How can a follower of Jesus belong to a party?

Lord'sWarrior

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If the Kingdom of God will come, despite anything man does, what's the use of belonging to a political party, given that the gospel and the commandments are all we need to live righteously?

Being that the only authority is God and not man, although we should give to Caesar what's from Caeser and submit to the courts and it's instituted powers. Politics breeds many conflicts and is, normally, secular. Being secular on most parts, should a follower of Christ belong to a party? Ideologies are different from the gospel. One belongs to the right, another to the left, and another to the center. How can this be if they are in conflict with one another. That is not union of the church.
 

EpiscipalMe

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This is one reason that I am a registered independent. I feel that voting is an important civil duty, but I look at the candidates on their own merits, not their political party.

Beyond voting, I have no involvement in political parties.
 
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Korean-American Christian

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If the Kingdom of God will come, despite anything man does, what's the use of belonging to a political party, given that the gospel and the commandments are all we need to live righteously?

Being that the only authority is God and not man, although we should give to Caesar what's from Caeser and submit to the courts and it's instituted powers. Politics breeds many conflicts and is, normally, secular. Being secular on most parts, should a follower of Christ belong to a party? Ideologies are different from the gospel. One belongs to the right, another to the left, and another to the center. How can this be if they are in conflict with one another. That is not union of the church.

Beyond voting in presidential elections, I have no political involvement although I do sign petitions to repeal unjust laws.

When I was in middle school and high school (before I could even vote in elections), I identified myself as being Republican because of the Christian Right/Moral Majority.

After university, I went to live in South Korea and changed my political party affiliation to US-Democrat because I strongly believe that the US Republican party does not support minorities who live in the United States.

On social issues, I am a social conservative. On political issues, such as immigration and racism....I am definitely a liberal

 
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Aleksandros

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I do not like voting, since to me it is that if I vote for the person and they're a flagrant sinner, I will be endorsing them and their activities; I would be sharing in their sins. It would be different if the person was a devout, praying Christian, but who would that be?
 
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pescador

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The great majority of people that I know vote on the issues, even though to vote in primaries you have to declare one party or another. You can switch parties at any time, as often as you like, so I don't look on that as belonging to a political party.

I am a registered Democrat because I agree with most of their platform and want to be involved with choosing candidates but I have voted Republican and won't hesitate to do so again if I agree with their platform.

As Christians we are involved in this world. I know Jehovah's witnesses who don't vote because they live in the kingdom of God, which is of course ridiculous. They live in a house on which they must pay a mortgage and taxes, the drive on tax-funded roads in their government-licensed automobile to go to a town governed by local, state, and federal laws, and spend government-issued money on goods produced by government-regulated businesses, as well as paying sales tax.

I can't understand how people don't vote to influence the world that we all live in, leaving the important issues to others. Those decisions will be made by someone; they won't disappear.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrews followed the Mosaic laws as well as those of rulers of nations (think of Egypt and Babylon). In the New Testament, Jesus and his disciples followed both Roman and Jewish laws, and Paul wrote about obeying the authorities that God has established -- the Roman government.

Saying that you're a Christian and thereby follow God's laws only doesn't work to well when you're arrested for speeding.
 
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Albion

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If the Kingdom of God will come, despite anything man does, what's the use of belonging to a political party, given that the gospel and the commandments are all we need to live righteously?

Being that the only authority is God and not man, although we should give to Caesar what's from Caeser and submit to the courts and it's instituted powers. Politics breeds many conflicts and is, normally, secular. Being secular on most parts, should a follower of Christ belong to a party? Ideologies are different from the gospel. One belongs to the right, another to the left, and another to the center. How can this be if they are in conflict with one another. That is not union of the church.
You might as well argue that we ought to do nothing at all in life but just wait as Christians have done for 2000 years, often thinking that the Second Coming was imminent. In the meantime, all the ills and wrongs of society would continue with nothing being done by Christians to correct them.
 
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pat34lee

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In Florida, there is good reason to choose your party carefully.
I began by registering independent when I was first able to vote.
Then I found out that in primaries, you can only vote for those
registered in your party. There aren't many running independent.
So I changed to Republican, so I could vote for the most conservative
Republicans I could in the primaries.
 
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HighCherub

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I'm 70% conservative, 30% liberal- I go with Republican because my greater nature compels me to do so, it doesn't mean I always agree with them.

Parties are something that inevitably exist in any government similar to ours- people disagree, find likenesses with each other, and unite.
In fact, that's overall a rule of human nature.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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If the Kingdom of God will come, despite anything man does, what's the use of belonging to a political party, given that the gospel and the commandments are all we need to live righteously?

Being that the only authority is God and not man, although we should give to Caesar what's from Caeser and submit to the courts and it's instituted powers. Politics breeds many conflicts and is, normally, secular. Being secular on most parts, should a follower of Christ belong to a party? Ideologies are different from the gospel. One belongs to the right, another to the left, and another to the center. How can this be if they are in conflict with one another. That is not union of the church.

God feeds the sparrows, but they also work to collect their food. Only God can cause corn to grow, but the farmer puts in long days plowing and harvesting.

We are the salt and light of this world. We are to be active in all aspects of human existence.
 
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Albion

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I do not like voting, since to me it is that if I vote for the person and they're a flagrant sinner, I will be endorsing them and their activities; I would be sharing in their sins. It would be different if the person was a devout, praying Christian, but who would that be?
Quite obviously, Mike Pence would fit that description...and everyone who sees the matter your way had the opportunity to vote for him.
 
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