The Republican Party is not the “Christian” party.

It never was.

The Democratic Party is not the “Christian” party either.

It never was.

Neither of them, nor any third-party past, present, or future, is the “Christian” party.

There is no politician, political group, or even any entire national government in the world that can fully capture the work and depth of God’s Kingdom.  Now, at various times, there certainly are issues where one party tends to be more in line with God’s Word and work than another, but this can change, is never in totality, and it never fully encapsulates a party’s platform, so there must always be great humility in analyzing and sorting this out. 

God’s Kingdom is not of the power structures and dynamics of this world.  It is entirely different by nature.  Yes, we bring our devotion to God and His Kingdom into the power structures and realities of this world as we traverse through it, but we must not mistake faithfulness to one political party in one country at one time in history as equaling faithfulness to God and His Kingdom.  One striking similarity though, is that politics and God’s Kingdom demand our allegiance.  Like when Jesus said “You cannot serve both God and money.”  We cannot faithfully serve a politician and a political party while faithfully serving God’s Kingdom.  One of those must be fully embraced, and one must be dealt a measure of skepticism at all times and kept in proper perspective.  When we Christians mix them up – questioning God’s voice and word to us, but swallowing whole the voice of a political leader and earthly movement, we have gone wrong.  My brothers and sisters, this should not be so. 

Let’s dig a little more into the specifics here.  For the past 40 or so years in the United States, if you were a conservative to moderate Christian, particularly if you were white, you tended to be Republican-leaning, almost by default.  Each presidential election year bore this out to be true.  From 1980 down to today, 2/3 or more of self-identified white, evangelical Christians voted for the Republican candidate in a presidential election (some elections it was 80% or more).  We church-goers have lived in and swam in the waters of this reality.  Through leading Christian voices over the past few decades, it was made clear to us that to be a faithful Christian in the United States meant that you voted Republican.  There was a strong tying together of Christian faith and Republican politics.  This connection is real and the pressure to continue this strong group connection is still evident in many families and communities.  In my own life, I have a sense of worry come over me if I am thinking about questioning some aspect of conservative politics with other Christians.  I expect some blowback or even some level of rejection.   

Now, there also has been a contingent of progressive Christians who tend to vote Democrat.  These voices haven’t been quite as vocal in tying Christian faith to Democrat loyalty, but for some there likely is a sort of blind allegiance to a progressive political party, and that also is a problem.  For a Christian in these circles, to question a liberal belief also invites negativity and possible rejection. 

As Christians, or as the New Testament far more often calls followers of Jesus, disciples, we must look to God first and foremost for our guidance in all matters, including political involvement.  This commitment to one political party over another is tearing the very fabric of faith in our country.  You see, when our faith is tied to one political party (no matter which one) that faith becomes small, narrow, and subject to the political winds of the day.  Our faith must be grounded in the deep roots of God and stand with His disciples throughout the world and throughout history.  That’s a flawed group, yes, but strengthened by something richer and fuller and pointed towards the source of life rather than earthly power structures. 

In humility, we Christians in the United States must recognize that we have not cornered the market on all things surrounding Christian faith and practice.  We have so much to learn from others around the world, and when we step back into the scope of history, we are but a small dot.  In gaining this wider perspective we actually have a chance to love our nation and our neighbors well because our focus is on the right things and our loves are in proper perspective.  Fighting for superiority and power on the national or world stage will only get our focus off of God and serving Him and those around us.

So how are we to vote then?  Is it just that if we voted Republican we now vote Democrat or third party?  No, there must always be a faithfulness and thoughtfulness to our political engagement as disciples.  We seek the good and flourishing of our neighbors and our world.  That may mean voting one way at one time and another way at another time because, again, no one political party or candidate can fully encapsulate God’s Kingdom work in this world.  Our faith must rise above political divisions.  But how we vote is really only a small part of the question of political involvement in our community.  Yes, voting is an important part of our political life, but there is more to the picture.  Beyond votes, our regular engagement in our communities and serving our neighbors must be present throughout our lives. 

So, may Christ fully have our allegiance.  May our lives flow out of that reality into political life and involvement, not the other way around.