Dear Donmech,
I study political science in Copenhagen and I have been struggling with the issue of Christianity and representative democracy.
I'd like to part my answer to your question in two so I can address the "being square with God part" and to address the "voting part" separately - so I can later combine them to clarify what I've found.
1. The beauty of grace is that it is free. We Christians always think of the "being square with God"-part as if it was something we achieve by works or struggle. I read this book once (Classic Christianity by Bob George) - he explains how we transform when we are born again. He uses the image of a caterpillar transfiguring into a butterfly and says that the same thing happens when someone is born again. And explains that a butterfly might be a butterfly acting like a caterpillar but it is still a butterfly in the eyes of God. Furthermore he explains that we are - in that sense square with God, even if we are total idiots, which makes the gospel even more beautiful. We are saved through faith in Jesus and not judged on the basis of our actions.
Knowing that I'm saved regardless of what I do, makes my heart even more hungry for truth and kindness.
2. Is it right by God to vote for the democrats?
Would God vote for any Democrat or would God vote for any Republican?
- I don't think so..
I think that Christians should be engaged with society in other ways and stay away from politics. To me people can have what they want - I just want Jesus and no politician can give me that. So I'm not voting before God tells me to and I don't mean in a selective manner, where I pick out different laws or bible quotes and put them on my own scale as a measure to chose between the lesser of two evils. If God wants me to vote I'll vote, but then he also has to tell me who I should vote for.
Democracy is about state building and compromising so regardless of who you vote for, you wont find anyone who is not willing to compromise and get some right for a little wrong. To me that is not in the spirit of God and I believe that we should stay away from voting all together and make society better through charity and love.
God bless you
I study political science in Copenhagen and I have been struggling with the issue of Christianity and representative democracy.
I'd like to part my answer to your question in two so I can address the "being square with God part" and to address the "voting part" separately - so I can later combine them to clarify what I've found.
1. The beauty of grace is that it is free. We Christians always think of the "being square with God"-part as if it was something we achieve by works or struggle. I read this book once (Classic Christianity by Bob George) - he explains how we transform when we are born again. He uses the image of a caterpillar transfiguring into a butterfly and says that the same thing happens when someone is born again. And explains that a butterfly might be a butterfly acting like a caterpillar but it is still a butterfly in the eyes of God. Furthermore he explains that we are - in that sense square with God, even if we are total idiots, which makes the gospel even more beautiful. We are saved through faith in Jesus and not judged on the basis of our actions.
Knowing that I'm saved regardless of what I do, makes my heart even more hungry for truth and kindness.
2. Is it right by God to vote for the democrats?
Would God vote for any Democrat or would God vote for any Republican?
- I don't think so..
I think that Christians should be engaged with society in other ways and stay away from politics. To me people can have what they want - I just want Jesus and no politician can give me that. So I'm not voting before God tells me to and I don't mean in a selective manner, where I pick out different laws or bible quotes and put them on my own scale as a measure to chose between the lesser of two evils. If God wants me to vote I'll vote, but then he also has to tell me who I should vote for.
Democracy is about state building and compromising so regardless of who you vote for, you wont find anyone who is not willing to compromise and get some right for a little wrong. To me that is not in the spirit of God and I believe that we should stay away from voting all together and make society better through charity and love.
God bless you