“Christians Who Vote Democrat Should Be…”

Tune in to S4E6: “Christians Who Vote Democrat Should Be” to experience the podcast version of this content.

In response to the May 11, 2022 Senate vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would have codified abortion nationwide, allowed abortion through the ninth month of pregnancy and for which 49 out of 50 Senate Democrats voted in favor, Pastor Tom Buck tweeted the following:

“In light of today’s vote by Democrats to legalize abortion until the moment of birth, we are rapidly reaching the point that voting for a Democrat should be a matter or church discipline.”

I believe Pastor Buck’s words were meant in jest, but some on his thread found them to be spot on and long overdue.

“I think we reached that point a while back,” one Twitter user responded. “This point should have been reached years ago,” another replied. “I think we’re already there,” yet another said.

Gratefully, though, many others chimed in to respectfully disagree, while some questioned how such a standard would be implemented and by what Biblical mandate it would be imposed.

Again, I believe Pastor Buck’s Tweet was made in jest, yet he isn’t the first Believer on social media to make such a suggestion. I first encountered this sentiment in 2019, after several states passed near bans on abortion. The discourse entailed a few extremes, which led me to speak on the matter in an episode of Truth + Fire: The Podcast (“Abortion: Voting Bloc or Stumbling Block”, November 2020).

With the abortion debate reignited, and in light of Pastor Buck’s Tweet, I felt it necessary to reiterate and expound upon my concerns from that episode. This sentiment may be starting off as a joke, but given how hostile the abortion debate had become, I would not be surprised if some local assemblies found a way to make political affiliation a condition of church membership! (It may seem unfathomable now, but consider how quickly even “solid” churches were to close their doors for months on end because the government told them to do so. I don’t put anything past us now.)

Of course, given what we’ve been seeing coming out of the Democrat party (especially in recent years), I can certainly see how one’s affiliation with this political party might be a cause for concern. But God, through His Word, reminds us that our judgments shouldn’t be so hasty, and He helps us filter our concerns through the many graces we are called to show one another, even as we strongly disagree.

So, rather than readily dismiss or “discipline” or dismiss them, I think Christians who have a credible testimony of faith, but who for whatever reason vote Democrat, should be…

…Given the Benefit of the Doubt (1 Corinthians 13:7)

Don’t get me wrong. We are right to be angry as many well-known Democrats boast of plans to normalize wickedness through public policy. Yet, even in our anger, it is incumbent upon us to not sin (Ephesians 4:26). It is also our charge to give our Brothers and Sisters in Christ the benefit of the doubt (1 Corinthians 13:7). As we love one another in the Lord, that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”.

We can rightly be opposed to wickedness and wicked men, but our passions cannot cause us to lash at and lump our Brothers and Sisters in with the lot of them based on circumstantial evidence of sin. Put another way, just because there are wicked men abusing the political system to push their nefarious agendas doesn’t necessarily mean Christians who vote for them support their nefarious agendas.

Why someone votes for a given candidate can be nuanced, and using mere appearance to judge someone’s decision causes us to judge them unrighteously (Matthew 7:1-5).

First, as the adage goes, “all politics is local”. We must consider that there may be local policies that directly impact their lives and families which drive their vote, rather than mainstream “culture wars”. Second, while they may be few, there are locales where Democrats remain politically moderate - where the average Democrat doesn’t and/or has no desire to engage in the extremes the mainstream players in their party have taken on. For instance, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia went against his party as the sole Democrat to help block the Women’s Health “Protection” bill. Former Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, also a Democrat, is “pro-life” and in June 2022 he signed a bill criminalizing abortion providers if Roe v Wade was overturned (though he and many pro-life Republicans in his state don’t equate abortion with homicide - but that’s another post). Third, as exiles in Babylon, some Believers simply view their political engagement as doing the best with what this earthly system has to offer. Knowing the days are evil, they simply vote for the “best” available candidate even while rejecting part of his platform or personal failures. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, we have to consider that ignorance and deception often play a large role in politics. Why someone votes for a Democrat could mean he supports the wicked extremes espoused by mainstream players in the Democrat party, but it might simply be a matter of addressing local concerns, or being altogether misinformed of the matters at hand.

…Borne with Patience (1 Thessalonians 5:14; Romans 15:1)

Again, why someone votes for a given candidate in either political party can be nuanced. Of course, it doesn’t mean their reasons can’t be foolish or out of ignorance, but it’s possible that it is not due to the individual’s intention to support sin. In fact, whether one votes for either party isn’t a sin in itself and his reasons could be wholly rooted in his Biblical convictions. Though, again, those reasons could be informed by disinformation and deception.

Years ago (in a galaxy far, far away), I supported the Black Lives Matter movement. I was a new Believer, and leading voices presented the movement as simply standing for the dignity of Black life. My support was based on my holding to the Biblical truth that human life is valuable to God (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:6; Psalm 8:4; Matthew 6:26). Thus, in cases where it was presented that the lives of Black Americans were treated with less value, I supported the necessity to utter that Black Lives Matter (as well)! Yet, the more educated I became of the movement, the more I realized its goals to undermine the nuclear family, to push the “LGBT” agenda, and to serve as a sounding board for the tenets of critical race theory, which victimizes Blacks and demonizes Whites. I also began to observe that the movement (and the political leaders who supported it) had a tendency to only speak up and out for the Black lives lost at the hands of a White culprit while fully ignoring the Black lives lost at the hands of other Blacks. This inconsistency flew in the face of what Scripture taught about impartiality when meting out justice (Psalm 98:9; Leviticus 19:15; Romans 2:11 and elsewhere).

Surely, I continue to agree with the truth that Black life is also valuable, but I ditched “the movement” as soon as I came to understand what it was truly about. I also came to realize I didn’t need to support an earthly “movement” to stand for and live out what I already believed. I simply needed to proclaim the Gospel and stand on the full counsel of God.

I had the opportunity to grow out of that stage before my platform gained any real reach, so I was spared from being misunderstood as being “woke” or treated as an enemy by my politically conservative Christian friends. I can only imagine how I would have fared if professing Believers discounted me as a Sister in the Lord or counted me as a false Believer before I had the opportunity to mature in my faith and political discernment. Which is why conversations and, when necessary, patient correction, would be most helpful among us. A Believer’s political affiliation may not necessarily mean he is confused by the Gospel, but has been misguided by how a policy or politician he supports displays the Gospel or full counsel of God.

Rather than alienating or dismissing a fellow Believer because of what we assume he/she believes, why not initiate a conversation or inquire of their rationale that we might be able to judge with righteous judgment? After all, when tempted to judge one another based on political affiliation, we’re ultimately concerned about what those who profess Christ believe about Scripture, Jesus Christ and what it means to live a life that glorifies God. Political affiliation could be the fruit of these things, but we must remember that there are also unbelievers in the Democrat and Republican parties, and neither gains automatic salvation because he chose the correct political candidate.

…Given Room to Exercise Their Christian Liberty (Galatians 5:13; Romans 14:10-13)

It’s understandable why some would be concerned for Christians who’ve voted Democrat given how far left of center the party has moved over the years. Yet, the Republican Party hasn’t exactly been immune to the shifts in our culture. Despite his unsuccessful 2021 recall run for California Governor on the Republican ticket, Caitlyn Jenner is now a contributor for Fox News. David Rubin of the conservative network The Blaze TV, is not only in a civil union with another man but they welcomed “twins” in 2022 via two separate surrogates. To be fair, he received quite a bit of backlash with his announcement. Yet, there were just as many “conservatives” responding with “congratulations!” Even conservative darling and professing Christian Candace Owens defended Rubin at the time (of course, this was before they split over the Israel-Palestine issue.) Wyoming’s state legislature has boasted of having an “openly- gay Republican” member who has worked for years to block “anti-LGBTQ legislation”. A gay “Trump-supporting” Republican in New Hampshire has worked to have his state change its definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. And even as each Republican Senator voted to block the Women’s Healthcare Protection Act of 2022, the two who are pro-abortion, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, began working with Senate Democrats to “come up with a more focused bill” that would ensure “a woman’s right to choose” to murder her child in utero would remain in place no matter if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Lastly is the reality that Donald Trump, who is the favored candidate amongst a majority of conservative Christian voters, is a pro-choice Republican candidate for the President of the United States.

The point is neither political party has a monopoly on righteousness, and both parties consist of representatives who would work for or against matters of Christian concern. As such, we have to trust that our brothers and sisters who choose to exercise their liberty to vote are doing their best to vote according to their Christian convictions, which are ultimately between them and the Lord (Romans 8:6; 14:5-9, 14:22).

As such, breaking Christian fellowship with a Believer for his political affiliation is not only legalistic, but an extreme that could beget even more extremes! For example, as we’ve been made aware of the agenda to push “LGBT” curriculum and critical race theory in public schools, does this now mean Believers with children in a public school should also be subject to church discipline? Would this also mean that EVERY Believer who owns a home should also be subject to church discipline if we pay our property taxes, which fund public education?

Even as we might strongly disagree with their decision, whether one votes Democrat or Republican (or chooses to send his children to public school over homeschooling) is a matter that still falls under Christian liberty.

Again, why someone has opted to vote Democrat can be nuanced, and it could actually be rooted in their solid Biblical convictions, depending on the matter at hand, their understanding of the issue and where they live. One’s vote is also their personal business. Though social media has made us privy to the political leanings of some in the Body, no one is obligated to share their political decisions. Attempting to subject a Believer to church discipline for personal convictions that even Scripture says are to be kept between themselves and the Lord puts us in place of judging “another man’s servant” (Romans 14:4).

“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:12-13). Applying this counseling to this case, let us leave to one another the business of how we choose to vote, for it is a matter of our convictions and Christian liberty. As such, it is a matter we will be held accountable for by God alone. Yet, as we exercise this liberty, it is incumbent upon us not to go about expressing how we might choose to vote (or not vote) before our Brothers and Sisters for whom our convictions could be a stumbling block that gives room for contempt or a license to violate their own conscience.

I Said All of This to Say…

Ultimately, the true definition of “politics” entails the affairs of this life, which Believers shouldn’t become entangled in if we seek to please God and keep our focus on what He’s called us to do (2 Timothy 2:4). Yet, the challenge of “politics” today comes as our government has taken on a sphere of cares not originally intended for it to handle, including telling the Church when her members can gather, redefining the institution of marriage, allowing citizens to murder the innocent and defenseless without due penalty, and introducing our children to sexually suggestive and sexually explicit content in schools. The idea of “politics” is now conflated with matters that are spiritual, which Christians indeed are called to engage.

Yet, as we engage, we must remember that we do so not for ultimate benefits for this life, but for the heavenly benefits of the life to come. We engage to proclaim the truth and share the Gospel and make Christ known. If we engage for any earthly purpose, indeed we would eventually use earthly standards to judge other Believers.

To that end, if we wish to engage in politics, I would encourage us all to do so with righteous judgment. Test all policies and candidates by God’s word and inform ourselves of who they are and what they support. From what I’ve seen to date concerning Christians holding the line for the Democrat party, for example, there is a willingness to trust the narratives given them and to judge matters by appearance rather than judging with righteous judgment. A video clip or statement is released of potential wrongdoing and some in the Body foolishly, albeit per their Biblical conviction against said wrongdoing, become outraged and prepared to oppose anyone who would agree with the wrongdoer. (See any claimed cases of police brutality where it was later learned the “victim” was actually a culprit in the midst of victimizing someone else.) Yet, if there were more of a willingness to be slow to speak and slow to anger, they might get a fuller picture and have discerned the “wrongdoing” wasn’t wrong after all.

Another consideration for those of us who wish to engage in politics is to remember that our political decisions and opinions are best kept to ourselves. Of course, it is fair and necessary to speak about matters that contradict Scripture, such as abortion, same sex marriage, “gender identity”, etc as those are ultimately spiritual matters, and we are called to cast down “imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Yet, we can speak against such matters without specifically needing to rail against those who might identify with a given political party, as this causes us to venture into warring against flesh and blood, which is not our call (2 Corinthians 10:3-4; Ephesians 6:12).

A third consideration for those who choose to exercise our liberty to vote is that Satan is roaming around seeking whomever he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). “WHOMEVER” is the operative word here. Scripture doesn’t say “whomever is a registered Democrat”. Of course, from the evidence before us, it’s clear that he’s feasting on many in the Democrat party, but he’s also chowing down on many Republicans as well (I shared examples of this earlier.)

Finally, we who intend to vote must remember that political parties are earthly institutions guided by the whims of men, most of whom don’t know Christ. Neither party (whether a mainline or an alternative political party) perfectly represents the righteousness of Christ or the consistency of objective truth. Such will only be seen when Christ returns and establishes His eternal government (Daniel 2:44).

In the meantime, the Democrat Party might be most actively pushing to codify and normalize evil into society. Yet, the Republican Party has its own shortcomings, being made up of a host of theological heretics, moral hypocrites and many who would compromise objective truths for political expediency. In the end, neither side wants to truly uphold the whole of Christian values and truths. They simply want Christian votes and will deploy whatever Christian talking points and cherry-picked Bible verses that suit their agenda.

Christians can certainly choose to abstain from the political process if we are convinced that partaking is to engage in evil. Yet, that isn’t generally applicable or practical for many of us, nor is it a consistent display of our being in the world but not of it. So, if we choose to vote, we should vote in ways that align with what pleases Christ. Yet, it is necessary for us to lovingly edify one another per God’s Word (and educate one another on policies and politicians) so that we know, and act according to, that good and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-3).

If a Believer is concerned about the political affiliation of his Brother, perhaps he could use his sword to sharpen him rather than be quick to harshly cut him down or cut him off. Besides, if one’s political affiliation is truly a symptom of his disobedience to Christ, certainly there will be other, more compelling and explicitly Biblical grounds for subjecting him to church discipline.