A Growing Confusion
In the United States, Christianity and conservatism—often synonymous with Republican politics—have been interwoven in ways that blur spiritual identity with political allegiance. For some, being a “good Christian” has come to mean voting for a certain party, advocating for particular policies, or aligning with a narrow definition of morality that mirrors a partisan platform. Yet this fusion of faith with ideology raises a profound question: is Christianity being used as a tool of politics, rather than politics being shaped by the ethics of Christianity? When the church becomes a wing of a political party, it risks forfeiting the radical and liberating message of the gospel.
Historical Context: How We Got Here
The relationship between conservatism and Christianity in America tightened especially in the late 20th century. The rise of the “Moral Majority” in the 1980s positioned evangelical Christians as a voting bloc, aiming to restore what they believed was the nation’s moral foundation. Leaders like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson tied Christian faith to conservative causes: opposition to abortion, resistance to LGBTQ rights, and defense of “family values.”
This movement provided Christians a sense of political power, but it also created a feedback loop. To be a Christian, many assumed, meant to be a conservative Republican. Over time, this alignment hardened into identity: church pews became echo chambers for campaign talking points, and pulpits sometimes more like podiums than places of spiritual nourishment.
Jesus and Partisan Capture
The problem with fusing Christianity to any political ideology—whether conservative or liberal—is that it reshapes Jesus into a partisan figure. Jesus, however, consistently resisted capture by political factions. He confounded the zealots, who sought violent overthrow of Rome, by preaching love of enemies. He confounded the Pharisees, who sought rigorous moral purity, by extending grace to tax collectors and prostitutes. He confounded the Sadducees, who clung to institutional power, by warning that the temple itself would fall.
When Christians claim Jesus as the mascot of a political movement, they risk reducing Him from the Lord of all creation to a campaign slogan. This is idolatry in a subtle but devastating form: worshiping an ideology draped in Christian language, rather than worshiping Christ Himself.
The Distortion of Christian Witness
Blending conservatism with Christianity has distorted the public witness of the church in several ways:
- Selective Morality
Republican-aligned Christianity often emphasizes a narrow set of moral issues—abortion, same-sex marriage, religious liberty—while neglecting others the Bible speaks about just as urgently, such as economic justice, care for the poor, the treatment of immigrants, and stewardship of creation. This selective morality reduces the gospel to a culture war agenda. - Nationalism Masquerading as Faith
The “Christian nationalist” impulse, common in Republican rhetoric, suggests America has a special covenant with God. Yet Scripture never places a modern nation-state at the center of God’s plan. Elevating America to divine status confuses patriotism with discipleship and risks baptizing nationalism as if it were gospel truth. - Power over Service
Jesus said the greatest among His followers would be servants, not rulers (Mark 10:42–45). Yet conservative Christian politics often prioritize gaining legislative, judicial, and executive power at all costs. When the church chases influence more than service, it betrays its Master’s example.
The Human Cost of Partisan Christianity
This fusion has not only harmed the church’s reputation but also real lives:
- Young people raised in conservative Christian circles often leave the church, not because they reject Jesus, but because they cannot reconcile His message of compassion with the bitterness of partisan politics.
- Minorities and immigrants often feel excluded when the gospel is framed in terms of border walls, cultural homogeneity, or nostalgia for a “Christian America” that historically excluded them.
- Women and marginalized groups may see the church as complicit in systems that deny their voices, echoing political rhetoric rather than Christ’s inclusion of the outcast.
Conservatism’s False Promises to Christians
Conservatism, like any ideology, makes promises to Christians: stability, family order, national greatness, and moral clarity. But these promises are often at odds with the gospel. The gospel is not about preserving the status quo but proclaiming a kingdom that turns the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
- Conservatism promises safety through strength; Jesus promises peace through sacrifice.
- Conservatism promises wealth through free markets; Jesus warns the rich and blesses the poor.
- Conservatism promises identity through nation; Jesus offers a kingdom “not of this world.”
To mistake these promises for the gospel is to trade eternal truth for political expediency.
What True Christian Engagement Looks Like
Does this mean Christians should abandon politics? No. Faith inevitably shapes how believers live, work, and vote. But healthy engagement means holding politics accountable to the gospel, not bending the gospel to fit politics.
A faithful Christian public witness should:
- Defend the unborn and care for the poor and oppressed.
- Protect religious liberty and stand against racism and xenophobia.
- Cherish marriage and extend compassion to those outside its bounds.
- Respect government and prophetically challenge it when it oppresses.
Christianity transcends the left-right spectrum. Sometimes it will affirm conservative concerns; other times it will align with progressive values. But it will never fully belong to any party because it belongs to Christ.
Reclaiming the Church’s Integrity
To reclaim integrity, churches must:
- Preach the whole counsel of God, not just culture war issues.
- Refuse partisan captivity, acknowledging that no party is the kingdom of God.
- Create space for political diversity among believers, emphasizing unity in Christ over uniformity in politics.
- Return to servanthood, focusing more on feeding the hungry, visiting prisoners, and caring for widows than lobbying for power.
The early church grew not by capturing Rome’s senate but by embodying Christ’s love so powerfully that it upended the empire from below. Our call is no different today.
Conclusion: A Call to Discernment
The danger of mixing conservatism with Christianity is not just theoretical. It is pastoral, generational, and eternal. It confuses believers, alienates seekers, and compromises the gospel. Christians must discern carefully: are we following Christ, or are we following Caesar dressed in Christian clothes?
The way forward is humility. To confess that we, too, can be seduced by power. To repent where we have worshiped party platforms instead of Jesus. To rebuild the church’s witness, not around an elephant or a donkey, but around the Lamb who was slain.
Only then will Christianity in America recover its prophetic edge and its healing power. Only then will the world see that our allegiance is not to conservatism, not to liberalism, not even to America itself, but to the kingdom of God that transcends them all.
MARK SOTOMAYOR 