4 Unnerving Things I Learned About My Fellow Christian Voters This Election
Before I begin, let me just say that these are all generalizations.
I'm am evangelical Christian who supported Bernie and then Hillary, and I am fully aware there were many Christians who also supported Bernie and the Hillary (or just Hillary) from the start.
I know it's unfair to generalize, but I hope every Christian who reads this will agree with me on having seen some of these things firsthand or own up to having engaged in some of these acts.
I know some Christians will bash me and call me lukewarm, and that's fine. But these are issues we need to think about in our community.
In four years, we will elect again and hopefully we won't fall into these same lamentable behaviors I've seen my fellow Christians commit this election season:
1. Love thy neighbor went out the window in heated political debates.
As Christians, we're taught to love each other and to believe fervently that loving one another is the greatest commandment of all.
So while people argued on social media, one would expect Christians to set an example and not join in on the criticism, sarcasm, mockery, negativity and bruising hurt, but unfortunately, far too many joined.
Many weren't able to live up to the standard Christ set of loving people regardless of whether or not you like their opinions or agree with their actions.
The things I've read have been completely contrary to Christian belief. People belittling each other and worse, judging each other by saying voting Democrat could lead you to losing your salvation? That is not a shining example of Christian goodness.
The dirty claws of judgment unsheathed rapidly during this election.
And those who took it upon themselves to be the voice of God during quarrels on social media went as far as to quote biblically, and usually out of context, the reasons why voting for a Democrat would be the downfall of America.
2. Single-issue voting was prevalent.
Many Christians believe a woman's right to choose is unfair because an unborn child should have the same constitutional rights as any other person.
Countless Christians focused on this issue and this issue alone when deciding who to vote for.
Meanwhile, thousands upon thousands of undocumented families are now petrified they'll be deported and not seen as the decent human beings they are, robbing them and their children of the opportunity of having a better life.
You are allowed to be pro-life. That is your right as an American.
But it is unfair to argue you're pro-life when it comes to reproductive rights and then turn around and claim the lives of other human beings don't matter just because they're undocumented.
Illegal or not, we are all human beings.
3. Misogyny among Christians was (and is) alive and well.
Women have always had a more passive role in modern organized religion. Why do I say modern? That's easy: Women in biblical times were actually very powerful.
Figures like Queen Esther, who peacefully fought for the rights of her people and went before the king to plead they not be killed, prove that women in Judeo-Christian narrative actually had authority.
If you think back to how many female pastors, bishops and priests there are today, chances are not very many can be tallied.
More than once, I read posts claiming no woman could ever hold a position as head authority in the United States because it's “against biblical principle."
I'm not sure where people are getting this from, but I'd really love to see where in The Bible it says women should or cannot be involved in politics.
4. Trump winning was treated like a favorite team winning the Super Bowl.
The candidate many Christians voted for won, and instead of quietly basking in their victory, we were regaled with obnoxious posts basically "nana nana boo boo-ing" at those who voted for Hillary.
It was more like witnessing the aftermath of a heated Super Bowl win that it was witnessing a presidential election.
Our election was important, and surely deserved to be treated as anything but a game.
