Jesus in a Mask, a New American Journal graphic by Walter Simon [Art Market Place]

By Trace Thompson –

I grew up in a small conservative town in northwest Alabama. In high school, I played football, drove a truck, and wore my favorite pair of blue jeans day after day. Most importantly I attended church my entire life.

I read and studied the Bible and, to this day, live by many of its teachings.

Needless to say, I was the perfect Southern boy. Except for one thing. I am a Democrat,

Not a Southern Democrat, but a true liberal.

Growing up in a conservative area I was taught that morality equals Christianity which equals conservatism, while liberalism equals immorality and secularism.

I had read the comments of local Facebook warriors claiming that it is impossible to be Christian and a Democrat. These facebook political scientists would even say that Democrats were baby killers.

Their claim is that liberal ideology and the teachings of the Bible are not compatible.

Eventually, I exposed myself as a Democrat and was asked how can I call myself a Christian and be a Democrat?

I rejected this question wholeheartedly and was deeply offended that anyone who knew me would question my faith. Despite the extensive contributions I made to my church the label Democrat delegitimized my faith.

So where did this thought originate, and what ideologies drive this belief?

Well, the so-called “Religious Right” became a driving force in American politics during the Prohibition era and temperance movements. The religious right then disappeared until the Civil Rights movement came along.

Many white Christian leaders were in support of segregation and other forms of discrimination. Church leaders even used Biblical verses to promote these racist and elitist ideologies.

The progressives who opposed them were labeled sinners. Christianity quickly became an exclusive and elitist organization instead of an all-inclusive religion who worship an all-loving God.

Similar to the civil rights movement Christian leaders are now attacking LGBTQ communities and labeling them as sinful people. The thought process is conservatism equals Christianity and anyone who opposes conservatism is unholy and incapable of being Christian.

The problem is not the teachings of Jesus Christ, but of the church itself. The church has strayed from the teachings of self-sacrifice and humbleness displayed by Jesus. Christianity should not be a pay to play organization because Jesus Christ already paid the price for us. Christianity is not a religion it is a relationship with Christ himself.

“I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me,” according to Matthew 25:40-43. “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me’.”

Yes, I am a Democrat and a Christian because when I see a starving immigrant with children in tattered clothing I know how I treat them is a reflection of my relationship with Christ.

So how can a Republican be a Christian and reject refugees and immigrants? How can you preach sexual purity yet support a president that has openly boasted of his unrequited sexual escapades? How can you support a president who time and time again openly supports xenophobia?

I hope this Easter we remember the teachings of Christ himself: That how we treat the least of these is how we treat Christ.

Republican legislation does not reflect this belief. The religious right has forgotten this time and time again and rejected those in need. Christianity has turned from self-sacrifice to an exclusive organization filled with self-righteous members who have forgotten the point of their own religion.

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Trace Thompson is a second semester freshman at the University of Alabama studying journalism and political science now taking classes online due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.