Republicans, Democrats, and Christians

3 different approaches to managing the world

Republicans:

Lower taxes
Small federal government
Strong army
Secure border, limits on immigration
No abortion
Right to own guns
Strict original interpretation of the constitution
Limited entitlements
Protect the environment when financially feasible
Against recreational drugs
Sex in marriage is between one man and one woman
Nationalist (America first)
More business friendly

Democrats:

Higher taxes
More expansive federal government
More open borders, few restrictions on immigration
Right to choose
Gun control
Flexible interpretation of the constitution
Generous entitlements
Protect the environment even if it is costly
Legalize marijuana
Sympathetic to LGBT
World government
Less business friendly

Christianity:

Love God
Love your fellow man
Help the poor, the prisoner, widows, orphans, and children
Treat the “soujourner” (visitor, transient, alien) well
Give 10% to the Church
Spread the good news (sell paradise)
Be kind……even to those who attack you
Be honest in what you say and do.
Do not be sexually promiscuous
Do not envy others
Take the day off on Sunday
Take care of the planet and everything on it.
Obey the law and pay your taxes
Avoid intoxication

Each of these approaches does many good things. Each of them is in conflict with the other two.

We need to choose. But, unlike the angry talking heads on TV…..unlike the politicians on the extreme left and right……. it is not “pick one side and destroy the others”.

Rather, I think that we need to prioritize these three approaches. In other words…….what are you…….first and foremost? Christian…….Democrat…….Republican. Look at the three lists and ask yourself which list best matches the world that you want to live in…….and the person whom you want to be. When you get involved in an argument about the things on the three lists………which list do you defend………which list(s) do you attack?

As for me……I want to be a Christian first……..and only after that……a Republican or Democrat. When a politician tries to sell me an idea, I want to measure it against list #3 first. Only after that should I consider lists #1 and #2. Far too many of us use only list #1 or list #2. Far too many of us get angry with others because they choose a different list.

I would love to see a third political party.

Imagine a voting booth where you can vote for individual candidates……….or vote the “straight ticket”.

Which “ticket” would you choose?

Republican. □

Democrat. □

Christian. □

So…….first and foremost……..what are you?