Christians I Disagree with Politically

4 Kinds of Christians & What to Do About Them

WARNING: This article is for Christians. It doesn't apply to those who don't follow Jesus Christ. Some readers come to my writings for general leadership wisdom and are not Christians. Sorry for this diversion into the specific teachings of Jesus.

In America, there has been a long-held tradition in social circles to never discuss politics and religion in polite company. Seriously, people once thought that. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been able to describe conditions in the U.S.A. as polite company for some time. And of course, this social contract pre-dates the invention of Robotexts, TikTok, and Twitter.

I understand that this is not a uniquely American problem. People all around the world debate politics and government. I've seen them do it. I've discussed the political problems of the home countries with dozens of my immigrant friends. However, Christianity is intermingled with the American political landscape in a unique way, so that provides a unique challenge and responsibility.*

Churchill said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government, except for all the others." If you feel a slight contempt for having to choose between the lesser of two evils, once again, you are not alone. Frank Herbert, author of Dune, explains that the problem is not so much "that power corrupts, but that it is magnetic to the corruptible.”

I rarely speak about politics on social media or in my writings. When I have spoken out in the past it has been about a political matter I felt Christians should weigh with particular biblical discernment, but it was not partisan. I've never publicly endorsed a candidate in my entire life, nor accused those who vote for a specific candidate of sinning by doing so. Members of my own family have not even discovered who I've voted for in local, state, and federal elections unless they pressed pretty hard. I haven't kept it a secret, but I also haven't been vocal. I've long admired, if not dutifully followed, my grandfather's Pilgrim Holiness-style identification with his higher Heavenly citizenship. Whenever US politics came up would wistfully wonder aloud, "I wonder who they will elect as their president?"

However, because of the way we treat each other these days in the states, I feel somewhat compelled to answer the question, first for myself, "How should I treat Christians I disagree with politically?"

Improbable and Impossible

But first, a confession: the rest of this article can seem somewhat unrealistic to me, perhaps it will to you. Much of what I'll describe here is so far from how we treat each other that it seems at least improbable and perhaps impossible. Of course, that observation aligns with all of the improbable commands and impossible actions repeatedly Jesus said and did. Remember, he's the One who said our faith could be as small as a mustard seed and still move mountains, the One who said "eat my flesh and drink my blood," even the One who said we would do greater things than he did.

Yes, much of what follows here seems impossible to me. But it's what I am told to do, even commanded to do as a part of the body of Christ. So I must take it seriously and by the Spirit strive to be transformed by the renewing of my mind and obey the Word of the Lord. So with that confession leading to obedience, let me begin by answering how I should treat different kinds of Christians I disagree with politically

(NOTE: text in bold is quoted from the passages cited)

1. Christians who disagree with me on minor policy issues

The first kind of Christian is the one who disagrees with me on certain policy issues I might consider minor. These have an impact, and they are on my radar, but I would not think of them as crucial. I won't list them, in part because my list is perhaps different than yours, and that is part of the point. They are minor policy issues to me. I must keep this in mind and seek to bear the burdens (Galatians 6:2) of my fellow Christians who think something is far more important than I do. They may have very personal reasons for thinking that is so important, and I should not dismiss those reasons. I need to be patient (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13) with them as they explain to me something that they value more highly than I do, and I should build them up (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) as I show love for them (John 13:34 and appearing other places 16 times). It's also a good reminder that I shouldn't break fellowship with someone over a small thing, causing division, because I'm to live in harmony with other Christians (Romans 12:16).

2. Christians who disagree with me on major policy issues

But what about the big stuff, those concerns that make up the major policy issues to me? Well, again, those are major issues for me and they might be minor issues for other people. Something may be my shibboleth (Judges 12:4-6), but not yours. I should still show hospitality to Christians who don't view these things as important as I do (1 Peter 4:9). I may have a conviction that one or two issues are of the utmost importance to all Christians, but I should clothe myself with humility (1 Peter 5:5), and not presume I'm always right about such things. I may be wrong. I've changed my mind on the importance of some issues throughout the years, or outright changed my view on a few major policy matters. I am not infallible, so who is to say I won’t change my mind again?

Of course, from time to time an issue is of such importance to me I may want to try and convince others on these major policy issues. This takes courage and candor, but even while doing so I should speak that truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25) and still accept other Christians who disagree with me (Romans 15:7), and forgive them if I think they’ve made the wrong call or expressed wrong views (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13). I should not demean them for not having the same opinions as me, since I'm to honor them above myself (Romans 12:10) and instead of thinking of them as stupid or easily manipulated, I am to consider them better than myself (Philippians 2:3).

3. Christians who support a candidate or party I particularly dislike

Now, there are times when other Christians advocate for a candidate I particularly dislike. It can be hard to imagine why someone would put a sign in their yard or have that bumper sticker or wear that t-shirt or hat. I see them post on social media about a candidate and I jump to conclusions because they support a candidate who seems to me like a moral blight on our political world. Well, we Christians are told to pray for one another (James 5:16) so that's where I should start. Instead of showing my displeasure with them or treating them badly for what I perceive to be their poor political judgment, I should still be kind and compassionate (Ephesians 4:32) in how I treat them. I am not to provoke or stir up trouble about these people, my fellow Christians; instead, I am to stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24). That word "stir up" means to provoke. It is easy for me to get provoked about politics, but I am commanded to love and do good deeds and provoke the same in other Christians, not provoking them politically, and that includes on social media.

At other times a fellow Christian will support an entire party I am suspicious of or have a history of disliking. Or perhaps that party was one I used to trust but who lost my trust over time due to policy shifts, integrity, or track record. Other times a party has won elections I thought they should have lost and I feel cheated or angry about those results. Well, scripture tells me to not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26) so I need to learn not to even grumble against each other (James 5:9) about such things. I'm told that the consequences are serious: if you keep on biting and devouring each other...you'll be destroyed by each other (Galatians 5:15). And while many in professional political circles believe the means justify the ends, and that manipulating the truth is part of how the ugly world of politics need to happen, I am commanded differently as a Christian. I'm told not to lie to other Christians (Colossians 3:9), not to slander them (James 4:11), and even more, not to even pass judgment on other Christians (Romans 14:13). So the bar is very high for me as a believer.

4. Christians who sin against me because of politics.

Now, there are those times when we are obeying the above but someone has gone too far. They have done what Matthew 18 says is a "sin against me." I have been wronged, and I can no longer abide someone else's behavior politically and I must do something.

The first step is to ask, did they indeed sin against me? If not, the rest of the quotes and commands from scripture still apply. I have to back up and be a real Christian, lest my political persuasions overtake my identity as a Christ-follower. In the end, there's no such thing as a "Christian Democrat" or a "Christian Republican." Adjective qualifiers like that betray that I have lost the singular focus on the Lordship of Christ which all Christians must have to be true Christians and not just a demographic voting bloc. I am allowed to be political, I can run for office and even serve in government. But my identity cannot become primarily or even equally partisan. For a devoted Christ-follower, no adjective is worthy of adding to the word “Christian.”

So what about those Christians who indeed move into the sinful territory with their political opinions and activity? They may have sinned against God and me. Well, the Bible is clear about what I'm to do in those cases:

• First, I must confront them personally, one-on-one: If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. (Matthew 18:15)

• If that doesn't work, then it tells me the next step: But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. (v16)

• Failing that there's a final step: If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision. Treat that person as a pagan, as an unbeliever... (v17)

After reading all these instructions on how I'm to deal with someone "sinning against me" I have to again be realistic. Did they sin against me in truth? I have found that the church I belong to has made quite a broad acceptance of those with different political views than me. And I've yet to be a member or attender of a church in the states that removed membership from someone for political views that were different from mine. So, while this option remains open to me, and perhaps I will be sinned against by someone else for political reasons in the future, usually, this is not the approach.

So for me, I am bound by all the commands that go before on how I'm supposed to treat them. Of course, if they are condemned by the church I'm supposed to treat them as a pagan, as an unbeliever. There's some bad news on that front for me if I was hoping that would help. Some might interpret that the way I as a Christian am supposed to treat unbelievers and even my enemies is even more demanding than the way I'm supposed to treat other Christians! I just can't win with these teachings of Jesus! It would be a lot easier to just get rid of my faith and no longer be a Christian and just act like the rest of America does with their politics. Honestly, being a pagan has so many political benefits I can’t take advantage of, it’s frustrating!

Sorry that this article didn't finish with a way for you to treat those Christians who disagree with you politically any different than Jesus commanded. It's a real bummer, I know.

But before you go, I must address the possibility that in reading all this, you’re thinking about how other Christians don’t do this right. You’re jumping from what I’ve said to apply it to others. Don’t miss the only truly essential step, and that is whether you yourself are following how God tells us Christians to treat each other.

*One more thing: you’ll note that at the beginning of this article I said some things about the U.S.A. In reality nothing I said here has anything in particular to do with being a Christian in the states. It should apply, for all of us, for all time, in any country of any kind. Remember, American Christians make up only around 8% of all Christians worldwide (or roughly the global percentage of Muslims that live in Bangladesh, to put it in perspective.)