Let’s Worship God, Not Partisan Political Agendas

When Politics Begins to Inform Religion

In recent years, much has been written about the dangers of conservative political types wanting to impose Christian nationalism on the country. My feelings on the mixing of politics and religion have been the source of many debates—some with my fellow Republicans, but every bit as often with my progressive friends, even family members.

In the most simple of terms, I am comfortable with religion informing political positions. However, it is my opinion that the danger, on both the left and right, is that too often politics is informing religion. People take their political opinions, then (often strenuously) argue that position simply is a reflection of what those who profess to practice a certain faith are compelled to think, say, and do. Again, this is a behavior found among Republicans and Democrats, among conservatives and progressives. With very few rare exceptions, my request is that we stop insisting that supporting a given political position is proof someone either is or is not a faithful member of the Christian community.

The Problem with Claiming God’s Political Endorsement

As a practicing Presbyterian, I would have to be blind and deaf to not notice that among mainline Protestant denominations, there seems to be something pretty close to an argument that miraculously the progressive point of view somehow matches up 100 percent of the time with what a “real Christian” should embrace. My firm opinion is that this is both absurd and insulting. The same can be said about conservatives on a different set of issues. The difference is that while much concern has been evidenced about Christian nationalism, the same cannot be said about criticizing progressive Christians for arguing that their politics is merely what God desires to be done.

Susan B. Anthony long ago captured my thoughts on this general subject. “I distrust those who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.” Hold whatever political opinion you choose. Tread very carefully when it comes to asserting that view is held, because, as a Christian, it is all you can do.

When Political Positions Come Before Scripture

It seems fair to observe that conservatives generally combine politics and religion on matters that most would agree are primarily ethical or moral in nature. Whether it is defining marriage, or abortion, or any of a bunch of other topics, the tendency is to quote Biblical Scripture to support their position. The issue is that far too often the political position comes first, then the hunt for Biblical support.

From where I sit, progressives seem to believe a whole host of topics (e.g., caring for the poor or welcoming immigrants) require particular government policies, certain specific programs, and the exact funding levels they seek. If I do not support increasing government funding for low-income housing down to the exact penny they desire, that translates into me not caring about the poor in their view.

Please. Is there never a time when it is fair and appropriate to ask whether or not the continued expansion and expense of government programs is producing acceptable results, no matter the stated intention of a given program? Maybe, just maybe, I can care as much as anyone else, but I want to try some new ways of addressing the problem. Declaring me to hold views incompatible with what “real Christians” believe is virtually certain to get my blood boiling.

Is Christianity About Being Kind at All Costs?

Recently, I saw on Facebook something that summarized a lot of my thinking. The picture is of Jesus at the Temple overturning the tables where blatant money-changing activity was occurring. To the side, there is a man looking at the scene. His quote is “Well, that was not very Christlike.” It is as though the feelings police have overtaken so many things that often the effect is to turn Mainline Protestant faith denominations into a giant wellness circle where everyone is “kind” to each other at all times. It deserves a mention that seemingly this “kind at all times” mantra is rendered moot when a progressive encounters someone with diverging political views. Prioritizing kindness can be a wonderful philosophy, and people are free to believe whatever they choose. That does not automatically translate the point of view into being a religious approach.

Claiming Christianity is in lockstep with any political point of view (as opposed to making the focus on the divinity of Christ and what that means for each of us), much less that this viewpoint needs to be translated into specific funding levels for specific government programs, is hubris of the worst order in my view. C.S. Lewis once said: “Not everything can be resolved through kindness, which is why the angels carry swords, not flowers.”

Faith, Humility, and Abraham Lincoln’s Example

Maybe it is time for all of us to think more about what we believe is the proper relationship of man to God when it comes to politics and religion. When asked if he thought God was on his side during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln responded that he was more worried about being on God’s side. For me, that’s the right attitude! Lincoln understood the organization chart.

The Bible Is More Than a Political Document

In no way, shape, or form do I claim to be some sort of theologian or Biblical scholar. Still having done my share of Bible studies (even reading it in its entirety in 108 days), I believe the Bible deserves more respect than being reduced to a political document. Hunting for Scriptural support for something that is essentially a political position turns the whole experience of looking to the Bible for guidance upside down.

Moreover, as has been seen repeatedly, virtually any point of view can find some support somewhere in the Bible. Heck, in Proverbs, you can find instances that highlight the wisdom of both sides of the same topic. It is wise to both not waste time and not move too quickly. Which of the two gets prioritized depends on the given situation.

This layman refuses to believe the Bible was intended to be primarily a document to be used in support of political arguments. One of my favorite ministers once said that the Bible was too serious to be taken literally. She did not mean that there was anything incorrect or wrong in there. Instead, she was encouraging us to go to the book and the Lord with an open mind and a readiness to understand that context counts, that what was a good idea in one situation did not require it to be so in another.

Worship God, Not Partisan Political Agendas

In the coming days, it would be nice to see the faith community become more of a home for civilized discussion and debate, a place where disagreeing is not automatically viewed as some sort of character flaw or proof of not truly wanting to reflect grace in thought, word, and deed. Let’s spend more time prayerfully discerning what God wants of us versus telling others God is on our side. What if all of us seek the opportunity to find common ground with those with whom we politically disagree, asking God to lead us all? Let’s worship God, not partisan political agendas. That does seem to be closer to faithfully practicing our religion.