I whole heartedly agree with what you’ve said in your added comments about Wilberforce and wholistic Christian mission.

What I am referring to as middle class morality is your article about Andrew Bolt – or what I see as conservativeness without conviction.

When we argue for a moral code without any substance we are just moralists. This is why I would be careful in aligning myself to Bolt. All he has driving his convictions is that which opposes the left. We have something far greater, far more substantial. A biblical worldview. It is this that is worth fighting for, not Bolt’s conservativsm.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Nathan Clarke

I more or less agree. I have said many times on this site that Christianity cannot be reduced to one political or ideological position. I agree with CS Lewis when he said we must guard against “Christianity and…,” whether it be Christianity and capitalism, Christianity and socialism, Christianity and liberalism, Christianity and conservatism, etc.

Having said that, we still live in this world, and we all find ourselves somewhere on the various spectrums, whether political or social or cultural. Nothing wrong with that. We are to take our responsibilities as citizens of this earth seriously. In my own journey, I have moved from the radical left as a non-Christian to a more conservative position as a believer. Other believers may align themselves differently.

As to your concerns about moral codes, etc., it is not fully clear what you are getting at. If you mean that you think it amiss to argue that we can simply impose moral values on a recalcitrant society, and expect that to be sufficient, then I agree – people need Jesus. But I do not see dichotomy here. I can proclaim Christ, and I can also stand up for certain values in society. I see no conflict in telling people about their need of Christ, and also seeking to see clear biblical values such as the importance of the family or the importance of the sanctity of life be argued for in the public arena or seen enacted in legislation.

I reject any dichotomies here. Wilberforce saw no conflict in letting Christ be preeminent in all things, and in working on a political and social level to fight for justice for slaves and work for emancipation. In the same way we can have a clear Christian witness both in proclaiming Christ and in working against that which destroys us, be it drugs or pornography or rape or abortion or what have you. And I certainly wouldn’t dismiss those very biblical concerns as mere “middle class morality” as you put it. This is simply wholistic Christianity.

If we really love our neighbour, we will not want them destroyed by drugs, sexual addictions, false beliefs, dangerous lifestyles, etc. That is biblical love, not middle class morality. But many of these themes I have written extensively on elsewhere in this site. But thanks for sharing.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

I find it interesting that Bolt’s passion for conservative values is so popular amongst middle class Australians today. It is odd that he has found favour with a largely secular, relativist Melbourne readership.

I disagree with you Bill in asking Christians to stand side by side with Bolt in taking up the fight for middle class values and I would like to know your thoughts on the following:

As Christians I believe we are not to simply argue for a moral code to transform society, (vis-à-vis Ravi Zacharias) – in fact it is this kind of legalism that Jesus appeared to be against when talking with many Jewish leaders. At the heart of his message is so much more than picket fence values.

In contrast to such thinking, I believe the first duty of Christians is to fight for Jesus himself, and to proclaim him as Lord. At the heart of his message is relationship, not purely values.

This generation of drifting gen y’s is pining for something more than abstract moral codes which they’re parents are handing down without substance or meaning.

Jesus offers them transforming relationship. His social reformation transcends Andrew Bolt’s moral agenda. Unlike Bolt for instance, he lives amongst those he regnerates and empowers us to embrace and not reject the aliens amongst us, he enabes us to love, care and engage in genuine text based dialogue and not isolate people.

When you get at the heart of Bolt’s column, the cynic in me says he is an outdated (albeit logical) dogmatic baby-boomer. His morals and values, though refreshing in an age of inclusive relativism offer little to reform society. As an Evangelical Christian I sympathise with much of what he says, but I do not hold to the values of middle class morality. It is great that Bolt can argue for values we may hear from the pulpit, but as Christians let us voice a higher cause than morality. Let us voice the cause of Christ!

Nathan Clarke

And how many published articles, let alone books, have you penned?

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D., Brisbane

Believe it or not, I actually mainly concur with your thoughts. Ultimately Christianity transcends left/right politics and cannot be contained within either. In fact, if you don’t mind, because it is such an important issue you raise, I have written a whole article on this and have posted it on my site. Please have a read of it and let me know what you think.

Blessings,
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch