How can you be a Christian and vote for Trump? Allegiance to Kingdom and party

 

Photo by diana on Unsplash

Unfortunately, the question on the title and its counterpart ("How can you be a Christian and vote to support the killing of unborn babies?") are rarely asked as an honest request for clarification, more commonly used as an instrument of judgement of one's heart. With the distraction and friction this line of questioning brings, it is difficult for us, the Church, to fulfil God's call to participate in the civic life of our society. Understandably, some notable theologians are telling us that Christians do not fit in this, a two-party political system. My concern with that kind of statement is that it may become an excuse, a reason for me not to participate at all. 

This post is my response to that dilemma.  

Then, when engaged in your civic duties, please...

1. Consider His Person & Work, the dignity of human life (from conception to senior years), the glory that is to come.
2. Do not remain silent regarding the attitudes - intentional or not - that your own political party uses to promote, support, encourage, ignore injustice.
3. Subscribe to standards alien to both parties: First of all, to the justice of the Triune God of the Universe, then, to our Founding Documents.
4. Phrase your criticism of either group in a way that promotes discussion and the free exchange of ideas.
5. Do not tie your identity to your political party. As a Christian, you have been bought at a price no human can fully replace or even understand.

We, Christians, are called to care for the here and now, while we remain mindful of the future glory. Because of this tension, we cannot be 100% in agreement with either party and, at the same time, be humble followers of Jesus Christ, God the Son. Our engagement must be an issue of priorities, the passions and interests God has given to each of us, and not of total allegiance to a particular political current.

Consider this.

• Is silence about ANY injustice real collaboration with that injustice? How? Why?
• Can you enumerate three issues you disagree with the political party of your preference? How vocal are you about those issues?
• Can you enumerate three God-honoring attitudes of the other political team?