How Did Christianity Become So Associated with the Republican Party?

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

Most people outside of the church have a view that all Christians vote Republican.  That view isn’t helped by the fact that a large number of conservative voices in the Christian faith state openly that it is a sin to vote for any other party.  If that message is not explicitly taught, it is certainly enforced through social signals within Christian culture.  Meanwhile, one of the leading reasons that young adults are rejecting the Christian faith is the way it has been commingled with a single political party, often with results that look more like the Republican party platform than the teachings of Jesus. 

This is no small issue.  One of the greatest factors repelling young adults from the Christian faith is the perceived alliance with the Republican party.  Young adults are correctly rejecting a message that has been compromised by a quest for political relevance, fear of a changing country, and a desire to win at all costs.  Unfortunately, most young adults are not aware of the history of how this alliance came about, the fact that it is a recent phenomenon, or how what they observe may not be representative of the teachings of the Christian faith.  In this episode, we try to trace some of that history to raise awareness of the beginnings of this movement, but to make clear that our allegiance should first and foremost be to Jesus and the Kingdom of God and not to any one country or political party.  

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Is it true that there is a presumption that Christians vote for the Republican party?  Have you noticed this in any of the circles of people around you, and if so, how has this been communicated?

Do you agree that the intertwining of politics and religion is one of the reasons that many young people are leaving the church, or not considering the Christian faith?  If you agree, what specifically do you see young people reacting to?  If you disagree, what other reasons are more likely to contribute to this exodus?

Do you observe that Christians prefer certainty and finitude, and that many reject a faith that seeks to lean into the tension and nuance that take seriously all of what Jesus taught?  Do you feel the temptation to just have something settled, rather than wrestle with the words of scripture and the maturity and wisdom that produces?

Did you previously know about some of the political causes that brought together conservative Evangelicals and the Republican party in the 1970s?  Can you trace how some of those themes are present in today’s political discourse?

Monique points out that political power corrupts, and when it is married with the church, it often corrupts the church as well.  Do you agree that this is a real risk?  If so, where do you see evidence of that corruption?  Have you seen situations where the church has withstood corrupting temptations to remain faithful to God’s plan for the church?

Is it fair to call Christians leaders hypocritical for changing their views on important matters depending which candidate they are supporting?  If so, does that hypocrisy denigrate the Christian faith, or do people just expect that we all will say whatever they need to in order for our side to win?

Have you noticed a growing inability to discuss issues and reach consensus, replaced with a tendency to root for our side regardless of the merits or what the scripture might say about the issue?

Do you believe that God blesses all nations?  Do you believe that God has blessed America more than other nations?  Why or why not?