Why I, a Christian, Vote Democrat.

I have heard it said time and again "to keep the peace one should never talk about politics or religion." I happily break this rule as often as I can.

I was raised in the front pew of a evangelical church. I have developed many long lasting friendships with people in the church. When most of my friends find out that I am a liberal and vote democrat, they get mad, act disappointed, or start crying and tell me that they will pray for my soul. They act as if I perform illegal abortions in a dark alleyway on the weekends. It doesn't fit within their idea of being a good Christian. Evangelical Churches in general vote, as they see it, with the Christian party. It is the standard quo within the evangelical church. However, for the life of me, I homestly cannot see why.

I owe no man or women an explanation and I am not trying to convince anyone as to why I vote democrat. I am not here to justify myself, I am only setting out my personal views. I have not come to this decision out of ignorance, or lack of spiritual insight, and I hope that you have given as much to your decision. I have carefully devoted allot of time, energy, and prayer into where Christ would have me place my vote. You may disagree with me, but all I ask is that you do your homework as well, without being influenced by the status quo, and then decide. Don't allow anyone to tell you, push you, or shame you into where you should place your political support. I also hope in writing this that I encourage other Christian democrats out there in hiding to come out of the closet and be seen.

So to all of my Republican, Democrat, Independent, Christian, Secular, and non-affiliated friends, I offer my position on political apologetics:

RELIGION IN POLITICS:

Republican Christians spend countless hours scheming to force those with differing opinions to live as the right see's fit. Enormous funds are raised in order to hire professionals to lobby the government to create and pass laws. Countless time, effort, and money are spent utilizing the media to "get out" the message to sway the minds of America. We are fortunate to live in a country that allows public involvement in the structure and substance of our government. As Americans it is not only our right but duty to stay involved but have we asked ourselves the rightness of our involvement as Christians to actively legislate morality? Where does the line blur from regulating morality to spirituality?

Do we find support or encouragement for Christians involving ourselves in the business of the Government in the bible? Do we see this example or direction given by Christ? Did Christ ever petition the Government to change laws to force someone to live the way he taught?  Would he go on CNN, FOX News, or MSNBC to plead his case? Would Christ spend his valuable time convincing Caesar to regulate morality in Israel? The answer to all of these questions is a overwhelming no. Christ taught that the way to a new life was spiritual conversion, the changing of hearts, not laws.

I see the fruits of our labor as it trickles down from us to others as they discuss and repeat the same arguments of the Religious Right and other sinful institutions like the Christian-right with absolute hate and animosity toward the "other side" and those that do not subscribe to our beliefs. It creates a justified platform in which hate and intolerance is acceptable. Resulting in media campaigns, politically right pastors, and political activists. This does not represent the reality of the body of Christ and His kingdom and God doesn't want us using Him to justify our hate.

The scriptures, taking them rightly divided, are instructions, directions, the path to life, love, wisdom, and salvation. It is not a tool designed for us to judge our brother or sister. When judging came up, Christ told them to stop. Christ was more concerned with how well we treat our brother, sister, fellow man, the enemy, and the "least of these."  He wanted a change from within that would be a light unto the world. Not division, hatred, debating, arguing, and strife. From the beginning of time God designed us to accept him completely with our free will.  He did not want us to force spirituality or morality upon anyone.

This modern Christian invented industry of attempting to regulate morality is nothing more than self made righteousness in action. It is the same sin that the Church was guilty of in the time of Christ. Unwittingly trying to cover up our own neglect and ignoring our responsibility to witness to save souls, not the changing of laws. If the church spent as much time, money, and resources spreading the true gospel instead of lobbying the Government, we could have converted the hearts and mindsets of the nation by now. This practice is nothing less than a lazy Christians way to force people to live according to their beliefs while ignoring God's plan of free will. "Render therefore unto Ceaser the things which are Ceasers, and unto God the things that are Gods." Mathew 22:21

We need to ask forgiveness for our sinful arrogance and the self made saintliness that has caused this to be the norm. We are doing nothing but creating a moral war with no chance of winning. A social and spiritual gap between us and those we should be converting. We need to be careful of this so-called triggered Christian response that we so often engage. This illusion of righteousness may lead us into a spiritual certainty that will have us lose our own souls.

THE GOD FACTOR

"I don't want to see religious bigotry in any from. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The right has no interest in religions except to manipulate it." - Rev. Billy Graham. 

The top 1% of Americans hold 70% of the wealth and therefore the power. So how does the 1% keep the power? They cannot keep power once the majority realizes that the 1% do not have our best interest in mind. The Christian God has been adopted, or hijacked, by the rich and powerful.

Intertwine the religious values or concerns with your political ideals and then manipulate the population with the God factor. That has been done since the dawn of civilization. In America there is a catch... the elite understand that we live in a democracy and therefore have 99% of the vote. So they bundle Christianity with capitalism in order to manipulate the masses into voting on the side of the "right". All politicians have been guilty of this, but the Republicans are masters.

The political system is so corrupt and the politicians therein that neither could be considered Christ-like. However, I personally believe that for me the Democratic Party parallels Christian principles closer than that of the Republicans. Now I know that some of you are already thinking about abortion and homosexuality ... I will get to that in a minute. Just keep in mind the message of Christ and the disciples, not Jerry Fallwell, Pat Robertson, and Pat Buchanon's perspective of things.

BUT WE ARE A CHRISTIAN NATION

We receive our incredible freedom and liberty from a group of exceptional individuals.  They stood up against one of the most powerful Governments of the time to create a free nation for free people.  To insure that this free nation stayed free they built the nation upon a remarkable document called the Constitution.  It is here that we go for guidance when we have any need of guidance especially regarding the passing of laws. It gives us the framework in which we can pass a law that is inspired by our faith.  It says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." I believe that this text is clear.  There will be no law passed for or against any religion or spiritual matter.

Many claim that we are a Christian nation.  That our founders had it in mind to be a Christian nation. Many claim that since it is not directly mentioned in the Constitution it is in our founder's other writings. The truth is, it is not in the Constitution nor is it in the writings or wishes of our founders. Their desire was that our Government be secular, period.  Instead of writing all of the arguments down and hitting them one by one, I will cut to the chase.  "The government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion." - Signed, John Adams.  Ratified by the United States Senate without debate unanimously in 1797.  Problem solved.

FREE TRADE AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:

I have to admit that I see some points by the republican party on this issue. I would consider myself in favor of free-trade and generally consider myself to be fiscally conservative. However, opening up free trade to allow the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer is not the purpose of free trade. The purpose of free trade should be to make America stronger and to make America grow. Since 1980, 99% of all wealth accumulated in the United States has gone to the top one percent of Americans. There has been a "trickle down" of less than 1% to the bottom 90% of Americans to share. This is the result of trickle-down economics that Republicans began in the 1980's. America cannot continue under this type of unbalanced wealth distribution.

The purpose of free trade is not to unfairly help out the corporation(s) that are already monopolizing it's particular industry. In this country many industries DO NOT actually pay taxes into the system. They do fall under the 30% - 35% tax bracket, but after all of the tax shelters, loop holes, and offshore accounts, they literally pay $0 in taxes. Companies like Bank Of America, Exxon-Mobile, GE, Citibank, just to name a few, literally paid $0.00 in taxes this last year (this is the norm from year to year). The companies that do pay their taxes, pay very little into the system. They do not come close to the 30-35% tax bracket that the law requires. They pay closer to a 5% tax percentage. The practice of avoiding paying taxes is not paying your own way, that is getting away with paying. This leaves the burden of our federal and state budgets upon the backs of the middle class, poor, and small businesses. This is not the America that I or the founding fathers expect of us. This cannot be considered Godly, Christ-like, or even moral to expect the "least of these" to pay Americas way.

Here is the facts:

Jimmy Carter (D) raised our national debt - 42%/4 years.

Ronald Reagan (R) raised it - 189%/8 years

George H. Bush (R) raised it - 55%/4 years

William Jefferson Clinton (D) raised it - 36%/8 years - balanced the budget and left a surplus.

George W. Bush (R) raised it- 90%/8 years - Killed the balanced budget and destroyed the surplus all the while leaving the cost of the two wars off the books until his last budget proposal which left the cost of the two wars to reflect on the next President.

Barrack Obama (D) has raised it 28%/3 years - All while taking on the cost of the two wars and the Wall Street bailout plan which Bush also started but Obama had to finish.

I believe it is perfectly clear. Just because you call yourself fiscally conservative doesn't make you fiscally conservative.

GENDER AND SEXUALITY:

I am committed to full equality for women in all spheres of life. I seek a world that no longer oppresses women through undervaluation of their work, lack of political representation, the inability to control their own fertility, denial of their sexuality, or violence and abuse. Gender equality requires great changes in social attitudes, in economic and social structures, and in relationships between men and women and adults and children. A person should not be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation. All sexuality and sexual relationships should be respected - gay, lesbian, heterosexual - based on mutual respect and the enhancement of human dignity.

In the United States it is not your place or mine to pass laws to mandate or obligate the way in which someone should live his/her life, or discriminate against someone because their moral or spiritual views are not like mine or yours. We live in America and have a constitution that prohibits such actions. There is no justification to fight spiritual or moral differences in a political arena. We are fortunate to live in a country that allows us to practice the way we so choose.

All should be alloted the same rights as you and I. That includes the right to defend our country by joining a military service or the right to take part in a union and have all the same benefits that any other "joined" or married couple receive. I believe that by knowingly and actively suppressing those rights, you are not obeying Christ when he said to "obey the laws of the land." The only exception is religious organizations and churches should be able to hire, or not hire, whomever based on lifestyle issues they consistently practice. Simply put, if I have the right to do or not to do, so does everyone else. We believe, as Christians, that there will be a judgement day where we ALL will have to give an account of our lives. Leave spirituality and morality to God, and just love.

ABORTION:

I believe that abortion should be avoided if possible. However, the supreme court, in which most judges were appointed by republican presidents, ruled abortion legal and therefore women have the right to choose. As long as it is legal, I will not be suppressing, denying,humiliating, despising, hating, or blocking anyone from their constitutional right(s).

As long as I can remember, Republican candidates have run their campaigns promising to reverse Roe v. Wade. Once in office, no Republican president kept that promise. George W. Bush had a republican controlled house and senate and did not make a constitutional amendment ending abortion. Actually a former Bush advisor revealed Bush would mock "bible thumpers" after meeting with those that stood against abortion. The administration intentionally paid lip service just for their vote. The Republicans continue using abortion to gain support and votes of evangelicals. I find that insulting.

One more thing ... the Bible, Numbers Chapter 5.  It is a passage of scripture that we love to keep to ourselves.  God gives Moses a new law to live by.  In case of a cheating wife He tells Moses to give the women some liquid concoction that will kill the womb and the life inside if she has been unfaithful.  It is an abortion.  Maybe we are screaming about nothing.

THE ENVIRONMENT:

The environment is important. For me, this conviction comes from a spiritual call for stewardship of the earth. The scriptures tell us that Christ died to redeem all of creation. If you don't believe this, check the scriptures and also the atonement of the orthodox theology. Do you think that God only cares for humans and not the rest of his creation? How about the sparrow? Does he know and care for the sparrow that falls? Was Christ exaggerating or do you think that we should care to?

Do you like when someone smokes around you? Why? Evangelicals generally consider smoking a sin because it is harmful to the temple (our bodies). If you see the harm that cigarette smoking causes you should see the greater harm that industrial pollutants cause that come from the local power plant smoke stacks. I would think differently if we couldn't do anything about it, but we can. Why does the Republican party not favor modifying power plants to emit clean air? It would require energy companies, which have made record profits, to spend money. Now we just cant have that.

I am an environmentalist because God is creator of everything and we should care for it like a gift. If we do not care for creation, as a whole, it is from sinful pride and egotism. If you believe that we are here by chance, I can see why it would not matter. But we are not here by chance and every time a species dies, no matter how small, we are losing one of Gods works of art. I along with the Democratic party believe that stewardship of the earth is critical for us and for future generations. If we truly believe that Gods hand created all, then we to should care, preserve, and conserve.

UNIONS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING:

I do not understand how that God fearing Christians repeat lies and purposeful misrepresentations that they hear from those organized against someones right to have a say in wages, working conditions, and work safety. What is wrong with that? Why shouldn't we have a say in our life? Nobody wants to hurt the company that they work for. If the company does well, so does it's worker. Here are some of the lies ...

Union auto workers wages are causing the automotive companies to go out of business:

Only 4% of the cost of an American made vehicle goes to wages and benefits. That leaves 96% of the total cost of the vehicle left. I believe mismanagement of the 96% may be the cause of their problems. Need I say more?

On average Union workers make $62.00 hr. as opposed to our European and Japanese counterparts that make $42.00 hr.:

Consider Europeans and Japanese have health and life insurance, K-college education, retirement, and much more all provided free through their Government. This requires European and Japanese industries and corporations to pay a great deal more in taxes to support these programs. I believe the figure is close to 70%. Our industry and corporations are under a 30% tax percentage but on average pay only 5% after all of the loop holes Republicans have passed. That is a 65% difference. Need I say more?

Union state workers are hurting our federal and state budgets:

When taking into account that our corporations on average pay only 5% in taxes that leaves the burden of local, state, and federal budgets on the backs of the poor, middle class, and small businesses. If companies would pay their own way we would not have this problem.

THE LEAST OF THESE:

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. - Proverbs 14:31

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. - Proverbs 21:13

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those that close their eyes will receive nothing. - Proverbs 28:27

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. -Proverbs 20:7

Speak up and judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy. -Proverbs 31:9

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. -Deuteronomy 15:7-11

THE LEAST OF THESE:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a Shepard divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.'

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will say to them, 'Assuedly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of My brethren, you did it to Me.

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

The they will also answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison and did not help you? Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of THE LEAST OF THESE, you did not do it to Me. And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" - Mathew 25