Challenges, hopes and the future of Freedom
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The religious-conservative crowd better get its act together — and fast.
The largest single religion in the United States is Catholicism, at about 22% of the overall population. Slightly less than 50% of the overall population is 'one' of roughly 40,000 different denominations of Protestantism.
So, doing the arithmetic, somewhere north of two-thirds of Americans profess to be followers of Christ — and yet, somehow, the country is engaged in a 50-50 political war. How is that possible?
First — not everyone who professes to be a follower of Christ actually follows Him or His teachings, so the representation that 68% of Americans (Gallup, 2023) are Christian doesn't really bare out — not in the day-to-day of their lives.
Second — not all Christians vote. In fact, only about half of Catholics turn out to vote, and their votes are split relatively evenly. A larger percentage of conservative Protestants show up on election day, but still not in sufficient numbers to overwhelm the electorate with Christianity-based principles that cancel out agnostic/atheist, irreligious voters (the fastest-growing portion of the population, especially among the young.)
Why is this? While painting with an overly broad brush isn't ever helpful, there are some instances where mega-themes can be identified at least.
One mega-theme, as it were, is the attitude that hardcore Christians not only don't, but really shouldn't be involved in the "world." The world is evil and to be navigated as no more than a spiritual minefield on the way to heaven; a necessary evil — and not much else.
The prevailing view of not a small number of Christians is — to sully one's hands in the work of politics is wrong, if not downright sinful. The world belongs to the Devil, and we must take pains to avoid it in every possible way.
Adding to that approach, a further attitude emerges that all politicians are self-serving, immoral crooks (this one might actually be true) and, therefore, not just politics itself, but politicians also must be avoided — as in, not supported either in a campaign or at the polls on election day.
A great Christian disassociation has developed among both Catholics and Protestants — a disassociation from their spiritual lives and their temporal lives. Following from Protestant theology, the body (the material) doesn't really matter all that much; it's really only the spiritual that counts.
Ultimately there is some truth in that — the spiritual is more important than the material, but not so much more important that the material is eclipsed and rendered meaningless. After all, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity assumed matter to save us — and by "us" — that means our bodies, as well as our souls.
In Catholic circles — especially more tradition-minded enclaves — there appears to be little more than a passing nod toward the importance of politics. As in many conservative Protestant circles, an "I'm too holy" approach; as though becoming involved in the "rolled up sleeves" approach to laboring for a better society and culture is too imperfect, and a mysterious impediment to their salvation.
There is almost a pharisaical approach to any candidate, especially "conservative" ones that "he eats with sinners," or "I can't vote for an imperfect man."
Of course, there is a great deal of merit in desiring that politics be more pure, but the ironic question arises — how can it become more pure if people who believe in purity refuse to enter the fray?
When more and more irreligious, and those of no religious belief, do not run for office, organize for them, get out the vote for them, nor turn up on election day to vote for them — what would any thinking person expect to happen?
The "shake the dust from your feet" thinking is poorly placed when it comes to allowing a culture to be overrun by aggressive atheists and communists. Have these folks stopped to consider the type of world/nation/culture they are leaving for their children and grandchildren?
And the comparisons to Our Lord peacefully going to His crucifixion "as a sheep silent before its shearers" does not fit. His death WAS His mission — so that He might rise. Salvation was dependent on His death. So, for a brief moment, He willingly laid aside His divine authority and submitted to an unjust system for the greater good of salvation.
That is NOT the mission of His followers. He has already accomplished it. Our mission is to take His redemption and help extend it to the ends of the earth; to cooperate with it in whatever manner cultural, societal and, yes, political circumstances present themselves.
If Christians (Catholics and Protestants) divorce themselves from the activity — the work of helping to save their neighbor — what sort of charity is that? It is, in fact, selfish to consider only your own piety and ignore the welfare of your neighbor. That is a violation of the second greatest commandment.
Gary Michael Voris holds a graduate degree, Cum Laude, from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Voris earned multiple awards for 40+ years of news media experience for writing, producing, and investigative work from the Associated Press, Detroit Press Club, Michigan Broadcasters Association, as well as four news Emmys in multiple categories. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1983 with an undergraduate major in Communications and a minor in History.
But one should remember that most of Catholics are Hispanic people. They vote differently than white Catholics. Or I pressume so? 🤔😎