Sunday, February 4, 2024

Are Republicans Christians?

There was a YouTube video I came across, basically saying that Republicans, particularly that of the evangelical, MAGA, super conservative group, are not Christians at all because they don't help the poor. 

Here is the video, and after the video, consider reading my analysis.


John Fugelsang and Tennessee Brando's accusation is that Republicans don't help the poor because they don't pass laws that help the poor.  But here's the thing:  Many of these laws FORCE OTHERS to help the poor via taxation.  Let me show you part of Jesus' parable of the Sheep and the Goats:


Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 


Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 

Mat 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 

Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 


Ye, as in YOU.  YOU fed me.  YOU gave me drink.  YOU clothed me.  YOU visited me.  You didn't pass a law to make others pay for a program to help the poor.  YOU did it YOURSELF.


Now, I am not saying that programs that help the poor at the expense of levying more involuntary taxes are evil, I'm still on the fence about that.  Yet, I do believe that our current welfare programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) do not count as charity in the eyes of God, for it is written:

2Co 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 

Who among us cheerfully pays taxes?  Now, I am fully on board with funding the military, police, governors, mayors, and presidents, at taxpayer expense (Romans 13:6 gives these administrators as reasons for paying taxes), and I am also on board for funding many local and state public works at the expense of special taxes voted in by the public.

As for funding the rest of the government, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the various Cabinet departments, etc., at the very least, I accept it and tolerate it, because God has ordained all governments (Romans 13:1), but I cannot call it true charity, especially if the citizen has no say in the matter.

Am I saying "taxation is theft"?  Not at all!  For even taxes to pay the President's salary is involuntary, and yet I don't consider it theft.

Now, would I be on board for helping paying for, say, an overhaul of the American healthcare system, most famously called "Medicare For All"?  I would be much happier doing so if I were allowed to vote on it, for at least if this is charity, it is truly charity, for it would not be "arm-twisting" as The Message renders.'


But I've been digressing far enough.  Back to the question:  Are Republicans Christians?  Firstly, not because of their politics, that has nothing to do with it.  Is a Republican a Christian if they themselves don't help the poor?  No.  Is a Democrat a Christian if they themselves don't help the poor?  No.  Is ANYONE a Christian if they themselves don't help the poor?  Again, no.




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