Can Christians be conservatives/Republicans?

[BCRanger10]

Can Christians be conservatives and Republicans?

Why or why not?

[MisterWack]

Christians can choose political party without God attached. The way I see it is, we are made in God’s image. Just as our opinions can change based on our ever expanding knowledge of The Universe, why would God’s stay narrow minded on ideas written down 2,000 years ago… Maybe he would see the doings and happenings of modern day people and realize that we need certain things then would change his mind & feelings.

I see this Earth and human beings as fragile, we need to help the world and ourselves. We can’t look at only our race, only our gender, only our culture, etc. we need to look at the Blue Spot in a vast black ocean… A speck of dust / grain of sand flying into the ether.

I am a Democrat because it seems that only one cares about the stability of the planet with solutions to lead pipes (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), solutions to feeding the poor (Free School Breakfast & Lunch Programs In Minnesota), supporting families (Child Tax Credit increases), helping out your fellow man (Minimum Wage increase talks), Housing For All (Promises to fix the housing crisis under Harris), etc. Just seems one is open to helping human race while the other seems Hell bent on suppressing others for their corporate lobbyists the most.

The Democratic Party definitely has skeletons in the closet though Republican Party hasn’t done anything beneficial in terms of policy under Trump, only deregulating / cutting safety standers / squashing Unions & organizing of workers….

[buzzword]

By default Christians would have to at least lean conservative on some issues. True conservatism goes back to kingdoms. In Christianity, Christ is King and Christians work towards being part of the Kingdom of God. When it comes to Republicanism, it's focus is on representative government and the rule of law. God clearly represents humans being that the Son is working toward salvation of humanity, and has handed down his law to Christians which he judges justly from. In America specifically, conservatism is more focused toward conserving Classical Liberal policies outlined in the Constitution of the United States, many of which derive from God's law being that the founders of this nation were Christian Nationalists at heart who wanted to write a constitution that would prevent the powers and principalities from trespassing on the Natural Law of God. That's why America is One Nation Under God.

[WriteOn]

Most are- actually. Litergical denominations anyway- that I've studied anyway- ;)

Why?

Small government- less meddling with church power over congregants- conservative people- like parameters and rules-

(And- those who want to be leading- clergy- who are denied- go to jobs where they will be able to be an authority in the enforcment of rules too-

Its kinda wierd- depending who you are-

:)

[JSkye]

I am commenting to say no comment. I am not going to get into this fray publicly, but if you want my honest opinion, you can DM me

[Anonymous]

Of course. Jesus believed in smaller gov't., was against abortion, gay rights.

He might have a little trouble with profit motive of pro capitalism. And probably wouldn't be against labor unions. But Jesus was a tireless worker. He was never off the clock. And his father set the template we were all to follow when his father created the universe in 6 days and then rested on the 7th. God didn't want us to be idle. Just charitable when we're blessed. He wasn't for taxing you into doing the right thing. Because what have you learned then? He wanted you to CHOOSE the right thing. He said "when I was hungry you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me". He didn't say "give me free cheese".

[thearchjoker]

Let me ask you a counter question, why couldn't they?

[BCRanger10]

Exactly what I'm trying to find out.

[thearchjoker]

well there you go now you know

[BCRanger10]

I'm more looking for opinions as to why we CAN'T. There are those who think that Jesus Christ was some kind of left-wing Marxist revolutionary or some dumb crap like that. Or they say "He never said anything about abortion or gay marriage!"

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@BCRanger10
Weeeeeeell, since the
TL;DR message of Jesus is: Love for mankind
Then yes, I do think it has way more things to do with the spirit of the left-wing than anything. Yes, I will say that, spirit. This.

[KlinkyCoder]

@Maybe_Maybe_not Seeing gay marriage and abortion as a sin is not the same thing as not loving. For the record, I'm ex-Christian.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@KlinkyCoder
Yes, I know that everything here is extremely complicated in practice, as to what love encompasses exactly, over the years. Especially with a messenger coming from 2000 years ago, especially when so many people, institutions and interpretations stacked over time. And disputed the trophy.

In a way, I consider that it depends on how we deal with a 2000 years old message in relation to anachronism, literal christians will solve the anachronism by being literal, while the hordes of moderate christians will try to think through, in order to find an acceptable compromise for the message and for the societal evolution. To put things in perspective.

So, from a moderate perspective, it sounds fair to me to say that gay marriage is simply two members of mankind loving each other. Abortion is a more complicated though, I reckon.

[Titanic1912]

Biden says, “Put trust and faith in our government!”


Trump says, “In America, we don’t worship government, we worship God!”


I’m an American, I’m a Christian, I put trust and faith in God and I support Trump.


If anyone wants to disagree, they can if they want to. It’s their choice. I won’t look down on you, so don’t look down on me!

[Kaneki05]

The real question is should they be?
Can be? Of course. And are there many? Of course. But you know some more insightful look into Jesus teachings and you'll see his words line up with... (If you are smart you'll figure it out.)

[BCRanger10]

Which words? And I just finished reading through all four Gospels in preparation to answer this.

[Kaneki05]

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

I mean you should know. But here's one I like. There is of course the more obvious example of No one can serve two masters, if you know that one.
It's not hard to figure out he wasn't a valued supporter of rich get richer and poorer get poorer. Quickly one can obtain he believes people should be worker together not against each other for the cause even if his was to god not humanity though by extension yes humanity too.
Capitalism and lack of social care is not a thing Jesus would support and was also one his main issues with the Romans and Jews at the time. It would be pretty hard to miss.

[Kaneki05]

Even his death with silver coins is telling.

[BCRanger10]

Yes, I'm familiar withbthe passage. I've meditated and prayed on it in the past. I'm not certain how it's an endorsement of liberal policy on anything.

[Kaneki05]

I just told you.

[BCRanger10]

Yes, and I don't buy it at all.

If Jesus' mission was one of economics or "social justice" or whatever, then these men contributing what they did would have had the opposite effect of what you've said here. It would have been an occasion of merit and grace for them.

You've probably heard the phrase "it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog", right? Or probably more appropriately, "Don't worry as much about doing great things, but to do small things with great love"?

[Kaneki05]

If Jesus didn't care about economics and social justice he would of not had a problem with the jews or romans and just led a nice life, and more importantly wouldn't of died literally due to greed.
If you don't see money as a problem the reason for his death was for literal capital gains then shrugs you do you.
People believe whatever they want when it comes to religion anyway they don't bother to care about the story of what happened just what suits them.
If you took the story at value his message shows that money is not a thing that should define your life and in a capitalist world it does, meanwhile the opposite of capitalism don't at all.

[BCRanger10]

I didn't say He didn't care about economics. It just wasn't His mission to preach about it. The events and people in the Gospels bear that out. Matthew and Mark, for example, feature almost no references to economics. There are none in John's Gospel at all. The only one that really features anything of substance is Luke, and even some of those are fairly oblique.

Then there's also the fact that Jesus performed miracles for people who were likely wealthy, like the Roman centurion and Jairus. He had a friendly relationship with Nicodemus, who is believed to be wealthy. And I've heard speculations that Simon Peter, the first pope, was himself fairly successful as a fisherman and may have even had his own business. So the idea that Jesus unequivocally hated wealth and those who had it just doesn't hold up.

[Kaneki05]

I just gave you quotes of which he did preach about it. Not my fault you can't figure it out. by the way Jesus hung around with many sinners and were there friends. So that has nothing to do with it.
The idea you can't be friend with someone think differently is absurd.

[BCRanger10]

I didn't say those statements don't exist. What I am saying, as I have this entire time, is that those were not the exclusive or even primary focus of His life and ministry. You're talking about a few statements among many others. He taught about repentance and the forgiveness of sins. He taught about marriage and divorce, warned people about Hell, and spoke in parables. So once again, you can't reduce His life and public ministry to simple economics or liberal political activism, or claim a few verses as an endorsement of the same.

[Kaneki05]

And once again if you can't figure out what these quotes mean that ain't my problem. Anyone smart can figure it out, and the fact he literally died due to exchange of wealth.
If you want to believe he was capitalist with a sense of devoting your life to capital gains then you do you.
I can't explain it any simpler to you that he wasn't.

[BCRanger10]

Yeah, Judas was greedy, but he was also a target of opportunity. If you read the Gospels, you see that the Pharisees had been after Jesus for quite some time, since the very beginning. Hardly a condemnation of wealth, capitalism, whatever you want to call it, especially since two other of the Apostles were likely wealthy as well: Peter (as I already mentioned) and Matthew (former tax collector).

[Kaneki05]

And as I already mentioned Jesus was friends with sinners, and was friends with people of different opinions, he wasn't some bigot who casted stones at other sinners. He would welcome them and try to show them the better path. That's not equal to his friends had to be exactly like him.
So using his saints makes no sense. I've repeated my points several times, and all you've done is repeat what've already proven why it's wrong.
Stop going in circles.

Again if you want to think Jesus was for devotion to capital gains, and likes the idea of rich get richer while poor get poorer you do you. But anyone with a brain can see Jesus would much prefer people to help each other than look for profits.
And Capitalism don't care about helping people it just cares about profits.

[BCRanger10]

Well then I guess, to somewhat shift the conversation, another important question to ask is whether wealth and profit are inherently bad things and if so, why? Then another question worth asking is if either of those things says anything about what's in someone's heart.

And to clarify, something else I've not said is that Jesus would have been some kind of laissez-faire (spelling?) capitalist.

[Kaneki05]

The answer is simple, any amount of wealth you have = someone else not having it.
Therefore you alone having wealth causes someone else's suffering.
If you have a phone? It's very likely some poor kids are been forced to make that very product you use everyday and have no problem with it. If you have a house? Someone else don't. If you have food another is starving.

The truth is no one really cares unless it effects them. Some care more than others. But you know all would be lying if they proclaimed nothing they do impacts others negatively because we all do to some extent just by living in this capitalist society.
Even rich who gave tons to charity and do good work, still fall short to solving the issue and that's cause capitalism actively works against it. And they will no doubt own stuff made from those suffering.

I'll will fully admit communism would be the hardest thing ever to implement into society, it's a idealistic concept that many would try to actively ruin because people are selfish.
But it's not hard to see in a ideal world it would be better, so why would Jesus be against the better world for one that thrives on what we have now?
And in reality why would anyone? Apart from those who for whatever reason like the dichotomy of they can get richer while someone else gets poorer.

[BCRanger10]

"The answer is simple, any amount of wealth you have = someone else not having it."

Is one necessarily the cause or effect of the other though? And that also doesn't answer the question.

[Kaneki05]

Really does answer it, unless you think others suffering for your wealth is good you would know having wealth is a inherently selfish bad thing and is for sure on you for having it.
It's pretty simple, and the truth.
If you have an issue with it, it's because you know this to be true but there's nothing much you can do about it in this system.
Though what one for sure has control over is not standing up for that very system that causes this all in the first place aka Capitalism.

[BCRanger10]

Okay. How does someone having wealth cause suffering for those who don't?

I'll put you a personal example here. I know a man who nearly 40 years ago started a landscaping business. It has turned out to be tremendously successful, with offices now in multiple states. I don't know what he is paid per year, but I'd hazard he's doing very well. He and his wife are extraordinarily faithful Catholics and you would be hard-pressed to find a man with more kindness and love in his heart than he. Please explain how he is responsible for the suffering of poor people. And remember, "judge not" and "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house (or goods, depending on the translation)".

[Kaneki05]

You really don't understand how money works do you?
It flows and circulates therefore if he has it someone else don't. It's really simple.
How does someone else not having it hurt? Ask the poor who barley get by.
If you don't get this and think it effects nobody else you really shouldn't have any stance on economics nvm be against a concept to improve it.

And to a previous point really got a problem with making me repeat stuff here, does he have a phone? Well guess what? That phone likely was manufactured by resourcing materials such as Cobalt which they mine by using kids and dirt poor in very unsafe conditions, which also this mining and usage of cobalt harms the environment.
Then let's play pretend say oh no he don't have a phone, well what does he own then? Let's get a long list because I bet he owns a lot that was manufactured by taking advantage and hurting others.

[hahahmm]

The bible does not endorse most of the modern leftist ideas so yeah, obviously a Christian can be conservative. God gave people free will so yeah, you can be a member of any political party you wish.

[purplepoppy]

In the UK you'll find Christians on both sides of the political spectrum. But based on my observations of American politics I would conclude it would be impossible for both sides to peacefully sit together in church.

[AviatorTom]

@purplepoppy Most Americans put politics aside when they enter church. There are some radicals who don't, and those are the ones the media shows.

[Twalli]

Most identify as such. The thing is that if we were to follow actual conservativism, and not shit slinging Trumpism, religion and conservativism match well together. That's true for almost any religion. Before 9-11 and the Muslim hate following it, almost 100% of Muslims who voted, voted for George W. Bush. Most religions are generally conservative and don't really support radical change, which is in line with true conservativism.

[AviatorTom]

Of course, many are. If you look at people in all religions, you'll find the entire range of political opinions. There doesn't need to be any correlation between one's religious and political beliefs, though some people believe that.

[Agape93]

Yeah, even though modern conservatism doesn't match up with anything god or christ said to do.

[BCRanger10]

How so?

[Agape93]

Maaaany conservative leaders have engaged in sexual impropriety or adultery, all engage in lying and greed. They push policies in the name of God, which aren't supported. Namely abortion, when God himself is written to perform them on adulterous women via potions made by a priest, or creating intense hate of anything they don't like which is literally against the Christian notion of loving your neighbor and letting God judge others, and not them. Etc.

[BCRanger10]

Bill Clinton had an affair with Monica Lewinsky, Kamala Harris had an affair with Willie Brown, Andrew Cuomo was forced to resign as New York governor because of sexual harassment, and Joe Biden is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman in the 1990s. What's your point?

[Agape93]

Correct by did. But this is about conservatives and Republicans, so I was focusing on them. If you wanted me to torch everyone, let me know and ill happily oblige

[RetroReviews]

I think the question should be can Christians be liberals or Democrats, to me the conservative viewpoint lines up with Christian values more than the liberals evil agenda does

[Keyboardkat]

I think most Evangelicals are conservative-leaning because their values are old-fashioned family values.

[Grond21]

Of course they can. There is nothing, or virtually nothing, in official party platform that is against the Christian faith. In the Democratic party platform it's the complete opposite

[TheWombRaider]

Yes I am a a Conservative Christian Republican. So that's why and I would say most Christians are Conservative Republicans because Conservative Republicans hold a more Christian view and way of life than left unprogressive

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Yes. A person's politics doesn't have to do with their religion though some people like to mix both together and that's fine too.

[WhitneySnow]

They can be, but they definitely don’t have to be

[sawno]

I'd say they have more in common with the republicans than with the democrats.

[OtterMan68]

They can, but they need to admit that Trump's words and deeds clearly show he's not a Christian and stop posting memes of him and Christ.

[BCRanger10]

Bad behavior doesn't make someone not Christian. It just makes them a bad one, or at least questionable. If what you say is true, then we also have serious questions about Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, JFK (and really, all the Kennedys), and yes, even Pope Francis.

As for the memes and images? Would you like to venture how often I see those outside of Catholic Facebook groups making fun of cringey things Protestants post? Not a ton.

[BCRanger10]

For the record, I'm not defending those images either.

[OtterMan68]

Trump does not attend church.
Trump has said he does not ask God for forgiveness.
Trump has said he is not sure he believes we should love those who hate us.
Does Trump show in actions or words he blesses those who curse him?
Is Trump a humble person?
The man sold Bibles to raise funds for his political organization.

[BCRanger10]

There's not a single one of those things that I like. He will answer for and be judged for those. But something important that I think you're overlooking (and many other Christians who are at least hesitant to vote for him due to his personal behavior) is that we're not voting for our pastor. We're voting for a political leader. What else am I supposed to do? Vote for Kamala Harris? Just sit down and watch?

[OtterMan68]

If you read my original post, I said I despise him for pretending to be a Christian and using Christianity to get votes. Jesus whipped these people out of the temple.
I'd rather Trump just be honest and say "I'm not a practicing Christian, and I don't agree with all of Jesus's teachings."

[BCRanger10]

Well to that I say if I get what I want from him, what do I care?

[OtterMan68]

Christians should not support false Christians and people who use their religion for personal gain

[BCRanger10]

So then I'll return to a previous question. What would you have me do? Either sit it out and watch or, worse even, put my name on it as a voter while Kamala Harris becomes president, gets a supermajority in Congress, and then, while the Senate kills the filibuster, appoints ten radically liberal Supreme Court Justices and adds Puerto Rico and Washington DC as states (providing four more Democratic senators and a handful of electoral votes) which would give the Democrats completely unchecked political power?

And that's to say nothing of what she would do in regards to abortion, transgenderism, contraception, and her outrageously sinful tax plan.

And all because Donald Trump is a sham Christian who's mean to people he doesn't like and says dumb things on Twitter?

[onedarkcloud]

Christians can be anything they want! Religion does not dictate what political party they associate with. Democrat, Republican, Independent, or Communist whatever.

[SweetJoyGirl]

Yes.

Christians can be either Democratic or Republican.

[Dargil]

Of observant Christians, the majority are that.

[Anonymous]

Nope. No such thing as a Christian conservative. In fact there isn't even a term for that. Everyone knows that all Christians are Dems.

What kind of dumbass question is this?

[BCRanger10]

Make the case then.

[WhiteBoyChill]

“All Christians are Dems”

LOL

[BCRanger10]

@WhiteBoyChill I'm almost entirely certain that he's being facetious.

[OddBeMe]

You mean giving to the poor, helping out wanderers seeking refuge? No that doesn’t sound like the Republican platform.

[BCRanger10]

Give to the poor... how? And whose responsibility is it?

[OddBeMe]

Your god would say you are.

[BCRanger10]

Okay. I've prepared and given meal kits to homeless people on the streets, and occasionally cash. So what's your complaint?

[OddBeMe]

Great! And you’ve probably given it to illegals. Why fight the border ones? I don’t see an issue.

[FunkyMonkee]

Pretty stupid question!
They're always talking about Jesus and god and all that bullshit!

[KlinkyCoder]

I don't even understand how you can be Christian and leftist or even liberal at the very least.

[PsychicBoobs]

Their values contain hate. Faith abhors hate. It's not shared interests.

[LiamJHayden]

Yes. or Democrats. As long as either rejects party positions that violate their faith.

[legalboxers]

Regan and Bush Christian Republicans or Trump Christian Conservative Republicans.

[BCRanger10]

Define each, please.

[elaphe]

Anyone of any political ideology can be a Christian.

[Anonymous]

I'm not from the USA but I thought that most republicans and other conservatives claim to be Christians, or some other religious group of people.

[shortster]

They can be, but they would fit better as libertarian or constitution party members.

[ICanSmellTheCosmos]

Many in Conservative, Inc. are anything but Christian.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Yes. Aren’t most Christians in general conservative and Republican?

[axcitjuki]

You cannot be a Christian unless you're a conservative

[OlderAndWiser]

Absolutely. I am living proof of that fact.

[gatixek710]

Of course. Why couldn't they be?

[Pterodon]

Of course we can. I’m one

[nawtee_me]

Absolutely we can and a lot are….

[missindiana93]

Yes they can.

[Ladsin2]

Most of them are.

[BLP11520]

Yes why not?