Should A Christian Be A Republican or Democrat?
I recently saw a debate on Facebook which basically was asking this question, although this question is kind of confused by the other question, "Should a Christian vote for Donald Trump"? The answer to this would take some other trails of ethics that may not really relate too much to the first question, so I will just try to answer the first question to the best of my ability and leave the second one for another time and place realizing I have four more years to discuss that.
There are two basic economic systems that the two parties align with in general; capitalism - Republicans, and socialism - democrats. Of course this is a simplification and generalization and some mixing of both philosophies as seen by Clinton and Sanders arguing who was the bigger socialist. Obviously if someone could be more or less of something they are claiming some dilution of the philosophy by capitalism. That being said, let's see which philosophy better represents the Christian world view. Someone in the Facebook debate asked, "What does Jesus have to do with this discussion?" As Christians, we on giving our hearts to Christ, enter into a new kingdom - The Kingdom of God. We live in this world and are subject to its rules and governance but we ultimately answer to and follow a new king, Jesus Christ. Therefore in every arena of life we ask, "How should I behave and what should I believe that would please and align itself in a way consistent with Jesus Christ's character and words. In other words, "What does Jesus have to do with this?", to us, everything.
The dictionary defines capitalism as “an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market.” Historically, capitalism has had a number of advantages. It has liberated economic potential. It has also provided the foundation for a great deal of political and economic freedom. When government is not controlling markets, then there is economic freedom to be involved in an array of entrepreneurial activities. Capitalism has also led to a great deal of political freedom, because once we limit the role of government in economics, we limit the scope of government in other areas. It is no accident that most of the countries with the greatest political freedom usually have a great deal of economic freedom. The idea is freedom to make as much money as you are humanly able to which allows you to hire more people thus taking care of many people and families and allowing their flourishing to possibly set out on their own and do the same, meeting needs in an exponential fashion.
Capitalism encourages work. The whole protestant work ethic sprung from the reformation where a renewed understanding of scripture showed that Adam and Eve from the beginning, worked. Passages in the Pauline epistles stated if a person doesn't work he shouldn't eat and if you don't support your family you are worse than an infidel. Passages in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes extol the joys and importance of work and condemn the opposite. Commentators have even suggested that in Heaven we will be working. Therefore, capitalism does align well with the Christian world view of the importance of work and the denigration of laziness. However, Christianity also demands grace and mercy so it demands taking the wealth which God has enabled us to attain, and sharing it with those who don't have. Paul says in Eph. 4:28 that we work to share with those in need and he says to Timothy to instruct those who are rich to be willing to share. The early church in Acts sold possessions to help people who were struggling financially.
I believe capitalism is the Biblical model. HOWEVER, we do not live in a Christian nation and most of the Christians I know do not live up to our calling, including me. Therefore, capitalism pragmatically speaking does not work in its purest form thus requiring the government to step in and take care of the less fortunate. It also encourages greed. Although our president, a capitalist to the core, hired thousands of people giving them livelihood, it would be interesting to see what percentage he gave away to the poor. I would guess very little, thus the problem with capitalism.
The democratic socialists state,
"We are socialists because we reject an economic order based on private profit, alienated labor, gross inequalities of wealth and power, discrimination based on race and sex, and brutality and violence in defense of the status quo. We are socialists because we share a vision of a humane social order based on popular control of resources and production, economic planning, equitable distribution, feminism, racial equality and non-oppressive relationships. We are socialists because we are developing a concrete strategy for achieving that vision, for building a majority movement that will make democratic socialism a reality in America. We believe that such a strategy must acknowledge the class structure of American society and that this class structure means that there is a basic conflict of interest between those sectors with enormous economic power and the vast majority of the population."
In other words, they feel capitalism causes inequality where the white male born into a privileged family gets richer while everyone else is separated and divided into a class system. If only there was more governmental control of wealth, it could be more evenly and fairly distributed. Therefore they believe in bigger government, more governmental regulation, higher taxes for the wealthy to share the wealth, and more welfare to help the poor. There are certain flaws inherent to this philosophy. First of all, it encourages laziness. The human heart is at its core lazy. If you can make the same amount of money by working or not working, nine out of ten people will choose not to work. When I help out at our Church ministry of giving food to the poor, I get to take them into a room and ask for prayer requests. I never had anyone ask to pray for a job. The number one prayer request was that they would be declared disabled.
The second problem is that governments are corrupt because they are made up of corrupt people. The same problem that flaws capitalism, also attacks socialism - greed. Can you really trust governments with your money to do the right thing? As I have visited socialistic countries on mission trips, I have driven through the "run-down" living situations of the people to be shocked by a beautiful, manicured, gated, fenced, mansion appearing totally out of place. When I ask about it I always get the same answer -"It's a government building." The government will keep whatever they want and then distribute the leftovers.
So what is the answer, socialism or capitalism. Since the Bible emphasizes taking care of the poor as a priority far exceeding personal freedom ,(http://thoughtsfromtherightbrain.blogspot.com/2011/03/christians-response-to-poor.html), the socialist or Democratic philosophy of government has to be what Christians should align with because we can't trust individuals to take care of the less fortunate in our sinful society. However, In socialists desires of equality, that have embraced the feminist agenda which unfortunately includes the right to abortion. I can't understand how, in their desire to be inclusive, the Democrat party has left out the unborn as a group to be protected. As an OB/GYN who sees life in the womb daily, I just don't get it. Is it that they don't vote? And as far as women's rights, half of these aborted babies are XX.
Therefore, I think the sanctity of life has to Trump (sorry about the pun) all the other issues, even taking care of the poor. At least the poor had a chance to be born and live. Until the democratic party protects the rights of the unborn, I have to vote Republican and self impose rules on giving generously and sacrificially to all in need. I would probably consider myself a pro-life Democrat but since this seems to be a unicorn, I will continue voting Republican.
I found a verse justifying the belief that "Pro-life" makes me a "one issue voter".
"Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king." Esther 7:3,4
Paraphrasing this in my own words would sound something like this, "Oh king, there is an issue that is so serious that I must risk my life to discuss with you. If it was just social injustices I would have kept quiet and endured, but this is about life and death and I am compelled to act." You might think I'm reading too much into this but I don't think so. Life is the primary issue to vote for. Vote independent if they are pro-life and you don't like the Republican candidate but always vote pro-life.
It's common now to say, "Well, I'm 'all life'". In other words, pro-life from the womb is just part of it. Taking care of poverty, educational opportunities, health, housing, career opportunities are all part of being "pro - whole life". There's so much more to life than just being born. While I get what they are saying, I feel the main reason for this argument is to line up so many factors involved with "life" that you say, "Well look. This party stands for 9 of 10 "pro-life" issues and your party only emphasizes 1 of 10," ignoring the fact that without that 1 primary anti abortion emphasis, the other 9 are moot. It is a dilutional argument and don't fall for it.
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