Is Jesus a Republican?

It should self evidently go without saying to any reader of this site that the true Jesus Christ most assuredly is not and could not possibly be a Democrat. Or even hold them blameless who are. This has been true for a while, but that history is beyond the scope of this article.

What about Republican? The alleged conservative opposition party.

We’ll begin by assuming a certain level of orthodoxy and biblical acumen among the regular readers of this site and simply state that obviously, the second person of the eternal Godhead would never be an actual member of any earthly secular political party.

However, those who have been joined to Him, do by representation also join Him to whatever they join themselves to. In other words, as His ambassadors in the world, whatever they do, the world sees Him as doing through them. Rightly or wrongly.

So what about this? I unequivocally declare myself a disciple of Christ and a child of the one true God in Him. Can I then righteously join myself to the current Republican party?

This question is not as simple as it is with the Democrat party, but also not quite as complicated as some would have us believe.

Let’s take a look together at how we might apply the principles and precedents of God’s Word to this question.

We’ll start by recognizing that wherever politics and morality intersect (did I just say intersect? Lol) God has spoken in His Word. Either by precept, that is, an explicit command, or by precedent, which would be where we follow His response to an action or situation, even if He hasn’t directly addressed it.

In any political issue or situation wherein there is a moral component, there is God’s view, and all the wrong ones. A moral component would be where God’s Word and will is either upheld or violated depending on which ideology or position you adopt.

I’ll make the distinction between formal party membership, activism, and simply voting for Republican candidates.

I don’t think I can say with biblical authority that being a registered Republican is sin. I do believe I can say with considerable force that doing so is no longer wise. Despite their sometimes loud protestations to the contrary, today’s Republican party is no longer the bulwark of common grace moral conservatism and “family values” that it once at least tried to be. Certainly not at the federal level.

I’m not talking about personal integrity here, because regardless of all the smiles and high minded speech, pretty much all contemporary American politicians, of either party, would sell their mother for a campaign contribution. There may be a few with some tinges of conscience here or there, but their every action is calculated to gain and retain power. Even the ones who endorse policies that we should agree with, do so because they believe it will keep THEM in office. Find me somebody who will do what is “right” even if they believe it will cost them the next election.

Additionally, find me some who will say that homosexuality and gay “marriage” are always wrong and poisonous to this society. Even with all this trans-insanity, most Republicans take a very measured and politically calculated public view. Very, VERY few refuse to use somebody’s self deluded preferred pronouns for instance. You’ll find them regularly, either carefully crafting their speech to avoid pronouns altogether or referring to somebody with XY chromosomes as “her.”

I said all that to say that what we must consider here are the principles and policies that we can credibly believe a given candidate will pursue into enacted law. Because if we ground our political engagement on the character and convictions of the candidates, it’s over before it starts. They’re all duplicitous frauds.

We saw yesterday that professing Christians who support and vote for Democrats, do so not out of love for Christ and His glory, but ultimately because they believe the nanny state liberal agenda will make the world a better place for them, and the people important to them, to live. Regardless of how untrue that is, that’s their motivation. This usually comes with a re-imagined postmodern social “gospel” as well, but that’s yet another different discussion.

Is it possible for professing Christians who support and vote for Republicans to do so ultimately because they believe the more Bible friendly, more conservative agenda will make the world a better place for them, and the people important to them to live, and not ultimately for Christ and His glory?

You better believe it is. And this one is more insidious and deceiving. Why? Because it’s much easier to convince yourself that supporting “conservative republicans” means you’re voting against abortion, and against gay marriage, against trans lunacy, wokeness etc, and voting for religious liberty, and parental rights and less tax theft etc.

Several of the planks in the Republican platform are still ones that Christians can and should support. What makes that support righteous or sinful is the heart motivation behind it. It is entirely possible, and I submit far too common, for Christians to support the right things for the wrong reasons.

This certainly is not always true, and I’m not referring to anybody in particular at the moment, but some of the loudest and boldest Christian conservatives I see, do what they do because they are AFRAID. Oh yes they are.

Matthew 5:10-12

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1 Peter 4:12-14

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Try this brothers and sisters.

2 Corinthians 11:

23-Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24-Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25-Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26-I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27-I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28-Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.

Yet in chapter 4 of this same letter the apostle has already told us:

16-Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17-For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18-while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Did he just say “momentary, light affliction?” Beaten, whipped, stoned, starved and shipwrecked?

Hear this true disciples of Christ. This nation is under the crystal clear judgment of our Father God. I don’t know what has to happen for this to be any more obvious. Read the first of Romans verse 18 to the end of the chapter and replace the third person pronouns with “America” and see how it reads to you.

His winnowing fork is in His hand. He is separating His sheep from the devil’s goats. What if His intention is to purify and strengthen those sheep through persecution and hardship, “for our good, that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” As Hebrews 12:1-11 tells us?

What if that’s true? It’s not as if this would be odd for the God of the Bible would it? Putting the pagans to His good use by sending them on His own people for His name’s sake and their own good? Do we really need to attempt to list the times in biblical and church history when exactly this has been the case? What would make us different or special? Because we’re Americans and this sort of thing only happens to somebody else on the other side of the world?

Please don’t forget, this nation invoked His name and blessing at her founding and for a good while actually did generally honor Him. Or at least we didn’t explicitly dishonor Him. There are far worse nations in the world today, but none of them, not even western Europeans ones have been so closely associated with His name in recent centuries.

HE WILL NOT HAVE IT!

There is no righteous way to support and vote for today’s Democrats… period.

When it comes to the Republicans we must be pickled in scripture and sit at the foot of that cross paying with David: “Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.” (Psalm 19:12 )

Is our motivation to confront evil in Jesus name, for His glory and His honor, that His love and His mercy and His justice may be shed abroad in our hearts to the dying world around us? Is it really?

Or is our motivation that we don’t want to go through what’s coming if the United Sates continues to degenerate into a 3^rd world Marxist cesspool?

If it’s the latter, then we are no better where it counts than the woke apostates.

I am well aware that a post like this won’t necessarily make me any new friends.

I don’t know if the next one will either.