Can a Believer vote democrat
I was taught that believers must be a Republican.
Can you be a Democrat and still be a believer?
What say you?
posted by Bob Carder @ 3:04 PM
10 comments
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Can you be a Democrat and still be a believer?
What say you?
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10 Comments:
Oh, boy! You certainly are setting me up here, aren't you?...
I've got a better question: can one hold to ANY American political party and belong to the Kingdom of God?
Here's the thing. 20-something believers are not less interested in being a Republican because the message of politics has changed, but rather because we have come to recognize that it is an earthly facility.
For years, evangelicals fought the battles of pro-life, family values, and "religious rights" through politics (and more specifically the Republican party). Since most 20-somethings were born during the heyday of "Reagan-mania", we have witnessed it's uselessness. Through politics we attempt to change the minds of man without changing any hearts.
If as believers, our first question should be "What advances the Kingdom?", why should we maintain loyalty to ANY American facility? Would it make any sense to bring in the navy to fight a landlocked battle? NO!!! Then why do we use the tactics of earth to fight a battle for souls in heaven?
If "Christian rights" are what you are seeking, go ahead and seek them through the Republican party. But last I was aware, all believers give up their own rights when they submitted them to Christ. I seek only to please HIM and advance HIS kingdom, not mine.
So y'all can use your politics for the safety and protection of your nice little bubble...as for me, I would be just as pleased if Hillary ends of usurping the Democratic ticket, just so 20-somethings will become even more disillusioned with this irrelevant crap.
Will I follow the Law of the Land? Sure...I will continue to give to Caesar what is his, and honor God with my citizenship, however He sees fit. But that's not for me to decide, and is the full extent of my concern for this place.
"...What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." (Phillipians 3:8)
Well said Twan!
Do believers HAVE to be Republicans? Oh, Bob. . . .
Do believers HAVE to prefer Pizza Hut to Grecco's?
Do believers HAVE to wear dowdy clothing and goofy hair?
Do believers HAVE to run screaming from a room if someone starts talking about rock-n-roll or Paris Hilton?
I believe the answer to all of the above is "No." (Although, truth be told, Paris Hilton is enough to make a sane person run screaming.)
We all know people who believe they're believers, but believe in a lot of man-authored rules and regulations and restrictions and believe we should believe as they do or burn in hell. I don't believe those believers really believe. They just have control issues.
Yes, I'm messing with semantics and being silly, but to some people, those man-made rules are as important as God's rules. Both Republicans AND Democrats fall into the same traps.
Follow your conscience in this, as in all things. We are ultimately accountable to God, not to any political party or man-made list of fashion opinions or policies of any kind. God is not interested in how we register at the polls. I think, however, that He might be interested in whether or not we register at all. Those who do not vote forfeit all whining rights, you know. :)
I answer your question simply because you ask it simply: Yes.
Then I get ornery and have to add: But why?
Then I get ornery-er and add: It doesn't matter either way. Republicans and Democrats have an equal facility to lead this country to hell in a handbasket. We've seen that over and over.
I love the spunky comments of mamacita.
I think it is required that every qualifying HUMAN BEING runs from the room if Paris Hilton is mentioned...
What do you all have against the Hilton hotel in Paris France?
I'm running too and Mike you are, well? :)
A.W., I'm glad William Wilberforce didn't follow your line of reasoning. He, as a Christian, used his political influence to end the slave trade and then slavery itself in England. He could have stayed in his safe Christian bubble, but instead he risked life and reputation in politics to rescue those created in the image of God. Should we do anything less? Yes, hearts must change for lasting change, but sometimes laws must change first, such as happened in England. I sincerely believe God will hold us accountable for the political authority He has placed in our hands.
To answer the original question. I don't think Christians can be either democrat or republican today. Both view government as the solution to our problems. God said that government is only supposed to do 2 things: punish evil doers; and reward righteousness. (See Romans 13) Both parties are more into maintaining power and position today. There is little concern for justice (i.e. protection of life, liberty, and property).
As for me, I think the libertarian ideology is the best. Although libertarians tend to reject any legislation of morality (which doesn't make sense because all law is legislated morality). This is why I'll probably vote for the Constitution Party candidate in the general election. It's a good balance between conservative and libertarian.
I don't see how any Christian who has fully thought through their faith and the values of the Bible could ever vote democratic. The right to kill the unborn? Support for gay marriage? Coerced charity? Bigger government with more and more power? I don't think so.
Excuse me...safe Christian bubble? When did we come under the assumption that politics were the only facility where one could "risk life and reputation"?
This is exactly the problem. When we assume that politics is the greatest facility for change, we vicariously take joy in the ONE individual who steps out for our "rights" and never own the call ourselves.
So no, we should not "do anything less", we should do SO MUCH MORE.
As for the use of politics to change social fabric, have you seen the spiritual state of the UK lately, or is this an awesome story we can share of one generation that took a stand and once again failed to multiply to the next generation?
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