How Do Christians Fit Into The Two-Party System? They Don’t

New York Times ^ | 9-29-18 | Tim Keller

[DeweyCA]

What should the role of Christians in politics be? More people than ever are asking that question. Christians cannot pretend they can transcend politics and simply “preach the Gospel.” Those who avoid all political discussions and engagement are essentially casting a vote for the social status quo.

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Nevertheless, while believers can register under a party affiliation and be active in politics, they should not identify the Christian church or faith with a political party as the only Christian one.

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One is that it gives those considering the Christian faith the strong impression that to be converted, they need not only to believe in Jesus but also to become members of the (fill in the blank) Party.

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He realized that thoughtful Christians, all trying to obey God’s call, could reasonably appear at different places on the political spectrum, with loyalties to different political strategies.

Another reason Christians these days cannot allow the church to be fully identified with any particular party is the problem of what the British ethicist James Mumford calls “package-deal ethics.” Increasingly, political parties insist that you cannot work on one issue with them if you don’t embrace all of their approved positions.

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So Christians are pushed toward two main options. One is to withdraw and try to be apolitical. The second is to assimilate and fully adopt one party’s whole package in order to have your place at the table. Neither of these options is valid.

[cyclotic]

There is an independent guy running for US Senate in Maryland. I’ve read his entire website and can’t really tell where he stands. The language is too full of innuendo and pretty sounding words. Of course that means he’s a liberal.

I like having a party affiliation so at least I know where a candidate is supposed to stand and use that as a springboard for their real motivations.

In our primary, we have a state delegate who is Republican, conservative but kind of a goofball. I emailed one of his primary challengers and told her that I was flat out looking for an excuse to vote for her, but her website was too pastel and bland with no real positions. I asked her several specific policy questions. Another candidate called me almost immediately to discuss my questions.

She didn’t ever respond so I voted for the incumbent, clown that he is.

[Takethathill]

Here, make this easy. Christians should not identify with the party that booed God during it’s National Convention. There, easy.

[Personal Responsibility]

“Really. Taking advice from the N.Y. Slimes on faith. Seriously.”

Not sure what you’re saying here.

[wastoute]

This is glow in the dark level of demoralization propaganda.