Christianity and Politics: Can a Christian be a FILL IN THE BLANK?

Yes, I've heard it before.  I've seen this question asked before.  I've asked it myself.  I've seen the confusion in people's eyes as they struggle for an answer that won't offend too much.

The non-verbals are horrible and negative, no matter what the nuances are.  Many just don't believe that they can be, and expressing it is just a matter of careful phrasing.  

The question?

Can a Christian be a Democrat?

Some of my readers who live in other areas may be surprised at that question.  But, believe me, it exists, and the answer is not pleasant.  Some may think it's possible, but only if you adopt a social conservative agenda and understand that welfare doesn't work, and the poor are poor because of their own lack of ambition and laziness. In other words, a DINO (Democrat In Name Only), maybe someone whose family was historically Democratic and you just haven't grown out of it yet.

Let me broaden the question.  Can a Republican be a Christian?  Can a conservative?  A liberal?  A libertarian?

The answer, of course, is yes.  Yes, they can.  For any of these viewpoints, it's no guarantee of anything, but it certainly doesn't void anyone out either.

There is no perfect match up between Christianity and political party.  If Jesus were here (and in my own faith, in a sense, I believe he is ALREADY here), his priority would be how you loved God, how you treated others, how we moved society to a better place, closer to the Kingdom of God (on Earth as it is in heaven).  I could see him leading social movements and protests, participating in acts of civil disobedience.  I could never see him wearing a hat for a particular candidate at a political convention.

Although there is a separation of church and state, as our government and officials should never be used to advocate or endorse any particular religion, faith or denomination, that is not to say that our politics cannot be influenced by our sense of morality and decency, whether religiously inspired or not.  Slavery was defended by people using religion and bible quotes, but it was also dismantled in part by people who believed in the morality of treating all human beings with dignity.  Christians have marched and joined protests to improve civil rights for minorities and women and children.

Don't ask whether you are a Christian by political party.  Ask it by what you do, by what you hold important.  Do you strive to feed the hungry?  Clothe the naked?  Shelter the homeless?  Defend the widow and the children and the poor?  Do you do this not only in your personal life, but in your church life, and in your civic life?  Do you believe in solutions that would help alleviate and diminish poverty and suffering?

There are all kinds of solutions to these problems, and they all over the political spectrum.  Conservatives can sincerely believe that the poor are not at fault and need to be helped and come up with conservative solutions to do that.  Liberals can show that they believe in social responsibility and consequences.

What Christians can't do is express blame and hatred of the poor.  They cannot be social Darwinists, who believe that prosperity is a result of God's blessings and that those who are poor, are poor because they are lazy and imperfect and fall short in the eyes of God.  You cannot hate and despise your neighbor, and also call yourself a Christian.

I think you can be for almost any of the candidates running for President, and make a case that you are a good Christian.  Some are more difficult than others, but it still can be done.

Well, except one.  One who, in my mind, represents the complete antithesis of what it means to be a Christian.

Can you be a Christian and support Donald Trump?

It's not impossible, I suppose.  Although.....

you better join that rich man and his camel in trying to get through the eye of the needle.