Time for true Christians to consider the Democratic Party

The Republican Party’s abandonment of Christian values is leaving Christians to question their future in a party that once championed for Judeo-Christian morals.

The warm welcome of Donald Trump by leading evangelical leaders like Dr. James Dobson, Jerry Falwell Jr., and Dr. Richard Land may not sit well with mainstream and evangelical Christian voters who resist embracing a xenophobic, Islamophobic, and racist candidate for President.  

{mosads}Christians feeling disenfranchised by a Republican Party hijacked by Donald Trump and who feel like they have hit a political stalemate by revisiting abortion and same-sex marriage every election now have an opportunity to leave the GOP and champion for issues such as, poverty, human rights, gun control, and climate change which are surprisingly led by Democrats.

Christian voters who are fed up with the Republican Party and want to move beyond the political stalemate issues of abortion and same sex marriage this election, should consider voting for the Democratic Party. Rev. Joe Weir, a priest in the Orthodox Church in American Dioceses of the Midwest, contends that Christians should look beyond a pro-life candidate.

For many years Christians have spent time and energy trying to overturn Roe v. Wade, but even after 43 years since the ruling and three Republican administrations, Roe v. Wade stands and will endure because Republicans don’t have the political will to take real action against abortion — neither party does.

Same-sex marriage is the new issue that is keeping the Christian voters tied to the Republican Party, but even the GOP is showing signs of tolerance toward the LGBTQ community. Social conservatives’ drive to fight these issues to the very end has pushed Christians to find refuge under the right wing of the Republican Party no matter who is leading it — a dangerous concept.  

These issues are important and merit debate, but it’s time to end the stalemate and set these differences aside and work on issues that aren’t so polarizing, such as poverty, human rights, gun control, and climate change. Christians should work to bridge the gap between people who genuinely want to do more good, no matter what their religious affiliation.

Mr. Trump has managed to lump Christians with xenophobes, islamophobes, and racists, all of which devout Christians are not. In the last few months, Mr. Trump has implied that a judge of Mexican descent ruled against him because of the wall he was going to build between the United States and Mexico, he attacked a Muslim Gold Star family, belittled his opponents with disparaging remarks, has continued to promote a ban on Muslims entering the country, incites anti-immigrant sentiment, encouraged a foreign government to commit espionage, and supported violence toward his opponent.  

With this same tongue, Mr. Trump woos Christian voters by emphasizing how this election could cost Christians the Supreme Court and pledges to undo the Johnson Amendment. Christians standing on the same moral high-ground as Mr. Trump will soon find themselves sponsoring hate and division, which Mr. Trump has popularized this election season.

Hate toward another human being created in the image of God is a violation of the greatest commandment, “to love the Lord with all your heart mind and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself.”  

There is no place for Christians in a party that sponsors hate and division.

Christian voters should set aside, for now, polarizing issues that under the constitution of the United States stand a low probability of being overturned.  For example, gun control is an issue that Christians have fought for in the past and today more Christians are leaning toward stricter gun controls.

Christians have always believed in protecting God’s creation and today more Christians are taking a stand on climate change.  Christians are strong advocates of helping refugees and have broken away from their political base on the Syrian refugee crisis to voice their concerns, sending a clear message that neither party should politicize people in need.  

It’s time for Christians to win the hearts of their fellow Americans again, by seeking out common ground on the many issues that are dividing the country. Christians could do great work in these areas by being mediators and team builders instead of dividers. When they do, they will win over the hearts of their neighbors again, which they face to lose by standing behind the party of Trump.

Dan Campos is a member of First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Reserve Military Officer, and Presidential Management Fellow

The views of Contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.