Kim and I were headed to lunch the other day when we ended up traveling behind a car that had several political vote-for-me stickers stuck to it. Not exactly my idea of viable candidates, but it was very apparent that they were demonstrating their free speech. The biggest sticker of the bunch had bold black letters on a white background. In other words, it was very difficult to overlook and not see. This rather large sticker read “Conservatives are Boring”. Well, I guess there are times when I am a bit dull and could be considered boring, but to proclaim a statement that lumps all conservatives into the same boring basket seems a bit untrue. But then again, we have been instructed to live quiet lives.
1 Thessalonians 4: 1-12 (NKJV)
1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. 9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
Like many written or verbal statements, they can be taken in any number of ways. They can be both understood or misunderstood. We sometimes jump to the conclusion that a statement is derogatory, but we also understand that the same statement can be interpreted as complementary. In the case of “Conservatives are Boring”, I took it as a complement. I would rather live a boring and quiet life that leads me to Heaven and eternal life, than live an unrighteous life that leads me to punishment and everlasting destruction.
1 Peter 4: 1-5 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles–when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Being a “boring” conservative seems like a good thing, at least to me.
Written by Tony Bohannon