You don’t have to support the policies of liberal Democrats to be a charitable Christian

You don’t have to support the policies of liberal Democrats to be a charitable Christian March 24, 2017

Just saying.  As an Evangelical, I railed against the idea that you had to somehow be in lockstep with all things Republican in order to demonstrate your bona fides.  Thankfully, to be honest, there weren’t that many who actually believed that.

Well, the same is true for the Democrats.  While there are some who will obviously give a dispensation where abortion or gay marriage is concerned, there’s a slight tendency I’ve picked up on recently from the odd believer here or there who seems to suggest that you can’t be a good Samaritan without having a (D) in front of your name.

Not true.  You can argue for capitalist, free market solutions to the ailments of the world all you want.  Doesn’t mean you’re right.  But it certainly doesn’t mean you’re a bad Christian.

Likewise, argue for the policies of liberal Democrats all you want.  Doesn’t mean you’re right.  Nor does it mean you’re a good Christian or bad.  That’s based on what you do.  Voting is important, don’t get me wrong.  But just getting a stamp on my party loyalty card doesn’t automatically make me a good Samaritan or a bad Levite.  What I actually do will typically take care of that.

I realize that my piddly two copper coins won’t solve the world’s problems or bring relief to the poor.  I get that we need bigger institutions, possibly up to and including the government, to lend a hand.  But I’ve also seen some pretty snarky, snobbish take downs of Christians who emphasize that cup of cold water we – not the government on our behalf, we – are supposed to give.

Again, government policies?  Important.  Voting or which ones you support?  Also important, though why you support them is likely the important part.  But we shouldn’t come to imagine that it’s fealty to a political policy or proposal that bringeth about salvation and righteousness.  That would be what we each do, ourselves, for our neighbor that demonstrates we’re on the right track.


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