When Liberty Enslaves: Absolutism

Pictured above is my granddaughter sitting in her Taekwondo ready position during her examination to move up to the next belt. Taekwondo is a Korean martial arts program involving self defense by means of various punches and kicks. In order to progress to the next belt the students must master a variety of kicks and punches for each new level. Additionally the students must receive verbal confirmation from a parent attending the session that the student is an attentive listener to their parental authority and that they are doing well in their schoolwork. It is a well rounded program which teaches children respect for authority and responsibility at home and school.

Pictured above is my granddaughter’s Zen Master at her Taekwondo school. He is the absolute authority with regard to whether or not each student is qualified to graduate to the next belt, without exception. Unless the Zen Master approves each students progress he or she does not advance. Thankfully my granddaughter advanced from her yellow to yellow-green belt.

The above Civil War marker picture was taken in Hilton Head, South Carolina. It memorializes the location where a large contingent of Black Union soldiers lived during the conflict. Slavery had existed in our nation since the original colonies. The nation became divided over the issue and turned to war because of what can be described as “absolutism” prevailing in the South at the time.

In the campaign leading up to Lincoln’s first term as president, he and his opponent had opposite views concerning slavery. Lincoln viewed slavery as an evil that must be eradicated from our nation. His opponent saw it as necessary and a divinely ordained fact of life. When Lincoln won the election, the South interpreted the result as a threat to their property and livelihood. They believed their institutions were at risk, their honor was at stake and their peace of life was about to be destroyed. Consequently the Southern states united in the principle that they would yield nothing with regard to their position on slavery until they were convinced they were wrong. That is “absolutism.” In this case it led to the South seceding from the Union and civil war followed.

“Absolutism” removes all opportunity for compromise. With compromise eliminated from any discussion of differences the end result can only be escalation of the conflict. We are witnessing that truth everyday on the news as the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine continues to escalate because both sides are committed to the absolutism of no surrender.

Currently in our nation we are witnessing a movement of “absolutism” as well on two fronts: abortion and gun control. There is no apparent compromise on the abortion issue as efforts continue in various state legislators to totally eliminate any form of the practice for any situation. Similarly, there remains no effort to curtail the use of automatic weapons in our nation as mass murders continue in schools and public places. These are two examples of “absolutism” that continue to divide our nation with no apparent interest to even discuss compromise. Our nation has learned nothing from our experience of the Civil War. Consequently we are likely to repeat our own history.

It is during times like these that we should be able be able to look to our common faith for solutions. But even faith communities are divided over the issues of abortion and guns. Different faith communities are immersed in “absolutism” as well. We are so deeply embedded in our individual doctrines that there is no willingness to look at another point of view of faith.

Ironically, this is the way it was prior to the Civil War during the days of Lincoln. There were people of the same faith on both sides of the slavery issue. Slavery was viewed by Christians in the South as an eternal good, as a gift from God, and as a rational decision. The basis of this view was the belief that black people were not equal, incapable providing for themselves. Slavery was the Christian way to influence their lives for the better. (Reference: “And There Was Light” by Jon Meacham; P. 188; Random House, 2022.)

My faith journey has been an evolution of “absolutism.” Raised Catholic I was taught as a little boy that the Catholic Church was the one true church. When I converted to Protestantism in my early thirties I was taught Baptists were in the Kingdom of God, most Catholics were not and Pentecostals were deceived. In my forties when I became Pentecostal I came to learn that there were Baptist and Catholic Pentecostals as well. My point is that we all seem to become “absolutists” when we get so involved in our corner of the Christian faith that we are closed off to any other way of thinking with regard to faith.

I believe there are two absolutes when it comes to faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) First, we must believe that He exists; Second, we must believe that God will reward us if we diligently seek Him. That is, if we make a sincere effort to know Him and understand His ways. That means having an open mind in case He wants to change our doctrinal positions or our views of someone else’s faith.

Our nation will never be delivered from our “absolutism” until the people of faith can first walk away from our uncompromising positions on abortion and guns. Unless the faith communities lead, compromise will not come. Why? Because we who have so much in common and we have so much to lose. We can do better than this. “For we are are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).