To Evangelical Voters

To the Evangelical Voters of the GOP:

The Republican Party has turned into a brand of white, Christian country club. A political party has no right to co-opt spiritual affiliations. The name of God is too great to be dragged through the worldly interests of internecine national politics.

Does that mean that men and women of faith do not belong in political parties? Does that mean that individuals who make decisions based on the faiths and traditions of their fathers have no input in our national discussions? Not at all.

Our churches may step into politics, but they do so at their peril. God and His might rules over the world with all majesty, and His will may be inscrutable to the minds of men, but the truth is that men and women can respond to His grace and truth and offer values, their voice, and their vote to the discussion.

Limited government is a cherished value, one which will permit the individual conscience to practice his faith without incursions from the state. Too often liberals treat the government as a religion all of its own. This trend is dysfunctional and dangerous, one which the GOP can contradict.

Yet instead of using government to advance moral purposes, the government exists to protect the rights of all people. Apparently, a growing number of ethnic communities, including religious minorities, do not feel welcome in a party which invokes a specific denomination of Christianity.

The Christian Coalition belongs in our national discussion, and not once should they be silenced. But for the state to advance a level of morality is in itself immoral, and for that reason the Republican Party should not be beholden to any religious interest.

Wayne Allen Root, the 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate, argued that "Christian morality" has to take a step back for the government to cut spending. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels also wrote that "a truce" on the social issues is in order. This position is not inconsistent with conservatism, not at all. In fact, limited government in fiscal, foreign, and faith matters is the core of conservatism.

As incoming Indiana Governor Mike Pence stated: "I am a Christian first, a conservative second, and a Republican last." As he did not conflate his faith and his political affiliations, so should Evangelical voters support a party which steps away from enforcing morality and stress enforcing fiscal responsibility.