Question:

"Should a Christian be a Republican or a Democrat?
Should a Christian be a conservative
or a liberal/progressive?"


Answer:

As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization, Got Questions
Ministries is not allowed to endorse political parties or candidates. We can, however, speak for or against
certain political issues.

In all actuality, though, few political issues are truly spiritual issues.

As an example, we may prefer lower taxes, but
the Bible does not endorse low taxes;
all it says is that we are to pay our taxes honestly
(Matthew 22:15-21; Romans 13:6-7).

Taxes and many other issues
(social security, universal healthcare, education funding, immigration, energy/environment, etc.) are not spiritual issues
the Bible explicitly addresses.
As a result, Christians can in good conscience
have disagreements on these issues.

Generally speaking,

Republicans/conservatives prefer smaller government and more individual freedom,

while Democrats/liberals/progressives prefer more governmental oversight of society and the economy.

Conservatives argue for capitalism,
that is free, for the most part, from governmental control,

while liberals/progressives have more socialistic tendencies in regards to the government’s role.
The Bible does not explicitly endorse either capitalism or socialism.
God has given governments the freedom to have as much authority

as is needed to fulfill their God-given roles of enforcing justice
and building order in society (Romans 13:1-7).

So, in regards to the size and scope of government,
Christians can be libertarian, conservative, liberal, or progressive.
None of those persuasions are inherently evil or ungodly.

The argument should be over which system best enables
the government to fulfill its God-given role.

Politically conservative Christians will argue that as
governments get bigger and more powerful, personal freedom
decreases, and if left unchecked, government will bloat itself

into a controlling, authoritarian, and oppressive dictatorship.

Historically speaking, there is much evidence to support this argument.

Liberals/progressives will argue that
the government should be greatly involved in
providing social services, caring for the poor, sick, orphans,
widows, unemployed, etc., pointing to Scriptures
such as James 1:27.

If these social services result in more governmental control, liberals/progressives are willing to make that sacrifice.

Conservatives argue that
the more freedom a society/economy has, the more prosperous
it becomes.

Liberals/progressives argue that
some prosperity should be sacrificed for the “greater good.”

So, while one economic/societal/political system may be “better,” neither is inherently evil/immoral/sinful.

Both systems have strengths and weaknesses,
and, historically speaking, both systems have proven themselves
capable of fulfilling the basic biblical responsibility of government.

While issues such as the size/scope of government and economic systems are not explicitly addressed in Scripture,

there definitely are some political issues the Bible does
address,
such as abortion (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6; Exodus 21:22-25;
Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5)
and gay marriage (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27;
1 Corinthians 6:9).

For the Bible-believing Christian,

abortion is not a matter of a woman’s right to choose.
It is a matter of the life or death of a human
being made in God’s image.

Endorsing gay marriage is giving approval to a lifestyle choice

the Bible condemns as immoral and unnatural.

Therefore, Bible-believing Christians should support
issues/candidates that are pro-life and should support
issues/candidates that oppose gay marriage and uphold the
biblical/traditional understanding of marriage.

Whether these two issues should trump all other issues
is a matter of personal conviction.

The Bible teaches that a leader in the church should be a godly,
moral, ethical person (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). This should apply to political leaders as well.

If politicians are going to make wise, God-honoring decisions,
they must have a basic morality and worldview
on which to base the decisions they are going to have to make.

So if there is a clear moral distinction between candidates,
as Christians, we should choose the more moral, honest,
and ethical of the candidates.

No matter who is in office, whether we voted for them or not,
whether they are of the political party we prefer or not,
the Bible commands us to respect and honor them
(Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).
We should also be praying for those placed in authority
over us (Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
We do not have to agree with them, or even like them,
but we do have to honor and respect them.

Politics is always going to be a difficult issue for Christians.

We are in this world but are not to be of this world (1 John 2:15).
We can be involved in politics, but we should not be obsessed with politics.

Ultimately, we are to be heavenly-minded, more concerned with the
things of God than the things of this world (Colossians 3:1-2).

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are all members of the same
political party—monarchists who are waiting for their KING to
return (Revelation 19:11-16).



© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries.
www.gotquestions.org

thanx for the broad and thorough viewpoints


however, is it possible that personal and political beliefs can differ

that is to say, even though I do not agree with abortion, even though I think it is immoral, ,is it possible that I choose NOT to make such a personal decision a political one

I dont agree with abortion, does that mean I should want to see it be made a crime

the bible also condemns jealousy but that is not something that we prosecute and possibly should be left to God to do so instead of man,,,


I think the issues of abortion and homosexual marriage are important

I will always vote AGAINST endorsing homosexual activity OR criminalizing it and likewise I vote AGAINST endorsing abortion or criminalizing it

I just consider them personal issues that are for Gods judgment and which will indeed be his to make in the end, I cant go against the word by supporting those choices, but I cant fully get behind the idea of making it 'legal' or 'illegal' based upon its morality

I somewhat agree with you on those two issues... at this point...the proverbial "horse" has been let out of the gate.
Abortion has been allowed in our country and so has homosexuality.
How could we ever recant laws that have previously been recanted.

The USA IS a democracy...Enough of the people have supported these sins to the point that all there is left is to reteach the sanctity of human life and the time-tested morals of social dwelling.

Machiavelli "the Prince must be willing to sacrifice his very soul for the good of the State"

The essence of modern statecraft makes it virtually impossible to rule a country solely based on sound ethical principles. And, in a democracy like our egregiously flawed system, where you have the choice between what on many days feels like Dumb and Stupid, it's impossible to make politics a moral issue. As a conservative catholic yes I believe abortion is wrong and no I will never vote for a candidate who endorses it UNLESS there were significant mitigating factors.

For example.

Candidate A would like to completely disarm the United States and fully open the borders. But he is pro life.

Candidate B has a rational view of the world and presents a sound plan for ensuring the survival of the country beyond the next two weeks. But is outspokenly pro choice.

Candidate B gets my vote.

Homosexual sex (when consensual) is an action that doesn't effect anyone besides the participants, if two guys want to go at it, good for them!

Abortion is the ending of a human life. I see no way that abortion can be justified by a Christian. To view it as anything else than murder is incomprehensible to me. I was pro-life 10 years before I became a Christian, that was after years of having the intellectually incoherent belief of "I oppose abortion, but it's a woman's right". How can the belief that a human fetus isn't a human be justified in any rational way?

covetousness only involves 'the parties' as well, but we are pretty clear as christians that it is not ok


abortion only involves, the parties, and is also not ok


what on its surface only affects one or two people, RARELY only affects one or two people and though , as stated before, IM not supportive of mincing morals with politics and laws, I think the political issue of homosexual MARRIAGE affects more than any two people and is a valid concern

but back on point, there are so MANY issues to deal with in a country this size that we have to prioritize and use some common sense

Just like tanko says, in the absence of a candidate with PERFECTLy christlike views, we have to use common sense and we are forced to compromise or to not participate at all

Yes at this point the USA is in such a morally confused state...We should not totally abandon the former concerns, yet there are at this time more crucial issues to to prioritize. The US has been molested in every corner; "from sea to shining sea"; virtually every home and every institution.

Lord forgive us for the things we have allowed.



...and for the wrongs we ourselves have initiated.

Republicans and Democrats are two teams with the same coach, it's only there to divide the people. I think people should be watching what our politicians say and do and hold it up against the constitution and see if they are walking thier walk. Have you noticed that each politician carries the same agenda down with each new person in office. No one is ever going to be happy. We the people are in a losing game because it's called divide and conquer.

I'm a political atheist. - Gerald Celente

You pretty much nailed it. It's all as real as professional wrestling, as in it's not.

Notice too, how so many people who are against what the Democrats are doing, automatically wanna think the Republicans will save them. Problem with that thinking is, they forget what the Republicans did when they had office. By falling for that paradigm shift of right vs. left, you play right into their hands.

The only way to make any change is to simply stop playing their games. Cause if you play their game, you'll never win because it's rigged.