Christians Really Should Be Independents

I'm a political junkie. I enjoy following politics the way some folks follow race horses. However, as a follower of Christ in America, I am increasingly convinced that the proper affiliation for a Christian is independent. Amy Black, a professor of political science at Wheaton College, was asked in an interview whether she thought Jesus would be a Democrat or Republican. Her response? Basically, "Neither. God's Kingdom is a monarchy." This, for me, highlights one of the major hurdles that we face as Christians in the United States. Most of my brothers and sisters in Christ identify strongly as either Democrat or Republican. Yet, I can't help but think that the Gospel calls us to transcend these partisan categories. I'm not saying that we should abstain from civic responsibility or public action. As Black also pointed out in the same interview, that by evangelical believers aligning themselves without compromise to one party, the other party can simply ignore them completely. That's not even good political leveraging to say the least, but I think more is going on here. Could it be that the American church has been overtaken by nationalism to such an extent that our worldviews are more shaped by our political affiliations than by the Gospel? We can describe both parties fairly well both by their policies and also by the attitudes that characterize the public discourse of one party or the other. If my worldview is being shaped by the Christian Scriptures and if that Word is my criteria for evaluating the moral and political stances of each party, I am frankly dumbfounded by any other position than being an independent. As a Christian, I am certainly opposed to abortion, and believe fighting for the extension of the adoption tax credit is a worthy fight to join. I am inclined to prefer less government involvement in affairs that might affect my religious liberty, and as a matter of precedent I think it is a good idea to defend other's religious liberty as well even if I am simultaneously laboring to win them to belief in Christ. Efforts to preserve healthy family structures is good, and as a homeschool family, I find myself aligned in some ways with libertarian conservatives. Yet, I can't find trickle-down economics in the Bible. Instead, I read of Jubilee and the injustice of charging usury (interest). Conservatives are often on the right side of a "social issue" when it comes to sexual ethics; however, at the same time they often demonstrate hateful, spiteful attitudes that bear no resemblance to Jesus when He is interacting with the same sort of crowd. On the other hand, as a Christian, I cannot endorse or affirm any expression of anti-immigrant sentiment. When Christians demonstrate spiteful attitudes towards immigrants, I often wonder what Bible they're reading. I feel that taking initiative at healthcare reform is a just and right issue. Even if the solutions for how to do it are debatable, taking the initiative is admirable. I live among hard working families in the poorest urban county in the nation. Whether struggling Hispanic families in Texas or poor White families in Appalachia, taking the initiative to help economically-challenged families is good and should be applauded by Christians. Yet, liberal ideologies often represent an arrogance that Scripture repeatedly warns about, and there is no shortage of hypocrisy on this side of the political aisle. This side does its share of scapegoating, and if conservatives are guilty of trying to uphold a cultural Christendom, then liberals are guilty of representing the good, the bad, and the ugly of post-Christendom. Even if I believe the so called "culture wars" are a waste of time and only hurts the church's credibility in the long run, I can't in good conscience stand with some of the key liberal ideologies simply because I must allow my worldview to be swept up in the the teachings of the Apostles rather than the ideologies of either democrat or republican. Since each major political party has divided these issues between them, which one is more righteous? They both represent some ideas that might seem more in line with the Gospel. They both also represent some ideas that are diametrically opposed to the social ethics of the Gospel. I firmly believe that most faithful political positioning for a follower of Christ is to be independent of both parties but also to be willing to work with others -- despite affiliations -- for the shalom of the city. If our highest allegiance is to Christ our Lord, then our civic duty is going to transcend partisan loyalties, and we will regain our vision that has been so often clouded by our nationalist tendencies. In reality, Christians are monarchists too. "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."