Liberal to All

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight@blogspot.com

Anyone care to join me in declaring independence from the current media-defined, almost useless, meaningless, confusing, and extremely divisive political labels of liberal and conservative?

These labels and their philosophical underpinnings of liberalism and conservatism are so culturally diluted, semantically convoluted, and politically polluted as to consign them to that ever-growing heap of words, terms, and concepts that have changed or been hi-jacked over the years as to make them useless and at worse, misleading. It was not always so.

At my last count there were about eight or ten philosophical variations for each of these terms, such as conservative liberalism, libertarian conservatism, fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, social liberalism, radical liberalism, progressive conservatism, religious conservatism, and the list goes on. It is almost like looking at an ideological pizza menu and ordering only the political or socio-economic ingredients that you like. In the current political climate, the terms divide political parties, platforms, legislative bodies, and nations-at-large.

For Christians wanting to align themselves with God’s sovereignty and His divine ideology, the worldly concepts of liberalism and conservatism are wholly inadequate. For example, we are to “liberally” consecrate our time and money to assist the poor and needy. We also want to “conservatively” promote the old principles of industry, self-reliance, and the value work for every person. For years our government leaders have battled and debated how to provide for the poor and needy - usually finding themselves fortified and secure in one end or the other of the liberal – conservative continuum. Unfortunately, the means and methods of providing care have often ranged from the punitive to the unprincipled. In the process liberalism and conservatism have become banners under which politicians fight endless battles which, even if one side or the other wins, the poor and the needy ultimately lose.

It would appear that God’s economy requires work, service, sacrifice, consecration, and “an eye singled to His glory.” Someday, when we as children of Our Heavenly Father, have truly consecrated ourselves we will arrive at a station where, “every man (will be) equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs.” D&C 51:3 This condition will move us toward a celestial economy where unity prevails and all are blessed according to “family, circumstances, wants, and needs.” Such was the status of the City of Enoch where we learn, “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” Moses 7:18

This week’s meditation comes to us from a day long ago when words were less convoluted. It encourages us to be “Liberal to All” and thus fulfill the Law of Christ wherein the Apostle Paul tells us, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2. Such was likely the motivation of the “Good (and obviously Liberal) Samaritan.”

Liberal to All

And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength…. And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.

Book of Mormon    Alma 1:26, 30

Liberal, a word oft used and much abused

But here, meaning free or freely given

A term with goodness and power suffused

To those kind, generous and Spirit-driven

With no deference to people

As to souls who stand in need

All are treated alike and equal

According to this liberal creed

Both old and young, both bond and free

Male or female, out of the Church or in

Liberal to all, without a price, without a fee

Liberal always – not just now and then

The teacher is no better than the learner

Nor the shepherd-pastor above his sheep

Refined stalwart souls, stronger and firmer

In the faith with sacred covenants to keep

May we be liberal to all according to this creed

Purveyors of service to our fellow man

Offering succor and solace in word and deed

Like unto the Good and Liberal Samaritan

Larry Doyle Crenshaw