The Christian Response to Political Affiliation
While conservatives and their candidates have struggled to develop strong connections with minorities, women, and other voting blocs for a large portion of contemporary American history, they have been able to rely on a certain constituency for consistent turnout and support: evangelical Christians.
This demographic, often accused of closed-mindedness and single-issue voting has regularly backed the conservative agenda due to their anti-abortion stances and traditional values. However, a few recent headlines and movements suggest that this trend may be in the process of weakening.
First, Tim Keller, renowned Presbyterian pastor and reformed theologian, recently released an opinion piece suggesting that followers of Christ should not adhere to partisan politics. While Keller refrains from directly “naming names” or endorsing either side of the political spectrum, the undertones suggest that those who are attached to Christianity and progressive politics need not worry, for there is no inconsistency.
Second, progressive Christians from a movement called Vote Common Good are engaging Americans across the country, telling evangelicals to vote blue as a way to minimize the role of the president.
And finally, a recent article in the New York Times tells the story of young Christian women who have decided to support Democrat Beto O’Rourke for Senate, citing his sense of compassion for immigrants and refugees, implying Republicans lack compassion for such groups.
So, have Christians just been getting it wrong all these years? If we truly want to live out our Christian values, is it time we look to the left? The political climate and dynamics have changed drastically in recent time, so it’s important we examine our internal values as Christian conservatives to ensure a balance between faithfulness and pragmatism.
Faith should indeed influence how we vote. Following Christ and adhering to a biblical lifestyle is the bedrock for how we live. Thus, we cannot dismiss faith when engaging in something as important as voting.
When participating in an election, it’s vital to separate candidates from their values. Terms are temporary, but the enacted policy could last longer than just a few years. So while we may be displeased with the character flaws of conservative or right-wing nominees, it’s important to examine what the impact of their term may have before writing them off. Values take precedence over character semantics. Thus, we must cast our vote for those who will govern with our values in mind.
While it is true that the word “Christian” should not be directly synonymous for “conservative,” Christians cannot carry the water for the modern left anymore. A central part of the leftist platform is deeply rooted in secular humanism, the embrace of values directly antithetical to scripture, and the support of social policies that violate the Christian conscience.
There are also many within their movement who wish to see our platform weakened, even made obsolete. Does this mean every left-leaning individual is a direct antithesis of God’s word?
Heavens, no!
Christians in good conscience may have disagreements on how to execute policy on a number of issues. There are certain contemporary issues such as gun regulation, drug policy, government spending, and many others that do not have direct answers in Christian doctrine that we are required to stand by.
However, it is of utmost importance to cling to the principles that are clearly stated throughout scripture and, to the best of our ability, attempt to apply them to issues which may not be answered directly.
This brings us into examining this wave of progressive Christianity and its attempt to bridge the gap between scripture and modern liberalism. Often times, we hear progressive Christians imply that a lot of conservative positions are inherently hateful. Claims abound over us having the proper stance on abortion, but fall short due to our policy that will allegedly put vulnerable people at a disadvantage. This sets up a false dichotomy of having to pick where voters must channel their compassion.
Besides flaunting this falsehood, the other facet of progressive Christianity that I take issue with is the willingness to drop all forms of tradition and traditional values in hopes of growing the church. The church exists to evangelize to the world, not to be influenced by the world.
We must stand firm in God’s word and love our neighbors enough to speak biblical truth to them, even when it’s uncomfortable. The most sincere love we can extend is pointing someone to the God who loves them most and whose blueprint for their life is superior.
If we sincerely believe that Christian values are preeminent for not only our neighbors but also ourselves, we must attempt to shadow those values in our politics. It’s time for conservatives to start articulating their policy as more pragmatic in terms of helping vulnerable members of society and stop accepting the lie that we are inherently hateful.
The left tactically extrapolates politically incorrect language and equates it to sincere hatred; we need to counter that through our actions. Compassion is not a quality exclusive to those on the left wing.
It is not often stated that we as conservatives vote and think the way we do because it is “good for people” and we need to change that.
While there is certainly some tidying up to do in areas of conservative dialogue, we must not abandon our cause. If we condone this progressive branch of Christianity we dilute some of the most important components of the bible.
When progressive Christians openly embrace pro-choice views and non-traditional views of marriage they grant the government more power to enforce immoral legislation. This, simultaneously, fails to draw outsiders closer to God by permitting them to embrace viewpoints that contradict biblical teachings.
Conservatives need to continue to advocate for Christian teachings in life, marriage, and family. We must also reinforce that while we were yet sinners, God showed love for us, that we would be transformed by His grace. Progressive Christianity takes the spotlight off God and puts it on us.
The bible is not a living, breathing document that will conform to the wants and needs of man, and true followers of Christ must accept the words of God as eternally true.
While there’s room for improvement, the general current state of conservatism is exciting to observe. As I mentioned earlier, conservatives have struggled in engaging minorities, but recently, many seem to be realizing that the American left may not have their best interests in mind and that conservatism is the more practical ideology.
The flow of conservative discourse is heading in the right direction, though we must remain rooted.
So, is there even a call to action here?
It can be easy to get caught up in theological and political semantics, and luckily, there are plenty of platforms for such discourse. However, my current call to conservative Christians is this: be principled and be kind.
Finding a balance between strict adherence to sound doctrine and being warm and receptive to those who wish to civilly counter us is of utmost importance. Hearts and minds are changed neither through stubborn nor nasty discourse, so it’s best to avoid unnecessary, bitter conversations with your peers.
Instead, aim to be a consistent source of truth and grace. Remember that it is impossible to completely transform the ideology of everyone you meet, but an honest conversation could plant a seed that will go a long way.
Finally, remember that though we are in this world, we are not of it. Stand firm while waiting for the coming of Christ.
With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.
2 Thessalonians 2: 15