American Christians are often on the wrong side of social issues in our country. Evangelicals in particular often hold social stances that are not only not supported by the Bible, they are antithetical to the Biblical message. Many of these anti-Biblical stances are supported by the Republican party in the US. Despite this, Christians in general and evangelicals in particular vote overwhelmingly Republican. So what are these social issues? Here are some examples.
White evangelicals especially are against even taking in refugees, let alone immigrants in general. Republicans as a group and President Trump in particular have campaigned on 'tough' stances on immigration. What does the Bible have to say about immigrants, legal or otherwise? Regarding immigration and the treatment of immigrants:
[33] “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. [34] The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
— Leviticus 19: 33-34
[1]Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. [2] Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
— Hebrews 13:1-2
American evangelicals support President Trump. Trump has aggressively targeted DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and made statements against so-called 'anchor babies', children born in the US to immigrant parents. What would the Bible say about DACA or the children born to immigrants?
[22] You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. [23] In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
— Ezekiel 47:22-23
Movements such as 'Black Lives Matter'(BLM) are primarily about social justice. Getting justice for those who have been oppressed, held back, or mistreated in our society. They are ultimately about protecting the vulnerable and sometimes weaker members of society. The Bible has explicit instructions regarding this:
[8] Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. [9] Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
— Proverbs 31:8-9
[3] Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. [4] Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
— Psalm 82:3-4
Does the Bible speak about the police actions taken against crowds? While there are certainly some who are looting and rioting, the majority of protesters are peaceful people simply crying out to be heard. Yet police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets indiscriminately into crowds. Several people have been blinded or maimed by these rubber bullets. There is plenty of video of police repeatedly beating protesters with batons, well after any threat has been removed or where there was no threat to begin with. What does the Bible say about this?
[11]Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. [12] If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
— Proverbs 24:11-12
This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.
— Jeremiah 22:3
What about programs such as 'Universal Healthcare', food stamps, welfare, universal basic income, and programs to eliminate poverty? These are often targeted and denounced by Republican politicians in the US. American Christians, and evangelicals especially, tend to vote Republican. But what would the Bible have to say about programs such as these? Again the message is clear:
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
— Proverbs 14:31
[6] “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? [7] Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
— Isaiah 58:6-7
Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
— Titus 3:14
Ultimately the question to ask is, do the actions and political stances taken by American Christians lead others to God? Do their actions and political stances point to a personal and loving relationship with the savior Jesus Christ? I would answer they do not. American Christians act counter to the instructions found throughout the Bible to seek justice for the downtrodden, to feed the hungry, care for the needy, and stand up for the weak. Christians are instructed:
so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
— Colossians 1:10
When people claim to be Christian yet act against these teachings they come across as hypocrites. This hypocritical position American Christians find themselves in causes outsiders and others to reject Christianity and God. They are literally leading others astray through their hypocritical faith. It is time for Christians to call out those who claim the title yet act against the teachings they are given. Otherwise this is the image of Christianity that will endure.
Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
— Acts 20:30
So what can a Christian do? How can they tell when politicians support true Christian principles? How are they to act, what stances are they to take? Jesus seemed to explain this perfectly. Here is the test for the Christian to apply:
[36] “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” [37] Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
— Matthew 22:36-40
Do your political stances and the politicians you support follow these two commandments? Do your actions and beliefs follow the instruction to "Love your neighbor as yourself"? As an outsider to Christianity in America, I would answer 'no'. I challenge you to prove me wrong.