Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Jesus is not a republican or a democrat

Jesus is not a republican or a democrat

Last updated on: August 26, 2020 at 3:36 pm by Adrian Warnock

Jesus is not a republican or a democrat 2020-08-26T15:36:28+01:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

For the sake of the global cause of Christ may I just appeal to my US Evangelical brothers and sisters, PLEASE do not claim that Christians can only follow one political tribe. I shouldn’t have to say this. And I do not want to get too involved in the US election. After all the last thing you need is more foreign interference. But a video from MacArthur which I have embedded below alongside other social media comments from elsewhere have concerned me.

Following my recent rant urging Christians to stop lying about Covid19, I do have another rant brewing on racism. Consider this post you are reading a little mini after shock in between the two big eruptions. Something of the old blogger is stirring in me. I was once given the nickname “Warnie” which to me sounds a bit like Arnie and perhaps I could say in a parody of the Terminator:

Warnie is back!

What concerns me today is just how divided USA political opinion seems to be. And yet how firm most US Evangelicals are in their support of Trump, who does not champion the values of Jesus.

It seems that a cultural war is in full swing in the USA at the moment. And with comments from Trump undermining trust in the upcoming election, I sometimes worry, could some more extreme form of civil unrest possibly erupt in November?

On almost every social and policy issue a hard line has been drawn in the sand. On one side of that line is The Republican Party, Donald Trump, and if social media is to be believed almost 100% of White Evangelical Christians. On the other side of the line is the Democrats, and if social media is to be believed every Black person whether they are Christian or not. And all too often there is a reflex adoption of the “correct” view of your particular group without really exploring the reasoning behind a different perspective.

I get that abortion is a key issue for many Christians. But shouldn’t justice be important too?

Shouldn’t caring for the poor? After all Jesus preached a gospel of Social Justice. Wouldn’t one way to prevent abortion be to make it easier for women to become single mothers and feel they would get the financial and social support they needed to raise their kids?

Here in the UK Christians do not tend to vote solely on a single issue as many do in the USA.

British Christians do tend to understand that there is a balance to be struck between facilitating individual responsibility and making sure that there is a good safety net to help those who stumble and fall. And, unlike in the USA, the political parties that tend too actually win British elections often do so partly because they have commandeered some of the best ideas from their political opponents. Politicians here like to position themselves as more in the middle rather than at one extreme or the other. I remember listening to Clinton in the 2016 presidential debate and thinking it is hard to imagine how she could have done more to alienate right wing evangelicals.

I think there is another reason why UK Christians do not tend quite as much to be single issue voters. This is because even the most pro-life person here knows that whoever they vote for abortion will continue. But isn’t that true in the USA too?

Source: flickr.com / gageskidmore

Has Trump actually prevented any abortions? Would any more happen if Biden was in the White House?

If we are keen to save lives before they are born, what about after they are born? Health care provision for poor children saves lives. Improving racial harmony and ensuring that police are no longer at liberty to shoot black men in the back or choke them to death also saves lives. Handling COVID in a scientifically informed way, such as wearing masks, will also save lives.

Why do some evangelicals give the impression that they only care about lives in the womb not outside?

Part of the reason why the USA has failed so badly in handling COVID19 is because of your healthcare system. Why would it be considered un Christian by many to advocate for the kind of changes the Democrats are suggesting to ensure full and fair coverage is available for all? Why would it be so wrong to go further still and produce a proper national health service which could help to co-ordinate pandemic response, and organise the large randomised controlled clinical trials that are so desperately needed at the moment but have happened in the UK but not in the USA.

Imagine my horror then in this context to see the following clip from John MacArthur. In it he makes clear that he believes that it is impossible to vote for Democrats and be a Christian. Yet there are many black Christians who plan to do just that. Does that make them unbelievers? Does that make them hostile to the cause of Christ?

MacArthur says in the following clip based on a conversation he was reporting he had with President Trump:

“. . .from certainly a biblical standpoint Christians could not vote democratic because there’s no way that a Christian can affirm the slaughter of babies . . . these things aren’t even political for us . . . these things are biblical . . . any real true believer is going to be on your side in this election because it’s not just an individual it’s an entire set of policies that Christians cannot in any way affirm . . . the democratic platform . . . is an all-out massive comprehensive assault on god and on what god has placed in the world to protect people to allow for civilization to flourish . . .no thinking person no person who wanted any kind of life for anyone in the future could possibly affirm that kind of behavior”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3xDGSINo2E&feature=youtu.be&t=73

I am grateful to Eric Schumacher for sharing this video and boldly pointing out that this is another example of MacArthur adding to the gospel. Christians should denounce such attempts to bind their conscience and force them to vote for one party or be declared apostate. We must not add extra conditions for salvation other than what the Bible tells us.

We are saved by faith alone, working itself out in our lives in obedience to Christ NOT by also being a Republican voter.

MacArthur claims every Christian must vote Trump

I am also concerned about the Islamophobia in this clip. The claim is falsely made that Biden plans to fill his cabinet with Muslims. When the truth is, he simply wants to stop discriminating against Muslims, allowing some to immigrate, and yes to allow some to serve in his administration.

Christians are no longer the dominant force they once were in the USA. They would be wise to advocate for real religious freedom. There are concerns about Christians being discriminated against in some settings. If we want to maintain our own freedoms it is in our own interest to support the freedom of others. Would MacAthur welcome practising Christians being excluded from government? We are unlikely to see the formation of a theocracy in the USA any time soon where being a Christian becomes a test for who can govern and Christian values are imposed by law. If anything the opposite, which I call atheocracy is far more likely. This is where the aggressive secularists cancel and exclude from any public positions anyone who upholds any form of religious thought, often in such circumstances Christians are the first in the firing line.

So lets please remember voting is important. It is a sacred duty. It is a Christian duty. But it is a duty that should be left free to the individual conscience. And Christians should humbly admit that many good people who are also believers have very different political views to them, and that is OK!

Jesus wants us to follow him, not Donald Trump

What is a Christian?

John MacArthur v. the Gospel of Jesus

Jesus, Have Your Way

Jesus Wept with Compassion

Jesus’ Gospel of Social Justice

Christians must stop lying about COVID19

http://bloodcanceruncensored.com/which-medicines-treat-covid-19-dexamethasone-hydroxychloroquine-antivirals-monoclonal-antibodies

Offering hope during COVID-19

Jesus gave his blood. Will you?

Previous Post

August 23, 2020

Corona truth telling with Billy the Atheist

Next Post

August 30, 2020 Adrian meets Billy the Atheist - The Rematch

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 and 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy 1 John 300 Leaders A Life of Joy Abortion Acts of the Apostles Adrian on radio Adrian on TV Adrian's Story Albert Mohler Amazing Grace Arminocalvinist Spectrum Assurance Atonement Atonement Series Attributes of God Barnabas Best of the Blog Bible Bible Software Bible Translation Biblical Inerrancy Billy Graham Bob Roberts Books C. J. Mahaney Calvinism Cessationism Charis Warnock Charismatic Spectrum Charles Simeon Charles Spurgeon Church Leadership Colossians Complementarian - Egalitarian Spectrum Complementarianism Conferences Culture Daniel Debates Deuteronomy DGM08 DGM13 Discernment Doctrine Don Carson Ed Stetzer Eddy Leo Ephesians ESV Bible Translators Interview Evangelism in a Post-Christian World evolution Exodus Expository Preaching Ezekial Faith and Feelings Family Florida Galatians General Genesis Get Wisdom - Proverbs sermons Gifts of The Holy Spirit Gifts of the Holy Spirit 2006 Global Faith Forum Godly Attitudes Gospel Gospels Grace Greg Haslam Grudem vs Piper: The Baptism Debate Healing Heaven Hell and Rob Bell Hebrews Henry Tyler Henry Warnock Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Baptism Hope Reborn Hugh Palmer Irresistable Grace Isaiah J. I. Packer Jack Hayford Joel Joel Warnock John John Lanferman John MacArthur John Newton John Owen John Piper John Smyth Jonathan Edwards Josh Harris Justification Justin Taylor Kenneth Ulmer Leadership Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Samuel Lex Loizides Liam Goligher Lig Duncan Limited Atonement Lou Fellingham Mark Dever Mark Driscoll Martyn Lloyd-Jones Matt Chandler Mental Health Missionary Methods: St Paul’s or Ours? My Story N. T. Wright Nehemiah NWA08 NWA09 NWA10 Opinion OT History Books Pentateuch Personal Personal Revival Philippians PJ Smyth Podcast Politics Preaching Prophecy Proverbs Psalms Raised With Christ Reformed Charismatic Regeneration Relationships Resurrection Resurrection & Salvation Revival Rice Broocks Rich Man and Lazarus Rick Warren Rob Rufus Roland Allen Romans Sam Storms Sanctification Series Sermons Sermons on Philippians Serving Jesus at Work Sexuality Sin St Paul Steve Chalke Strange Fire Suffering T4G T4G Statement TAB09 Tamasin Warnock Teamwork Terry Virgo The Atonement Debate - Chalke book The Soulwinner The Spirit-Filled Church The Traitor Within Theologcial Spectrums Theosis Tim Challies Tim Keller Titus TOAM06 TOAM07 TOAM08 TOAM09 TOAM10 TOAM11 Todd Bentley Tope Koleoso Total Depravity Video Water Baptism Wayne Grudem Worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 May 2025 April 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the Jewish place of assembly for worship and teaching called?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Court Temple Synagogue Tabernacle

Books by This Author Books by Adrian Warnock

See All Titles »