My Political Affiliations and Support – October 11, 2016

So, how do I apply these principles and convictions that I’ve been talking about in the real world? What choices do I make regarding political party affiliations and supporting specific candidates?

Once again, I am focusing on moral issues addressed in the Scriptures. Of course, I do have opinions and convictions about other issues. I’m not treating such issues as matters of Biblical conviction. For example, I’m no economist, but I have what I believe are basic, common sense views on fiscal policy. I have even stronger views about immigration policies and the right to bear arms.

But as important as those political issues are to me, the moral matters matter most. There are two moral issues that are absolute deal breakers for me, because they are so clearly addressed in Scripture: the issues of abortion and homosexual perversion.

Regarding these, the Libertarian, Green and Democratic parties each fail the Biblical test. Now as I’ve said, I also take exception to other planks in the political platforms of these parties. But the Biblical test takes precedence. So as far as I’m concerned, if an individual politician or a political party fails to answer correctly those two questions of moral imperatives, it’s two strikes and they’re out.

I therefore cannot affiliate with any of these parties, or vote for politicians aligning themselves with these political parties. They have built their respective foundations, their political platforms, on contradicting God’s word, advocating concepts and behaviors that are morally reprehensible. To support or vote for them would be a denial of my faith and a violation of my conscience. I won’t do that.

I’m not sure I can overstate this point. This is such a strong matter of faith and conviction for me. This Biblical litmus test determines even how much political discussion I engage in. Like I said, whether it be a person I know or am in conversation with, a candidate or a political party, if they don’t pass the Biblical litmus test, then nothing else they say can atone for that transgression. If they defend what God calls perversion and abomination, if they advocate the murder of babies in their mother’s wombs, then they are advocating positions that are unethical and immoral, and I cannot trust their judgment in other matters.

Therefore, I consider it a waste of my time to discuss politics with such individuals, or to consider other political views such political candidates hold. Tap dancing around the political issues alone will be pointless. The real difference between us is not political, but spiritual. One’s worldview and beliefs determine one’s value systems, and by extension one’s politics. So the root of the matter is worldview and belief. If I come to an impasse with someone of such political persuasion, I will cease discussing politics and will address instead the heart of the matter, if they are willing.

So far, I’ve applied this Biblical litmus test to the political parties on the liberal side of the spectrum. But what about the political parties on the conservative side? I’ll address the Constitution Party at another time. For the duration of this article, I will apply these same principles to the Republican Party.

Of course, the Republican party has traditionally been the conservative option of the two major contenders (Republican vs. Democratic). Generally speaking, Republican candidates have been fiscally conservative, strong on issues pertaining to our borders and rights to bear arms, as well as being strong on the moral issues.

Notice, I said “generally speaking.” It is a generalization to say that all Republican politicians are conservatives. There are those within the Republican party that would describe themselves as “progressives” or “moderates.” Historically, there have been other designations, ones that were less complimentary. And yes, there have been moderates in the party for more than a century. In times past, they’ve been called “Rockefeller Republicans” and “Me too Republicans.” In the last couple of decades, they have been commonly referred to by the acronym RINO: Republican In Name Only.

However, progressives/moderates/RINOs aside, voting Republican generally has meant—and in many cases, still means—that you’re voting for a conservative. And that conservative vote usually means conservative policies regarding the economy, second amendment rights, legal immigration, and especially conservative views regarding the sanctity of marriage and the sanctity of life.

So I am not ashamed to tell you that for more than three decades, I have voted for Republicans. I have done so because I agree with the general support Republicans give to various policies. One is the free enterprise system. I do not believe in nor will I vote for the big government/tax & spend economics/socialism that the Democratic Party has been preaching for generations. Other policies that conservative Republicans hold to that I agree with include things like the uncompromising protection of our right to bear arms, and the protection of our borders.

But again, the most important policies for me are the Biblical and moral issues I’ve mentioned. I vote for politicians that do not show favoritism to those practicing homosexual perversion, and that do stand for the right to life for the unborn. So that means that I will never vote for a Democrat (or a Libertarian, or a Green Party candidate). It also means that I will not knowingly vote for a candidate that wears the label “Republican” but is in truth a RINO.

The current status of the Republican Party has made me rethink casting my vote for them. As a consequence, I am looking seriously at the Constitution Party for the future. But more on that later.