Saturday Watchdog: Politics, Religion, And The Midterms

New Associated Press reporting examines the victories of Christian clergy and religiously outspoken Democratic candidates in the midterm elections. James Talarico in Texas, Adam Hamilton in Kansas, and ministers Sarah Trone Garriott and Lindsay James in Iowa were among the successful candidates. They emphasized neighborly love, compassion, religious pluralism and public service.

It will be revealing to see how those on the left who screech loudest against “separation of church and state” and “Christian Nationalism” react to their own candidates role as simultaneous preachers and elected government officials.

In the meantime, AP polling also found continued strong Republican support among white evangelical voters. Analysts caution that economic dissatisfaction and broader political conditions were major election factors; religious messaging alone does not explain the results.

So What?

Jesus isn’t registered with either political party and Christianity is not the exclusive property of conservatives or progressives.

Different Christian traditions emphasize different biblical teachings when discussing government, poverty, morality, religious liberty and individual responsibility.

The challenge is to examine whether a politician’s character, actions and proposals are consistent with the principles they claim to represent and whether their proclaimed interpretaiton of the Bible is consistent with clear Scripture.

Jesus said people would be known by their fruits (Matthew 7:16), not by their campaign slogans.

The election may change how both political parties engage religious voters and how Americans understand the relationship between Judeo-Christian identity and political ideology.

Associated Press — November 6

Rick Tryon

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Child of God, husband, father, grandfather, rabblerouser, songwriter, pot stirrer, waiting for the King.

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