Joe