What is that animal?  Is there such a creature in existence?  Am I one?  Are you one?  Those are all valid questions and I’m sure that some will insist you cannot be a Christian and the other three.  I am equally convinced that others will argue that embracing the other three is the only way you can be a Christian.  Some will find what I am advocating justification to disassociate from me and it will resonate with others. In today’s political climate it is difficult to maintain your ideological views if you consider yourself a Conservative Constitutionalist Originalist Christian.  It is not always black and white or yes/no process.  There are times each of those provides a measure of conflict for the others depending on the situation. 

Thus, I am challenged with the task of articulating why I consider myself a Conservative who is a believer in the Constitution, an Originalist, and a Christian.  I am first and foremost a Christian, the other three ideological positions are filtered through my Christian beliefs.  I have been challenged by some who believe they are what I profess to be and insist that those descriptors cannot be applied to me because I voted for or will vote for President Donald Trump.  I adamantly disagree, but we all have our points of view and from those views, we filter all we say, do, and believe. 

Before, I address the Christian dynamics of my position let me take these one at a time divide them into four divisions and look at them individually and then collectively.  I do not anticipate that my attempt to articulate my position will dramatically impact others, but hopefully, it will provide food for thought.  Hopefully, it will reveal the need to embrace the need to allow everyone to formulate their own views and express them without fearing a personal attack.  We can and should be able to disagree without deeming those dissenting from our views as mortal enemies.

I view myself as a Conservative in almost everything.  I don’t like the common definition of conservatism but offer it and then my definition of what I view a conservative to be.  The Dictionary defines conservatism as: “the commitment to traditional values and ideas with opposition to change or innovation.”  I find another definition more palatable, “Conservatism is a political and social philosophy promoting traditional social institutions in the context of culture and civilization. … Conservatives seek to preserve a range of institutions such as religion, parliamentary government, and property rights, with the aim of emphasizing social stability and continuity.”  Conservatism is not opposed to change but does oppose change for change’s sake and change that moves us away from our moral moorings and constitutional foundation.

I am a fiscal conservative and find that both parties have abandoned the view of limited spending, reducing the deficit, and reducing the size and scope of the federal government.  Big Government is anathema to the views of the Founding Fathers as revealed in their wording of our Constitution.  I would argue that it is difficult, if not impossible to be a liberal (as is reflected today) and believe in the Constitution. 

The Founding Fathers provided the clear wording of the Constitution to prevent the federal government from becoming the behemoth it has become.  They ardently desired that “we the people” be the owners and managers of the government.  They desired that the individual states would maintain a high level of autonomy and that both ‘States Rights’ and ‘Individual Rights’ would be religiously defended and protected.  That is not what we see today and those following the brand of liberal political ideology of today want the opposite.  One definition of constitutionalism is, “a compound of ideas, attitudes, and patterns of behavior elaborating the principle that the authority of government derives from and is limited by a body of fundamental law”.

The word ‘constitution’ implies that we embrace a set of rules or norms which structure and define the limits of government power and authority.  Former President Barack Obama lamented that the American Constitution was ‘too restrictive’ and was a document of ‘negative liberties.’  He explained that he was referring to its power to prevent the federal government and him from doing whatever they wanted.  Thank God, he at least acknowledged it, albeit he and most of the politicians ignore its restraints.  The Tenth Amendment was not a space filler, it was intended to have teeth and preserve the autonomy of the several states and thereby ‘we the people.’

I believe in the Constitution and not only do I believe it must be the Law of the Land, I believe it must be interpreted in light of the Original Intent of the Founders.  That would make me an Originalist.  Discerning the ‘original intent’ is not always easy to determine, but possible.  Some things are clearly defined in the Constitution and those things that are absent should always be left to the individual states to decide.  Politicians have damaged our Constitution and the Original Intent dramatically with laws, edicts, regulations, restrictions, and even amendments designed to empower the FED not protect the people and the Republic.  That is an indefensible position for a Constitutional Originalist.

I have been challenged by some who claim to be devotees to the Constitution and believers in Originalism but are willing to vote for the Democrats over Trump because of personal animus toward him.  They claim that he is so vile and has done such damage to the Republic and the Constitution he must be ousted and destroyed. They argue, usually with no data or facts.  Hate is a powerful thing, but it is sometimes devoid of reason and requires the hater to ignore facts and truth. 

I ask, “How can a Conservative, Constitutional Originalist vote for a candidate or party that seeks to shred the Constitution?”  The idea that the federal government has the power to decide our 1^st Amendment Rights, the extent of our Religious Freedom, and our right to personal property or self-defense is anathema to the Constitution and the Original Intent of the Founders.  One of the reasons we rebelled against the British Crown in 1776 was the repressiveness of the King’s edicts and taxation without representation.  Today, the followers of today’s brand of toxic liberalism are repressive and seek to tax and spend us into oblivion.  How as a Conservative, follower of the Constitution, and believer in the Original Intent vote for them?  I Cannot!

Finally, I am a Christian who believes in the Constitution and the interpretation of that document through the lens of Original Intent and am a Conservative.  That places me in a position where I must filter everything I think, say, and do through my grid of faith and the Bible.  I care for the poor and at the same time expect people to provide for themselves wherever and whenever possible.  I want everyone to have access to adequate healthcare but do not believe that universal healthcare provides that.  I want everyone to be able to keep what they have earned or inherited.  It is theirs and they are free to do with it what they please. 

As a Christian, when it comes to politics, I view all matters that directly impact my faith or that are directly impacted by my faith and decide upon the candidate or party I can and will support.  I believe in Life and therefore am opposed to abortion, especially abortion on demand.  I believe that life begins in the womb and that before conception God knew and planned the design of that life. You may disagree, but that is my faith view.  Therefore, I cannot and will not vote for a candidate that advocates abortion and especially abortion on demand. 

I believe in Family and that marriage is to be between one man and one woman, not people of the same sex.  I base that on the writings of both the Old and New Testaments.  I believe there are two genders, male and female not hundreds.  You may disagree and if so, you will have to take that up with God.  I shudder to think of standing before God and telling Him that I had a sex change operation because He blew it when he created me.  I believe in loving everyone and being as tolerant as possible.  However, when it comes to the person or persons, I want in charge of running the government I want the sovereignty of America preserved and protected, traditional moral values upheld, the lives of the innocent protected, and our inalienable rights recognized and honored.

I consider myself a Conservative Constitutional Originalist Christian and my view of what has transpired over the past 12 to 20 years in our government is troubling.  The past 3 ½ has caused me to believe that Trump became president to give America a chance to return to our Constitutional principles and preserve our freedoms and liberties including our religious liberty and freedom.  He is no saint and has kinks in his armor like all of us, but compared to what we have had, I view him more compatible with my views than the other offerings. 

My long rant may resonate with you or irritate you, but it is my view and I approve this message.  If you find it justification to disassociate with me, I can accept that.  If you find it cause to join the cause I fight for and defend Faith, Family, and Freedom I welcome you.

God bless you and God bless America!