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Why Many Christians Do Not Vote Republican

The problems remain. This was written 20 years ago.

We (and I) have learned some things since then.  But Wow!  The problems remain, and have grown; which means these things still need thinking and talking about.  (References and Bible quotations are at the end.)

The very reasons for BEING a Republican Christian are also the reasons for WORRYING about the Republican party as it is currently functioning.

A conservative writer (Cal Thomas) mentioned

Biblical principles of freedom, justice, equality, integrity, honesty, and hard work.

These moral guidelines are fundamental and raise several areas of concern about current Republican party leadership and spokespersons.

 

Neglect of Major Biblical Moral Themes

Few … campaign against greed or the promotion of profits above every other value. In fact they honor these moral errors.

Jesus and the prophets spoke often and vigorously against economic exploitation of workers and of the poor. This should be part of being pro-life; but these are not priority issues in today’s “pro-life” Republican party. The Apostle Paul said greed is equal to idolatry, and the love of money is the root of all sorts of evils; but few Republicans campaign against greed or the promotion of profits above every other value. In fact they honor these moral errors. Peter warned against malice and slander; but Republican leaders do not confront and reject the support they receive from popular slanderers who promote their agenda.

 

The Company They Keep

This Administration is not the Republican Party of old, and the Party’s primary spokesmen today are often not the kind of people Christians want to associate with. The most widely heard Republican party apologist, Rush Limbaugh, in effect worships himself, freely makes up “truth”, and maligns far better men and women; and he does all of this publicly, and daily. Ann Coulter is no better. Other party leaders are cut from similar cloth, though a little more fashionably. Tom DeLay, Trent Lott, Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rove, Gingrich – all behave as if there is no value that can trump the pursuit of wealth and power.

Limbaugh … worships himself, freely makes up “truth”, and maligns far better men and women.

Since these people are the party’s prominent leaders and voices, many Christians would feel deeply compromised to associate with or offer support to such a party. Jesus said, “I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” We do not find those things cultivated in us by Republican spokespersons.

 

Mis-use of the Pulpit

Church pulpits are not the place for political campaigning, especially not on Sunday mornings. It is worse if the content is uninformed, delivered under pressure from large donors, or flavored by self-righteousness or hate. Churches are not the place for exclusive distribution of literature blatantly favoring one political party. The offense is worse when the material is inaccurate or dishonest. Church meetings are not the place for expressions of hatred, slander, or evil wishes toward current or former First Ladies or their spouses.

Churches are not the place for exclusive distribution of literature blatantly favoring one political party. The offense is worse when the material is inaccurate or dishonest. Church meetings are not the place for expressions of hatred, slander, or evil wishes

It should not be harder to find welcome or comfort at church if you are a Democrat, Green, or Independent, than if you are a porn addict, a successful thief or cheat, violent at home, or living adulterously – but it often is.

Let the church be the church and the state be the state. Many Christians are very uncomfortable with the idea of churches becoming the state or controlling the state.

 

The Ways They Campaign; The Ways They Win

Elections are bought, if indirectly, on a regular basis. It is very unpleasant to vote in support of candidates who win by buying elections, and by slanderous multi-media attacks at the last minute. We have all seen it, and we know which party has the money and seems most willing to do it. Many Christians feel morally uncomfortable about supporting such truly anti-American behavior.

One party … is working blatantly to take the vote from hundreds of thousands of minorities.

One party has pressed vigorously, using legal and illegal means, to subvert or reverse the decisions of the people given in duly scheduled popular elections in Florida and California. The same party is working blatantly to take the vote from hundreds of thousands of minorities in US Congressional elections in Texas. Christians want to vote pro-honesty, pro-democracy, and pro-civility – and many feel they cannot do so these days if they vote Republican.

 

The Abortion Problem

It seems the pro-life issue is used only for fund-raising and other political purposes.

Christians are often pro-life. But if they vote pro-life they have to lend their support to this new unsavory kind of Republican party. The cost is too high. Many feel that the new-style Republicans in control of the party are using this issue primarily to push other agenda items. Christians often don’t want to support that other agenda, especially if it seems the pro-life issue is used only for fund-raising and other political purposes.

Abortion could be very rare in this country. Surely much progress would be made – even if laws weren’t changed – if the churches were making the moral and cultural difference at the local level that they should, and could, be making. As it is, agitation, emotion and money are corrupting our politics – and our churches – and not doing much good at all in this tragic area of American life.

 

Gay Rights

Surely those Christians are not evil who want our society to protect the economic and civil rights of fellow citizens – even those not willing or able to live exactly by our spiritual light.

This is one of the least-prominent issues in the Bible, but one of the most prominent among religious Republican activists. We must truly defend marriage in our own marriages. We must practice and promote healthy sexual attitudes and behavior in our churches. But surely those Christians are not evil who want our society to protect the economic and civil rights of fellow citizens – those not willing or able to live exactly by our spiritual light. If we truly let him who is without sin cast the first stone, there would be far fewer stones cast in our land.

 

Perhaps not all of these issues are equally important to you personally; but all of them involve Christian morality, and for many people they are decisive.

 


See also:

 


 

references and Bible quotations

Scriptures quoted from the New International Version, (c) 1984 International Bible Society

a conservative writer:
Cal Thomas, Ed Dobson, Blinded by Might: Why the Religious Right Can’t Save America, Zondervan, 2000, p110
Exploitation of Workers and Poor:
Jeremiah 22:15,16 “Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD.

Micah 2:1-3 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance. Therefore, the LORD says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves.

Isaiah 58:3,6,7,10 Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers….Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Mark 12:38,39 Watch out for the teachers of the law . . . . They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.

Economic issues are pro-life issues:
Micah hits hard on economic injustice, and uses extreme language to show how much of a life-and-death matter it really is.

Micah 3:1-3 Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice, you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?

Greed, Love of Money:
Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore . . . . greed, which is idolatry.

Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person–such a man is an idolater–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

I Timothy 6:5,9-10 . . . men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain . . . . People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I Peter 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

The Company They Keep:
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Isaiah 32:5 No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.

Wealth and Power:
Micah 3:11,12 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.” Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field.

Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

Ezekiel 34: 13,20 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? . . . . Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.

Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

'Gentle and Humble':
Quoted from Matthew 11:28
Pro-life:
Proverbs 24:11,12 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
Mis-using moral teachings to promote another agenda:
Luke 12:2 Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
Homosexuality in the Teachings of Jesus:
Cast the First Stone: Jesus said, in John 8:7, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

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33 Comments

  • So many people who identify as evangelical made a choice to vote for Trump that they did not feel good about, and immediately began to regret. As I’ve traveled across the country with Vote Common Good, an organization I started to get evangelicals to make the common good, and not political party, their voting criteria, I’ve heard their stories.

  • Are you helping the poor when you give, give, give to them and create a society who expects to be given to without making something of themselves? Our welfare society started with good intentions but is now so corrupt that “helping the poor” is not helping most who receive it, it is enabling their lifestyle. If you don’t believe me, go down to the welfare office and sit and watch for a day. I’m sure you won’t but it’s eye opening. Also, this blogger quoted “Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” as validation for his article. Consider this….if you take a look at the majority of people in Hollywood, they are all liberal Democrats. Their morals (or lack thereof) are in line with Democratic views – should the church be aligned with these people? No! We are called to be separate and set apart!! I believe Democrats are truly “sitting in the seat of the wicked” when they press that button to vote Democrat! They’re pushing a liberal agenda that is pro-gay, pro-abortion, pro-enabling those who could work. Look at cities like Detroit. The reason it is falling apart is because a liberal government has been in control for years. Now the city is in ruins. This is what is coming for the rest of our country if we Christians in America do not wake up and stop voting like the liberal media and Hollywood does! And for the record, most of my church votes Democratic and I love each of those people but I pray that they see the light soon before it’s too late for our country.

    • An 8 dollar an hour wage is stealing pure and simple.

      When you horde, horde, horde, horde. You give into the lie that the wicked sell.

      Hollywood is Hollywood, it’s all extremely insane.

      The truth is there is enough for all and only when we give more than we take are we worthy of the love of God and will know his kingdom.

    • Do you not hear yourself? You sound just like the typical tea party person. What makes you believe that the republican party is so pure and Godly? They say they want to end abortion but they never do. They cut social programs for the poor. Yes I have been on welfare and yes it helped me raise my daughter and I also agree that some take advantage. How do you know about Hollywood? Believe it or not some actors and actresses are Christian? New movies in 2014- Son Of God, God is not dead. Your whole commentary is judgement. I am a independent and a Christian and serve my Lord not a party.

    • you think democrats are sitting in the seat of the wicked when they vote. remember this, if not anything else. that is if u do speak as a Christian. you will be judged by God as you judge others. those so called wicked democrats (Christians among them) how can you throw a stone at them? I would give you a bit of advice, leave the world of politics since you make judgments and have hate for your fellow brothers. when you vote, you are placing your faith in men to fix the world. instead of placing faith in men, place your faith in jesus to help you change yourself from the inside to the outward change that only the holy spirit can bring about. do not listen to hatred from politicians and news shows.

    • Is the answer then to help the rich. Make them pay less taxes and use tax shelters to avoid taxes. Or deny hard working low wage people health care? Or deport poor hard working immigrants who just want a better life for their families? Or protect the right for citizens to own semi-automatic weapons? Read the gospels and Jesus teachings.
      You have the freedom to believe that hand outs do more harm than good and you have a right to protect yourself ( I believe that myself ) But if you choose to follow the teachings of Christ you must condemn the policies of the GOP

    • This is a great article. Although I am not American, if I had to vote I would also struggle with voting Republican. While I don’t agree with all of the policies of the Democrats, I believe they are by far the better option.
      We cannot tar all Republicans with the same brush but from what I can see their policies are not consistent with the teachings of Christ nor will they bring people to Christ which is what we as disciples are called to do. Regarding the obsession with abortion and homosexuality. While I agree abortion is wrong, I don’t see how criminalising it will stop women from aborting babies. People need to have a personal conviction that abortion is wrong and that will not come from aggressive anti-abortion tactics or rhetoric.
      Instead, would it not be better to provide better sexual education so that less young women fall pregnant and provide better facilities for young mothers who may feel that they are unable to support a child alone? Would it not also be better to educate men from a young age about respecting women so that there are less cases of rape which would lead to abortion? Would it not also be a good idea for schools to teach students about responsibility and the need to use protection. While as Christians we shouldn’t practice sex outside of marriage we can’t expect non-Christians who have neither the conviction nor the help of the Holy Spirit to do the same.
      With regards to homosexuality, we are called to love our neighbour period. The bible does not tell us only to love those we look and behave like us. It breaks my heart when I hear the hate that some Christians direct towards homosexuals, as if they are a sub-human species. Yes, I believe that marriage is betweeen one man and one woman but in order to reach homosexuals we have to love them.
      By attacking them and displaying hateful behaviour towards them as some Republicans do, we are destroying an opportunity to love them and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal himself to them through us.
      Finally, with regards to the poor. The assumption that poor people are lazy and are poor as a result is not only erroneous but does not display the loving attitude towards the needy Christ calls us to have. We have a responsibility towards those who are less fortunate, regardless of how they got there.
      How can people honestly debate whether or not helping the poor with universal healthcare is a good idea? Surely as followers of Jesus Christ we already know the answer to that. God bless you all.

      • A note to the Republicans preachers who only concentrates on one part of the bible and leaves the other part undone.Do they ever pray for their Democratic leaders and those in authority?(1Timothy2:1-4)In my own thinking this means that we have to pray , make intercessions , supplications and thanksgiving for our leaders and governing authorities because:
        (1) there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by god (Rom 13:1)
        (2) God said that if we pray for all men we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.So pro republicans preachers START doing what christ said and pray that leaders would use godly sense and godly wisdom when they are given authority to rule a nation.On judgement day , don,t let the answer be NO when Jesus Christ who died for the SINS of the whole world ask you did you pray for your leaders and those in authority?

    • What an excellent article. Very well written. I have thought similar things, but just couldn’t articulate them as well. I had a talk with my pastor right before the 2012 election and told him that there was no way I could vote Republican, with every group seemingly kicked under the bus by them, especially the poor and the needy. He actually said that he understood. I think there are more Christians voting Democratic than one might think.

  • Some observations:

    Neglect of Biblical moral themes:
    Socialism is not a Biblical theme. The Book of Ruth handily summarizes Biblical responses to poverty: hard work, charity, prudent marriages, responsible families, and above all, God’s gracious providence. As for the government, instead of being obsessed with eliminating greed and profits, and clinging to ineffective and unjust top-down “equal outcome” policies, it should encourage social mobility with programs like vouchers.

    Misuse of the pulpit:
    Church pulpits are for the exposition of Scripture, through which God is glorified and the congregation is edified. Applications have a place here, even political ones. Churches should be free to draw what conclusions they will, solemnly and prayerfully, trusting in the Bible and the Holy Spirit for guidance. Furthermore, churches have the right and the duty to evaluate every candidate and party by Biblical standards, and they should be free to do so without fearing that the government will revoke their tax exemptions. Nobody wants the church to become the state, but the opposite is historically- and currently- the greater danger.

    The abortion problem:
    The Democratic party has wandered very far from “safe, legal, and rare,” and it is clear that Obama embraces this direction. A state senator who voted against providing care for aborted infants born alive, and a President who has given us every reason to suspect that his views have not changed, is obviously more concerned with entrenching abortion on demand as a taxpayer funded “right,” than with making it rare.
    Conversely, should Roe v. Wade be overturned? Absolutely. But more importantly, abortion must be broadly recognized for what it is- a “choice” with devastating consequences for women and the slaughter of infants on progressivism’s altar of self-gratification. America will come to view it this way. Look to the parallels in history, like Wilberforce’s long struggle to end the British slave trade. Look to solutions- the compassionate service of Christian pregnancy care centers and adoption agencies. Look to the swelling number of Americans who realize that abortion is wrong. But most importantly, look to Scripture before compromising on the legality of murder.

    Homosexuality:
    Conservative Christians would rejoice if homosexuality was not an issue. Sadly though, “least prominent” does not equal insignificant. Scripture addresses homosexuality as a behavior, and we should too. Scripture addresses it as a sin, and we should too. Scripture addresses sin with grace, and we should too. Accordingly, those who struggle with this particular temptation- as many Christians do- are welcome in church exactly as we all are: penitent and confident of Grace through the blood of Christ.
    The homosexual lobby, collectively, is different. It hates conviction and repentance, it spurns grace. It preys on insecurity and fears the possibility of treatment or change with all the bigoted, narrow-minded zealotry that it attributes to Christians. It detests the free exercise and expression of conscience- rights secured to us by God and affirmed by the Constitution. It labels all dissenters as hate groups, and as such strives to silence the Church here as it already has in Europe and Canada. In response, the Church needs to make this distinction clear: offer grace, love, and healing to individuals, but expose and condemn a movement that suppresses the truth and respects nobody’s rights.

    • What you are doing, besides distorting the truth about what the bible says about exploitation of the poor: as if the poor weren’t working harder than those who exploited them in Ruth’s day. The article is talking about how Republicans are not real followers of Jesus Christ. You are using false logic (red herrings for one) to take attention away from that facts. Republicans have other gods, like money and power: among other things. They use God’s name in vain to promote their lust for both. They are using American Christianity for the same reason. It is a political ploy, and a fairly recent one at that.

      • I was not speaking of the exploitation of the poor, which as you point out, was displeasing to God in ancient times, and obviously remains so today. Quite the opposite, I was attempting to show the role of family (particularly marriage), community, and yes, hard work, as the most effective ways out of poverty, then and now.

        May I ask your thoughts about vouchers and social mobility, and what you believe the book of Ruth says about exploitation?

 
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