What would the world be like if the West was Christian again?
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Did you know Christians make up nearly 65% of all US voters?
There are about 240 million eligible voters in the United States. Approximately 65% of those identify as Christian in some form, according to surveys like those from Pew Research Center. This means that roughly 162 million voting-age adults in the US identify as Christian.
While this number might seem like a massive decline from 2008 when Christians made up 79% of the total electorate, it still presents an opportunity that, until now, has been sadly overlooked and underutilized.
In 2020, Joe Biden is said to have received 81 million votes, the highest number of votes for any president in the history of the United States. If Christians united as a voting block they would more than double that number.
Imagine if Christians stopped responding to the political norms as dictated by the parties. Imagine if Christians could find a way to put aside doctrinal differences when it came to elections, and instead created a political infrastructure around which all Christians could rally. What effect would that have on the broader American society?
HOW PARTIES DECIDE THEIR POLICIES
It is important to understand that the policies and goals of the major parties are shaped by the stated goals of their donors and other special interests first, and lastly on what they feel the majority of their voters will support. Because of this, unorganized voters (which is the majority of voters) end up in a position of picking the lesser evil or taking what they can get; while much smaller (but better organized) groups are able to set policy for the entire nation.
Let's use minority religious groups as a example.
Minority religious groups lobby the major political parties by forming advocacy organizations and coalitions, engaging in direct political advocacy, and mobilizing their communities through voter registration drives.
They generally focus entirely on in-group specific issues, such as the ability to expand or enforce their religion (e.g., the giant statues to Hindu deities or Islamic calls to prayer being broadcast on American streets); special protections, such as making criticism of their religion illegal or at least socially problematic (e.g., popularizing concepts like Islamophobia or antisemitism); special legal protections; and, immigration reform.
These groups also leverage media and public relations campaigns to influence public opinion and collaborate with broader social movements to increase their political influence.
Through Political Action Committees (PACs) and campaign contributions, they financially support candidates who align with their values and remove those who do not. Additionally, many minority religious groups cultivate political candidates from within their communities (such as Ilhan Omar), giving them a voice in policy-making at both local and national levels.
The tremendous effects of this strategy are undeniable.
For instance, groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have successfully lobbied for anti-hate crime laws and workplace protections for religious attire, especially for Muslim women who wear hijabs. CAIR's efforts also helped reverse policies like the so-called "Muslim travel ban" (ensuring access to the United States for people from some of the most violent and extreme regions of the world.)
Similarly, Sikh advocacy groups such as the Sikh Coalition have successfully lobbied for the right to wear turbans and maintain unshorn hair in public service, including in the US military and police forces, gaining special exemptions for Sikhs to avoid adhering to long-standing uniform policies.
Hindu groups, including organizations like Hindu American Foundation (HAF), have also played a key role in shaping policy. They've lobbied for recognition of Hindu holidays, such as Diwali, in public schools and pushed for changes in educational curricula that reflect Hinduism more kindly.
These groups have influenced foreign policy. For example, AIPAC spends tens of millions of dollars in every election cycle to secure their ability to shape US policy, specifically, but not exclusively, to ensuring continued military and financial support for Israel. Muslim advocacy groups have done the same, successfully lobbying for support from US taxpayers.
So much of the current political landscape is shaped by organizations actively lobbying, using both carrots (funding and votes) and sticks (lawsuits, bad publicity and mobilization to vote against) to push legislation that prefers the people they represent.
This is why so much of modern American politics (or politics across the Western world) seem so confusing, so disordered, and so destructive to the core values of the majority of people.
Every single "untouchable" subject is that way because there is a wealthy lobby making it so. But their power lies entirely in their ability to shape narratives in a way that voters will accept, strong arm politicians and legislators of all kinds (from local boards to school and library districts; all the way up to presidents, senators, and congressmen), and ensure that the vast majority of voters have no say by making sure no matter which party you select, their prerogatives are served.
HOW CHRISTIANS CAN SHAPE THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
As the 2024 election draws near, Christians face a crucial moment not only to rally behind their chosen candidate, but also to seize an opportunity of far greater significance.
Both Catholics and Evangelicals have experience in organizing substantial voting blocks, but this skill could be expanded through organizing a collective political movement that transcends denominational boundaries and other divisions.
This could take the form of a Christian Coalition with an updated agenda that reflects both traditional values and modern societal challenges.
If unified and organized, Christians could set the standard in political discourse and have the parties fighting over who gets to better represent their values rather than Christians fighting over which candidate is the most palatable compromise.
Christians, for example, could advocate for comprehensive protections for Christians, not just in the US, but globally, where Christian communities face persecution. Imagine what kind of pressure the State Department of a Christian-centered America could put on stopping the Turkish and Azeri attacks on Christian Armenia, or the Islamic attacks on Christians in Africa, or the persecution of Christians in Israel and the Middle East.
Imagine the policies a Christian-centric administration could push to help fix healthcare costs, costs of living, along with support and encouragement for families.
Imagine the effect on the sanctity of life, not to mention the numerous social policies from immigration to usury to taxes that have strong solutions already founded in Christian philosophy.
Of course, a united Christian movement could also foster incredible new candidates, moving well trained, faithful Christians into the political sphere. Instead of supporting the lesser of two evils, Christians could help cultivate and support political leaders who truly reflect Christian values and who are committed to enacting policies grounded in morality and faith.
MOVING BEYOND PARTISAN DIVISIONS
One of the most transformative aspects of such a movement would be its ability to transcend partisan divides.
Christians currently find themselves divided between parties – some align with Republicans on issues like abortion and religious freedom, while others side with Democrats on social justice and poverty issues.
A unified Christian political movement could challenge both parties to address the full spectrum of Christian concerns, from family values to care for the poor, from the sanctity of life to environmental stewardship. Instead of reacting to what is offered by secular politicians, Christians could proactively shape policy agendas that align with their faith.
The ultimate goal should be not to align Christianity with one party, but to create a moral framework that transcends politics, offering a set of policy objectives that any party can adopt. By doing so, Christians would not be boxed into partisan labels, but could influence both sides of the political aisle.
I struggle to find anything aside from this that could be so fully supported by scriptures that warn us to not be conformed to this world but transformed, or ones that tell us to be in the world but not of it. While we are not of this world, what happens within our domains is still our responsibility.
Perhaps this is presumptuous to say, but one must wonder how can we stand before God in judgement and answer why we didn't use the power and numbers He gave us, in our own nations, to preserve and protect His people and act as an example of what nations should be. Will "our doctrinal divisions kept us from even trying" be a sufficient answer?
The time has come for Christians to recognize the immense political power we hold. If we are indeed in a "Holy War" should we not at least be fighting on the same side?
Editor's note: Radical secularists have undermined the premise of the Founders to the detriment of our nation and its people. It's time to fight back. Reclaiming the Republic will show you how.
Arthur is a former editor and consultant. Born in India to missionary parents, he spent his early career working in development for NGOs in Asia, Central America, and Africa.
Arthur has an educational background in history and psychology, with certifications from the University of Oxford and Leiden in the economics, politics, and ethics of mass migration and comparative theories in terrorism and counterterrorism. He is currently launching CivWest, a company focused on building capital to fund restorative projects and create resilient systems across the Western world.
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