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Christianity Today, August, 2008 |

The Other Election

Faith-friendly Democrats may take more congressional seats from Republicans this fall.

Collin Hansen | posted 7/09/2008 09:20AM

The presidential primaries have diverted attention from down-the-ballot House and Senate races, yet political observers say Congress could be where the Democrats win their most significant victories in ...

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A Hermit

Posted: July 10, 2008 9:17 AM

A simple, good informational article. The emotional responses of other readers to this article are out of place and betray a lack of consideration of the whole of the gospel in applying it to the politics of our day. Materialism, greed, and the wars they spawn (Iraq) are the biggest threat to 'family values' and continued human existence, not gay marriage and abortion (though they are serious issues). The political choices of today are not black and white. To vote Democratic often means to vote for abortion and 'gay rights'. To vote Republican means to vote for materialism and greed (those who support the wealthiest and most powerful people and corporations through cutting taxes, environmental regulations, and social programs for the poor, supporting building weapons of mass destruction and militarism). I consistently vote Democratic as the lesser of two evils, but don't condemn those who don't.

ann	Posted: July 10, 2008 12:08 AM


we just need to remember that God isn't a member of any political party.

Ruth	Posted: July 09, 2008 4:02 PM

Jesus invited the lost to the table. When was the last time a Republican Christian invited anyone but his colleagues to the table? I believe in Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, not the Democratic Party. I do not support abortion nor do I support gay marriage; however I do support the Lord's way, each one must choose, not be cohersed nor subjected to; but they must believe in their own heart that He is Lord. If He is indeed Lord in your life then choose a president that is willing to serve all mankind not just the one that agrees with you for the moment, that is what has been done for the last eight years.

marshall

Posted: July 09, 2008 2:56 PM

Didn't your Evangelical Manifesto say we should stop focusing on politics. CT does nothing but this in recent years, and not very well. The depth of discussion on the nature of man, the role of government, comparative political philosophies, and the nature of power is about an inch deep. It is embarassing. Instead, you churn out this "faith-friendly" fluff and Obamaphile nonsense, and applaud yourselves for seeming relevant. Is because the cultural and political elite and the left seem to now listen and like? You're useful to them, and now share their lexicon, and don't challenge their power. What is your get on this? A check, a place at the table? Feeling relevant and smart?

Michele

Posted: July 09, 2008 2:50 PM

Gene-we always need to assume the best in people and offer one another grace even if we disagree with their positions...God is the only who judges someone's heart. Barack says Jesus is Lord of his life--his journey may look different form yours just as yours looks different than mine ...but the bottom line is we all seek to put Jesus first in our life ..look at Barack's life (not through the media lens but by his own words and those who know him) and the way he has served his community, the oppressed the 'least of these.' Read his words in his own books. It is a very dangerous place to claim someone is lying about their relationship with God...let's focus on how we can be serving our neighbor instead of wasting energy questioning other's faiths.

Mark	Posted: July 09, 2008 2:31 PM


Elena is right on...I don't know why we even waste our time with the categories of Republican and Democrat. It is time we find people who truly believe and live out the God-given principles of honesty, modesty, generosity, compassion, etc., and above all, faith in Christ.

wesh	Posted: July 09, 2008 1:12 PM

"Ultimately, a "faith-friendly" Democrat does not exist." If you are God, you are in a position to make such a statement of fact. If you are not, you put yourself at risk. In an interview of the author Greshem [sp], he said that "evangelicals live rich and vote poor." Being one of a decreasing number of republicans in government, perhaps the most problematic realities I deal with are 1) the extent to which Christians in the political arena are about "ME and MY money," and 2) the underlying premise that "White is right". If you work in goverment, you are defined are bad without any notice of the good that is accomplished. What you don't know can hurt you, and when you have eyes and refuse to see, it will. If you what to rally know what is going on, follow the money.

Eric B

Posted: July 09, 2008 1:09 PM

Mack, you're wrong that Republicans are "only trying to make themselves rich." I believe that we are overtaxed, because Congress believes it's their money instead of ours, and they spend it recklessly. However, just because I want to keep more of my income does not mean I'm greedy, if that's what you mean by wanting to "make [myself] rich." There are enormous differences between the parties, including that we want our military to succeed, rather than lose, as the Democrats do. We believe that socialism is inherently bad, because it causes people to look to government for their needs, rather than to rely on God for their needs. The Democrat party wants to adopt European style socialism, and Americans will lose more of our rights and freedoms as a result. Democrats, whether "faith-friendly" or not, have to vote with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, who espouse decidedly non-faith-friendly ideals and policies.

Mack	Posted: July 09, 2008 12:45 PM

I am a "faith friendly" Democrat, Edmond. Without going in to a tirade, I refuse to allow the majority of Republicans, who are only trying to make themselves more rich, to co-opt my faith by pandering to my other beliefs. Look at what happened to Mike Huckabee when he tried to incorporate Christian economic ideas into the Republican campaign and was soundly rejected as being too much like a Democrat. At the end of the day, for all of us who are Christians, we just have to ensure that our faith is more important than any party label and, if we are in a political party, then try to get them to adopt Christ as the total role model. Personally, I believe it would be easier to talk Democrats in to being pro-life than to talk Republicans in to adopting in full Christ's Sermon on the Mount as an economic policy guideline.

Mary	Posted: July 09, 2008 12:43 PM

It doesn't matter how faith-friendly a democrat is...when they get to the House or Senate San Francisco Nancy and Senator Reid are going to slap them into line. I find the deception of Barack Obama to be appalling. He didn't mind Reverend Wright's anti-American anti-Israel rants until they became politically disruptive. The democrats are so bent on destruction of our moral beliefs that I don't see how anyone can vote for them if they love Christ.

Gene	Posted: July 09, 2008 12:09 PM

I read these stories with incredulity. Voting for a party is like a no-brainer. Democrats, as I remember when a child growing up in Texas used to be very conservative - no longer. They will swallow a camel rather than swatting a gnat. I have never voted a straight Republican ticket, even though I am a Republican now. Your picture with that wonderful lady from Louisiana is a good example, especially with Barak in the background - two real winners in my book. I wouldn't trust either one as far as I could throw them. Obama is a very dangerous man, who hides it under the facade of being a Christian, which he is not, as far as I am concerned. He will be anything he has to be to be elected - then watch out. In all my years I have never seen the USA in the sad shape she is in. God help us in the days and months ahead, because we most certainly need all the help we can get. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Edmond Long

Posted: July 09, 2008 11:30 AM

Ultimately, a "faith-friendly" Democrat does not exist. Democrat politicians support the Democrat Party platform and piriorities. All of those policies express a socially liberal point of view, a "throw money at the problem" character, and big-government, tax and spend policies. Sadly, we have to look hard to find a faith-friendly, principled Republican. Maybe we believers are finally waking up to reality. The government and politicians are a poor place to set one's hopes.

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