The idea of political affiliation being tied to an inherent sense of Christianity is an idea I have long struggled with. I have come across rhetoric from both sides of the political spectrum asserting that to be a true Christian, one must align with the values of a specific political party—most often Democrat or Republican. The most recent and startling example of this was a video sent to me over the past summer break featuring a pastor claiming, rather emphatically, that you cannot be a true Christian while being affiliated in any way with the Democratic party. In the video, he says, “If you vote Democrat, I don’t even want you around this church. You can get out. You can get out, you demon. You cannot be a Christian and vote Democrat in this nation.” While this is a hyperbolically radical example of individuals associating Christianity with one specific party, the idea is prevalent and noticeably controversial. To facilitate a space for this conversation on campus, I asked various students what their thoughts on the matter were. I encourage you to read each response carefully and reflectively—they provide remarkable insight into the core of this conversation. (Please note that this article is not intended to persuade readers to support one or either party, but simply to present students’ thoughts on the matter.)
Can a political party be inherently Christ-like? Is there one party that is more “Christian” than the other? Does political affiliation even matter, or should the focus lie within one’s personal beliefs and convictions?
Johnathon Woolford-Hunt (senior, global studies & digital communication):
I do not believe that one party is inherently more Christian than another, but I will say that both parties’ version of Christianity looks very different from the other. Historically, when groups of a religion have very different views, it has resulted in a separation. The Catholic Church gave birth to Protestantism, and then that split into the various churches we know today. I believe it’s time, because of the very dramatic split in the church today on many issues, for yet another distinction or split so that we give both subsections a title and all confusion can subside. I do not have the power or authority to say one party is more Christian than the other. But I think it’s important for all of us to look at Christ’s character. If your political affiliation is not aligned with Jesus’ nature of love, equity, justice, and inclusion, then I think it’s time for you to re-evaluate.
Philip Wekesa (senior, music):
I do not think a political party can be inherently Christ-like. This is because they are founded on human ideologies, and human beings are flawed in nature. Some ideologies may be what we call Christ-like, but they are not at the core of any political party. I also do not think there is one political party more “Christian” than the other. Especially as a person who was not born in the United States but came to learn about its political system, I tend to see “Non-Christian” elements in both parties. Some of the issues emphasized by either party may not often appeal to Christian ideals. Although I am aware of a party that wears the “Christian” label quite often, which I consider dangerous, I will not get into that. Political affiliations do matter because they all reflect our way of thinking in its most diverse ways. They are forums where like-minded people have a safe space to come up with solutions to the problems that everyone is facing. The problem comes when there is no tolerance towards a different opinion, and an “ Us vs. Them” approach is used, resulting in bigotry and hate brewing.
Nathaniel Powell (sophomore, theology & communications):
Just because the party does something that seems morally good, matches the fruit of the Spirit, or examples of this good action can be found in the Bible or even done by Jesus himself, doesn’t mean the political party is Christ-like. I argue that if something is Christ-like, it must please God. The Bible says in Romans 8:8, “Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” This shows that what is important is the people, not the actions. If a party is inherently Christ-like, it wouldn’t matter if the people behind the political party were Christians. But Biblically, the people behind the actions matter more than the actions, so my answer is a political party cannot inherently be Christ-like. Yes, a political party can be more Christian in the cultural sense of it, as in, in-line with Christian tradition, but not a Christian in the sense of Follower of Christ. Political affiliation does matter because decisions made in government affect us. Although our true home as Christians is not this world, Christ has instructed us to cooperate with the systems of the world because they are put in place by God (the institutions, not parties). Mathew 22:21 says, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” Then Romans 13:1 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Finally, Micah 6:8 says, “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” Especially for the last verse, we are encouraged to be involved, even if that means withholding your vote from someone who is not “doing justly.” Standing idly by is just as bad as acting unjustly yourself. Hence, political affiliation is up to personal belief and conviction. James 4:17 says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
Nicholas Gunn (freshman, secondary education):
Republicans, in my opinion, are more Christian, I believe. I think more elected Republicans would identify as Christian.
Basam Mohamed (junior, architecture):
I don’t think a political party can be more Christian or less Christian than the other. Christians are diverse; they come from many backgrounds and have had different experiences, which means everyone has a different perspective on how things work. These are all things that should be considered and respected. Political affiliation is important; however, it is never more important than salvation in Jesus Christ. Personally, as I continue to try and get closer to Jesus, the less involved I will become in politics as a whole because what is of utmost importance is loving God with all my heart and treating my neighbor as I would like to be treated. I still vote and have opinions, but at the end of the day, God is in control, and I think it’s one of the greatest assurances Christians can have in a world of uncertainty, and heated political disagreement at times. Christians don’t need to think the same. However, we should all unite under Jesus and God’s law of love.
Kayla-Hope Bruno (senior, psychology):
I do think that a political party can have Christ-like qualities and hold Christ-like values. However, I would not characterize any political party as being fully Christ-like because of the flawed nature of humanity. There have been many instances in history where political parties have held and pushed ungodly views and agendas. I would not say that there is one party that is more “Christian” than the other. I would still say that there are some Christ-like qualities that can be seen in each political party. In terms of religion and politics, there are a number of religious groups that maybe identify as Republican, Democratic, or Independent. However, that does not necessarily mean that the political party should be seen as being “Christian.” I believe that it is more up to an individual’s personal beliefs and convictions. Especially as Christians, there should not be an extreme focus on political affiliation because certain views that a political party might hold may not align with one’s religious beliefs. I think that it is just a matter of using Godly discernment and asking God to guide you when it comes to political affairs.
As evidenced by the nuanced responses above, many individuals would agree that political affiliation does not necessarily correlate with a heightened level of Christianity or spiritual correctness. The theme I found while listening to the thoughts of these students was that our personal perception of Christianity, in many instances, informs our political affiliations—if we even choose to subscribe to the idea of affiliating ourselves with one party. In addition, it is important to note that both our political ideals and spiritual understanding are influenced by a myriad of factors, including upbringing, socialization, and lived experiences. When navigating the relationship between politics and Christianity, it would behoove us to evaluate our political ideologies against the values of love, respect, and justice.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.