Updated July 22, 2024
First let me say that the intent of this article is not to tell anyone how to vote. It is not to say one should or should not vote Democrat. It is not to say one should or should not vote Republican. Indeed, as an Independent I have and will vote Democrat, Republican and/or a combination of the two since those are the only two major viable political parties now.
It is problematic that various non-Christian religions/faiths and various Christian religions/faiths/groups/denominations form due to differences in scripture understanding in their quest to properly recognize and surrender to God and achieve that pure religion James 1:27 talks about. Likewise, various political parties and ideologies arise even among Christians.
James says: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
Within the US, the Republican platform at the present time seem to emphasize the “keep himself unspotted from the world” more than the Democratic Party platform, yet without ample emphasis on the “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction”; here the fatherless and widows principle includes anyone afflicted including the poor and those affected by racism, historical and present day, including the lingering effect of slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, and similar oppressive acts, whether intentional or unintentional. In my view the Republican Party is right to be pro-life with regards to abortion but should also be and actively communicate that they are pro-life with regards to other matters of life to include issues of racism, past and present.
On the other hand, Democratic Party platform seem to emphasize the “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” more than the Republican platform yet without ample emphasis on the “keep himself unspotted from the world”.
For both parties and all other persons and organizations, the challenge is to obtain a righteous balance between the aforementioned aspects of religion. Indeed, it is at its core a spiritual battle in which we are engulfed.
Politically I am an Independent. I began as a Democrat then went Republican. The main reason I got out of the Democratic Party was their written platform’s support for arbitrary and capricious abortion. But I became uneasy with the Republican Party platform and/or implementation seemingly weak compassion toward the “have-nots”. This includes a lack of appreciation of the affect of the wealth gap in Black and other minority communities as well as among some majority (white) communities. This also includes taking such actions as closing voting locations in poor neighborhoods under the false claim of insufficient funds as money should not be a consideration when it comes to maximizing opportunity for every citizen to vote. The Democratic Party later support for and promotion of same sex marriage and related homosexual ideologies confirmed the rightness of my move from identifying with the Democratic Party.
Of course, not every Democrat supports arbitrary and capricious abortion and not every Republican lacks adequate compassion.
Some years ago, I began to classify myself as an Independent. That means I vote the person and/or the issue not the party, depending on a number of factors important to me at the particular voting time. So I vote both “Democrat” and “Republican”, etc.
When President Obama ran I voted for him solely because he was a qualified black person although I knew his party stands for some things I do not stand for. I did so because my priority was not to miss the opportunity for this nation to have its first qualified clearly black President. Though he, like all Presidents have disappointed me in some areas, I do not regret voting for him twice. Indeed, the first time in 2008 I went down to the local Democratic Party Office and made phone calls on his behalf. However, once he became President he disappointed me in his promotion of same sex marriage. Therefore, when he ran for reelection, I did not go down to the local Democratic Party Office and make calls on his behalf as whether he was reelected or not the second time was not all that important to me though I did vote for his election and reelection.
Both parties mention God in their 2016 written platforms. The Democrats mentions God three times and the Republicans mentions God 15 times. But it is not about the number of times God is mentioned. Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 7 when he talks about hypocrites who honor God with their mouths and lips but their hearts are far from God, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. It is about what the platform stands for and the degree with which it lines up with the Word, Will, and Way, Wisdom and Work of God in Worship of him Every day in Everyplace in Everything. That is something each voter must consider. I have my view and I preach it. But that is not the purpose of this document as I address many of the major issues elsewhere.
I pray, minister, and hope for a church, government, schools, businesses, and society in general that more boldly promote God’s Word, Will, and Way, Wisdom and Work to include productive socio-economic compassion for the “have nots”. This is especially applicable given the lingering effects of slavery and racism that has produced a large wealth gap between whites and blacks, a gap that causes all kinds of problems, both perceived and actual. Of course, the wealth gap is problematic for even a large segment of the white community as there are many whites caught in poverty. The socio-economic inequity regarding other groups such as Hispanics, Native Americans, etc. are troublesome as well and need correction. As I see it, though racism is problematic the greater problem is classism rooted in inadequate compassion.
Both parties could use improvements especially regarding hand-ups and hand-outs. So it is for the nature of man as we all could use improvements. That is why I try to be balanced in my conversations about societal issues like race and politics. It is extremely important that I as a preacher be balanced less I not present the whole counsel of God. That is true for all preachers.
Again, voting is at its core a personal private decision. Nothing in this article should be viewed as endorsing any particular party or person.
References:
Democratic Party Links:
Democratic Party Platform – 2020 PDF
Kamala Harris – Vice President
Republican Party Links:
Republican Party Platform – 2024 PDF
Republican Resolution on No New Platform for 2020
Historical References:
Former President Obama Whitehouse Archives
Former President Trump Whitehouse Archives
Democratic Party Platforms Down Through the Years
Republican Party Platforms Down Through the Years
