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American Conservatism (Part One)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh

A large number of individuals are hopelessly confused about the terms liberal and conservative.

Is Conservatism Dead?

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Conservatism, especially in politics, is the inclination to maintain the existing or traditional order, uphold traditional institutions, distrust government activism, and oppose sudden change. In the context of current political dynamics, the Republican Party, often seen as the conservative party, appears only marginally less liberal than the Democratic Party, a shift from times when their positions were starkly different. Despite having voting control of the Senate and House of Representatives, Republicans have done little to counter the push towards Socialism under President Obama, leading to the perception of minimal fundamental political difference between the two parties. This has given rise to the term RINOs, or Republican in Name Only, applied to those who are seen as political hypocrites, aligning with the Republican Party for electoral advantage rather than belief. In America, most conservative-thinking individuals tend to be religious, and as religious liberalism has increased, the conservative power of the Republican Party has waned, except in some Bible Belt states between Texas and the Carolinas. Conservatism is not dead because God is not dead, and since God does not change, His laws remain the most conservative standards, unyielding to the fluctuating standards of men. Therefore, because God is alive, conservatism endures.

American Conservatism (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh

American conservatism is judged more harshly because its tenets took root in biblical principles advanced by the Puritans.

What If ... ?

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

For Republicans, the conservative base calls for a strong military, reining in federal spending, smaller government, reducing taxes, privatization of Social Security and health care, and a strong foreign policy. These general aims surface in nearly every election, shaping the party's core identity. However, it is often too simplistic to label all Republicans as conservative, given the wide range of ideologies within the party. Despite this, the conservative base remains a defining force, though politicians must often campaign as moderates to appeal to the broader electorate. If the Republican party had retained control of both the House and the Senate in the 2006 midterm elections, little would have changed, as only a few true conservative Congressmen and women were voted out. The shift in Congress reflected an exchange of moderates, with a slight tilt from a conservative lean to a liberal one, suggesting minimal immediate impact on American culture and morality over the next two years due to anticipated gridlock in Washington.

American Conservatism (Part Three)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The partisan interview conducted by ABC's David Muir is an example of how shamefully low the media have stooped to destroy the reputation of a public official.

Shifting American Values

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

American cultural and political standards, no longer fixed in Scripture, also have only a tenuous hold on the principles in the founding documents.

Four More Years

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Presidents' second terms have historically failed to live up to expectations, whether because of scandal, stiff congressional opposition, or lame-duck status.

Bloodshed Upon Bloodshed

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Philosophically, the belief in the innate goodness of human nature has been a part of the liberal mind at least as long as the ideas of Mencius, Confucius, and Plato.

Divided We Fall

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The social indicators are not improving as a whole, and as each year goes by, behaviors that were once thought beyond the pale are accepted into the mainstream.

Who Gets Jesus' Vote?

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus' Kingdom is still not of this world today. Therefore, His servants still should not be involved in the political battles of this world either.

Another Supreme Court Nomination

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The upcoming Supreme Court appointment could possibly tilt the court in favor of conservatives for the first time in decades.

Biden's 'Battle for the Soul of the Nation' Speech

'WorldWatch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

President Joseph Biden's condemnatory rhetoric matched the strange, blood-red lighting of the background, evoking the typical depictions of hell.

Socialism is Mob Rule (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Many religious people realize that liberals threaten adherence to the moral principles taught in God's Word, and that Satan is the poster child of liberalism.

Liberalism and Education (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Liberalism is much easier to push than conservatism because the latter requires discipline, while the former caters to self-interest and emotion.

Liberalism, in the News Again

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Conservatism is a political philosophy that calls for stability and the protection of established institutions. Liberals think conservatives are stuck in the past.

'Christianity Today' and Trump

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Donald Trump is not a paragon of virtue but is a change from the doctrines entrenched in Washington. Personal morality is not enough to remove anyone from office.

Liberalism and Legalism

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The conventional wisdom is that conservatism is restrictive while liberalism is liberating, but consider that a more liberal America is becoming less free.

Liberal Lunacy (Part One)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Progressive humanists are neither satisfied with God's standards nor common sense, but strive to replace them with something they deem to be 'better.'

The Only Path to Reconcliation

Commentary by Mark Schindler

We must avoid being drawn into political conflicts because resolution and reconciliation is only available through yielding to Jesus Christ.

Reinterpreting History

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The New York Times asserts that Charles Manson was a precursor to the alt-right movement. Yet there was nothing conservative about Manson.

Gorsuch's Nomination

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The prospect of originalist Judges who eschew using the court to make social policy terrifies 'progressive' lawmakers.

The Abuse of Freedom

Commentary by Joseph B. Baity

Change agents in the United States are engaging in a deliberate assault on free speech, which the Founding Fathers protected through the Bill of Rights.

America's Conscience Seared with a Hot Iron

Commentary by David F. Maas

'Righteous' Lot represents those who become accustomed to the sin around them, progressively searing their consciences, similar to spiritual neuropathy.

The Real Science-Deniers

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The media portrays conservatives as 'science deniers,' yet proclaims that gender is not a matter of observable, testable biology. Who is denying science?

Today's Christianity (Part Two): Southern Christianity Moves North

'Prophecy Watch' by Charles Whitaker

Contrary to the intention to marginalize Christianity through the Immigration Reform Act of 1965, it instead gave rise to a new strain of conservative Christianity.

Christians and Politics

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Even though conservative views seem to be more compatible with the Bible, neither Republican nor Democrat standards are consistent with God's standards.

Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Thirteen): Hebrews 2 and the Next Five Years

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

We must keep God's Word fresh in our minds through diligent study and practice of His way of life to keep from drifting spiritually during perilous times.

Where Is Cancel Culture Headed?

'WorldWatch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The political and cultural Left has allied with giant tech corporations to sideline people and institutions who do not espouse the 'right' ideas and beliefs.

Everything Is Politics

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Whatever a person says automatically places him on the political spectrum, accruing judgment, scorn, or rejection from those who practice identity politics.

Disintegration

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Our advanced communications, which have allowed globalism, are also bringing about tribalism. Rather than uniting everyone, they are dividing.

Handwriting on the Wall: Forgetfulness

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

America once had national greatness, but because of the ignorance of youth, forgetting the lessons from history, they will soon pay for their forgetfulness.

Patriotism, the Summer Soldier, and Our Times (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Jesus Christ was not a sunshine patriot, but sacrificed everything He had for the sake of God's people and the Kingdom of God—His holy nation.

Watershed Moment

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The tragic murder of Charlie Kirk feels like a watershed moment. our society has reached a cultural turning point where civil discourse has collapsed.

Liberalism and Education (Part Three)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Muslims, duplicating the methods of the leftists, are attempting to control the direction of American education, establishing centers for Islamic Studies.

Jesus, Paul, and the Christian Right

CGG Weekly by John W. Ritenbaugh

What did Jesus and Paul do politically and/or socially to change people's lives in their times? The answer to that question is 'nothing.'

Implications of the Gospel of the Kingdom

'Prophecy Watch' by David C. Grabbe

Mark 1:14 describes Jesus' gospel as "the gospel of the kingdom of God." This statement has far-reaching implications for our beliefs and conduct.

Politics and Christ's Return

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Because we are set apart by God, we are not to become involved in the world's political, judicial, or military systems. Our term in office has yet to begin.

What to Do in Babylon

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)

There is nothing to be desired in the Babylonish system, but we can grow spiritually in spite of the downward pulls.

Human Nature: Good or Evil?

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Progressives tend to believe that human nature is perfectible and evolving. Conservatives tend to believe that human nature is evil and must be controlled.

The Wilderness Trek and Judgment Begins

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God's people must learn to trust Him for their survival, remembering that the eating of Unleavened Bread is a reminder that only God has the power to rescue.

Implications of the Gospel of the Kingdom

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

God's people must let go of the world's solutions, involving party spirit, revolutions, and power struggles, placing their trust in the sovereignty of God.

Self-Government

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Submitting to a human government is a work that requires self-government. Paul thoroughly disciplined his body as he followed the example of Jesus Christ.

The Torment of the Godly (Part Two)

'Prophecy Watch' by Charles Whitaker

God wants His people to have an emotional yet entirely rational response—to sigh and cry—to the lawlessness and idolatry round them in the world.

Unleavened Bread and the Holy Spirit (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God's command to eat unleavened bread teaches that He rescued His people from the bondage of sin, something they had no power to accomplish of themselves.