If you are sharing the Gospel with the lost or teaching the Word to believers, do you have any Biblical mandate to tell them to get the shot or not to get the shot, to vote democrat or to vote republican? Of course not. Let's be clear, there is nothing in Scripture that even remotely relates to anything like that. Too many Christians are wasting precious time in talking about politics and covid and capitalism and socialism when they have no Biblical leg to stand on.
I know Christians who are Democrats. We don't agree politically on some issues. But we agree on the gospel. I'm politically conservative. But the Gospel is not about politics.
But here is the heart of the matter. Many Christians who have conservative politics have the notion that the United States is a Christian nation. The funny thing is, the Bible can't be used to support capitalism or democracy or the idea that America is a Christian nation. On the contrary, the only nation God had a relationship with was Israel. It was a theocracy and then became a monarchy.
Now that Israel has been set aside, God is dealing with the world through the Body of Christ, His Church. We have no physical land, we have no holy place, no nation. God has no favored nation, not the modern state of Israel nor the USA. God has no favorite political system. Every Christian in every country of the world is under the same instructions. It is not to make their country over in the image of the United States. It is not to preach capitalism or democracy or to call down the judgement of God on unbelievers(See I Corinthians 5:13, God will judge the lost). It is to witness to the lost and teach the Word to believers.
Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (I Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28)
Well there's nothing wrong with being a single issue voter and not registering to vote you're right there is no biblical mandate for that . Both the GOP and the Democrat party or uni party or uni party as some call have been negligent in upholding their US constitutional duties
however socialism for all its popularity in some circles, is not a biblical model for society. In opposition to socialism, the Bible promotes the idea of private property and issues commands to respect it: commands such as “You shall not steal” (Deuteronomy 5:19) are meaningless without private property. Unlike what we see in failed experiments in socialism, the Bible honors work and teaches that individuals are responsible to support themselves: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The redistribution of wealth foundational to socialism destroys accountability and the biblical work ethic. Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:14–30 clearly teaches our responsibility to serve God with our (private) resources
we as Christians should have a voice in our government Paul tells us in Romans 13:1–8 that it is the government’s responsibility to rule in authority over us—hopefully for our good—to collect taxes, and to keep the peace. Where we have a voice and can elect our leaders, we should exercise that right by voting for those who best demonstrate Christian principles
Complacency is not an option either otherwise --
" those who stand for nothing fall for anything " -- Alexander Hamilton
I do think God does care about what you believe in politically. It doesn’t matter so much what you call yourself, Democrat, Republican, Independent, etc. In the end those are just titles to be thrown around. If your political aren’t aligned with the word of God, if they don’t reflect the Bible then yes, it does matter. And I believe it also matters who you support. If you support someone who believes that babies should be aborted yet you speak against it (and maybe on some occasions try to claim who you support doesn’t even though they do) then I don’t believe that is pleasing to the Lord. Plus we also shouldn’t hate whoever we don’t support, because that fuels even more hatred and it ends up driving people away. You can hate their ways, but don’t hate them. Because it says plainly in the Bible that hate is the same as murder.
When it comes to the Bible and things like Politics and even things like vaccinations, Romans 14 comes to mind regarding those weaker in faith and those who are more mature in their faith.
However, one who is pure and sincere in their efforts to follow Christ will tend not to support things that are against Christ to begin with.
"I know Christians who are Democrats." this is very sad because if they were serious about their faith they'd realize that Democrats for several have been the antithesis to everything Jesus taught.
I strongly disagree with your take on politics and usage of verses like Colossians 3:11.
The verse is talking about how Christ transcends class divisions. The inclusion of things like Barbarians and Scythians addresses intellectual ignorance and primitive savagery among a group of peoples than it does to say "don't have a biblical leg to stand on" when it comes to politics and systems of economy.
The most dominant form of economy in the history of the world is capitalism and not because of the modern era either. The bible does have a close reference to communism in the Old Testament but it is very clear when God talks about honest gain and profit that capitalism fits the cleanest into such mentions. To say otherwise is really at odds with both secular and biblical histories (they do not diverge significantly in terms of economics).
Colossians 3:11 talks about the removal of barriers based on birth, nationality, race, social status etc or any identity derived from ceremony or ritual.
To deny something like capitalism is very myopic. The early church taught to sell excess to provide the needs of those without. This can only come about through capitalism. It's not a perfect system but I find this entire thread predicated on the start of conflating morality with economic systems. The bible does not do this as most will agree.
One thing more for now, the statement of "On the contrary, the only nation God had a relationship with was Israel." This is quite dismissive of the fact that the God of Heaven is the God of all nations and when we consider Psalm 33:12 we begin to see far beyond the Hebraic Homeland known as Ancient Israel. The same God that raises up and tears down kingdoms (leadership) all over the world has a relationship with those same nations. To dismiss this is to selectively box out God's interaction and control in the world. The mutual strength of the relationship depends on the people obeying God. If they do not obey, God clearly has calamity waiting for them. Such is impossible with the idea that God was only ever in one relationship with one nation.
God most certainly cares about our politics. If we care about Him and think about Him when we say and act then we will vote with Him in mind. If we are consistent with Jesus' teachings we're not going to make decisions (as a general rule) that go against God's teachings. Since God raises up kingdoms and tears them down it doesn't matter who we say in the end, it's a matter of whether we picked as God would have. If we as a people were far more serious about God the Democrats would have been long ousted from this country and so too the Whigs, er Republicans.
There's a lot to be said but that's enough for now.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.
Proverb 11 verses 10-11
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked are destroyed, there is joy.
11By the blessing of the upright a city is lifted up, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
There is no difference between the political parties, both are wicked and have a common goal, complete control over everyones life.
If they are not part of the answer, then they are part of the problem.
Every country would be better off without the banksters, lawyers, lawmakers, and politicians, these are roughly 85% of the problem.
Then we have the problem of the Gospel not going forth, since we do not live in a spiritual vacuum, why would anyone think this country will have change for the better.
It will continue to get worse, but be of good cheer, Yashua has overcome the world and its systems.
