Understanding the Christian divide in politics

[Akita Suggagaki]

I want my values to influence culture yes. What Christian value that is explicitly Christian, would you advocate for against the interests of the secular left?

Support life from conception to natural l death and that includes feeding the hungry and care for the sick and elderly.
Also care for creation, stewardship of the environment that supports life.

 

[Michie]

There are many different expressions of the Christian faith. Yes, our faith should inform our politics, but that can look very different from person to person. God isn’t a Republican or a Democrat.

That is why we have a Christian divide on politics, and why we have had it since the founding of our country. It is nothing new.

Instead of casting aspersions on each others faith, I think we would be better off applying Paul’s advice to the Romans: following our own consciences and not judging the faith of others based on how they vote.

Edit: just to be clear, i am not accusing folks on this thread of casting aspersions. The article sure did, though.

This article is what happens when people mix religion and politics. One must prevail over the other when it comes to certain situations. Every time. Christians across the board tend to ignore this. All Christians whatever side of the aisle they land on ignore a lot when it comes to their candidates. But it does not mean any one of them are not Christian. We all tend to have a place in the cafeteria and vote what we see as a lesser evil. No candidate is perfect and neither are Christian voters.

 

[okay]

Well said.

Since you posted the article, I assumed that you agreed with it. Clearly that was a poor assumption! I learned something today.

 

[Michie]

Well said.

Since you posted the article, I assumed that you agreed with it. Clearly that was a poor assumption! I learned something today.

No. I do not post things that I only agree with. I do both whether I agree or disagree just for learning and conversation. I’ve done it for some time now. Political parties do not determine one’s eternal destination. There are all sorts of Christians out there with various concerns. None of us can win when voting. There is always going to be something that distresses us. No candidate is going to present a seamless garment on policy and behavior. Just like voting Christians. We do the best we can.

Granted, there are some things professed Christians defend that I just do not understand but I cannot judge someone’s faith journey and relationship with God. I can disagree but the rest is up to the Lord.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

I'd say that the possibility has been demonstrated. Demonstrated in Russia's retreat from Kyiv. Their retreat from Kherson. Their retreat from Kharkiv. The systematic elimination of their naval ships. The vulnerability of their borders. Among other things.

You're assuming that the Russians have been incapable of learning things throughout this war or that there has been no mobilization since those retreats or that Ukraine has been unable to defend its towns and settlements in the Donbass.

Do you expecr Russia to run out of men before Ukraine does? Mass in military operations matters and i think you are hopelessly optimistic about Ukranian success going forward.

Has nothing to do with US hegemony, and everything to do with liberty of a free peoples. Nobody is saying that Ukraine should go take over Moscow. But if it's a question of protecting illegally annexed oblasts of Ukraine (that Russia annexed yet still has yet to gain control of)? That's justice.

If it's not about US hegemony why didn't Ukraine choose neutrality which is what Russia offered because it feared Ukraine joining NATO?

 

[Job 33:6]

You're assuming that the Russians have been incapable of learning things throughout this war or that there has been no mobilization since those retreats or that Ukraine has been unable to defend its towns and settlements in the Donbass.

I'm not assuming that. I'm just noting some observable facts. The war has been going on nearly 3 years now and weaknesses are still being observed today. Ukraine walking into Kursk is a fine example of that.

Do you expecr Russia to run out of men before Ukraine does?

You know full well that wars aren't won strictly by how many soldiers a nation has.

If it's not about US hegemony why didn't Ukraine choose neutrality which is what Russia offered because it feared Ukraine joining NATO?

Like most other Baltic states, many of these nations underwent decades of control under the Soviet Union. Part of the reason is simply a desire to be free and sovereign from that past. Something these nations reiterate at some frequency.

Neutrality does not guarantee safety or sovereignty. The annexing of crimea is a demonstration of that.

Or look at Finland and Sweden. Notice how quickly they moved to NATO in recent years despite longstanding forms of neutrality. The reason is not because of "US hegemony", rather the reason is that Russia is sowing fear in its neighbors with its military aggression. Annexing Crimea, funding militants in the Donbas, the invasion of Georgia, the invasion of Ukraine, its well known discontent with Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania (which also may be invaded by Russia in our lifetime), among other issues.

People simply don't trust Putin. And accepting neutrality on his terms, is a compromise of Ukraine's sovereignty.

Putins recent invasion of Georgia is another example of this. Russia stepping in militarily to manipulate a nations sovereignty, particularly of pre-soviet union nations. These military adventures of course are sowing distrust among all of these Baltic nations.