We the Purple (by Marcia Ford)
A few weeks ago, as I was reading David Kinnaman's book unChristian—a look at the way late teens to 30-year-olds perceive Christianity—I found myself nodding in agreement. Not only did I fully understand this younger generation's negative attitudes, I've also harbored many of those same opinions over the years. And today, in no arena of life is this more evident than in the political sphere, where partisanship in the church has repelled younger people and compelled me to leave more than one faith community.
I am so far outside the book's demographic, and that of a recent Pew Research Center poll on younger evangelicals, that I might be tempted to feel like a loner, an isolated, older evangelical and the bane of every partisan politician—an independent voter. But I know better. I am not isolated. I am not alone. There are plenty of evangelicals in nearly every age group who cannot in good conscience embrace either major party, and for that reason they have become independents. And their numbers are growing.
I know this because I have spent the last 18 months researching and writing about independent voters, including those whose faith informs their politics. I had been a closet independent in a semi-evangelical world, and once I went public, I became something of a magnet for evangelicals who felt they couldn't admit to their independent status in their GOP-saturated congregations (and the stray mainliners who felt the same way in Democratic churches). There were more of us than I realized. From early conversations with independent evangelicals that prompted the research, to personal encounters at independent voter events and phone interviews with political activists, to e-mails and comments on my independent voter blog, I've found a great many kindred spirits.
It's difficult to find accurate data on the percentage of Christians, evangelical or otherwise, who are independent; although last year a Barna Group survey indicated that born-again Christians represent one-third of all independent voters. Therefore, depending on which statistics you believe—estimates of the number of independent voters nationwide range from 32 to 43 percent—born-again independents make up roughly 10 to 14 percent of the electorate.
Given those percentages, it's clear that it's not just young people who have abandoned partisan politics. Many of us who are over 30, and way beyond, have done the same. Going independent is a matter of conscience—not age.
Marcia Ford, author of We the Purple: Faith, Politics, and the Independent Voter, maintains an independent voter blog at marciaford.blogspot.com.
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Comments
I never new registering as an independent could be such a bold political statement. I'll bet the author listens to James Taylor really really loudly at times too and has a Bible with a purple cover rather than traditional black.
Actually, I kind of understand what she's talking about. My state doesn't allow party registration in order to vote. When I go back to the church in which I grew up, which is in GOP country in another state, I sometimes can't cope with the glares I get. They know, they just know, that I'm not a registered Republican. I try to tell them the state forbids it, but they don't care. It's so painful...aaah, the agony!! Yes, I admit it, I'm independent! *covering my face with my hands*
Posted by: An Indepedent | February 28, 2008 11:46 AM
A person committed to trying to follow Jesus couldn't embrace either political party, without enduring cognitive dissonance - I guess that's what many do, who decide to put Party before following Jesus.
The failings of liberals - often allied with the Democratic Party, even if not every Democrat is a liberal as increasingly most are not - are well analysed by conservative commentators. Ah, if only we had the gift to see ourselves as others see us - as the poet pointed out, that's always a more accurate picture than the one we paint of ourselves.
Yet conservatism, and the Republican Party, which most conservatives try to call home, has glaring blindspots, defects and deviates from Christian standard - and in practice, fails largely even conservative standards.
Younger folks, not yet affiliated, recognise those failings more easily and are likely to be independent from the start. It's harder for those who gave themselves to a Party in the past to have to change their minds. Sometimes attitudes really do harden along with arteries!
Nevertheless, being committed to emulate the person of Jesus, as He lived among other human beings, to make Him our example, means that people of all ages will be called to be independent.
And the independents, as the candidates are well aware, are those they really have to contend for, so we are far more influential than those they think have "no where else to go."
Only independents can fulfill the prophetic role of Christians in speaking conscience to those seeking or holding power.
Posted by: Sojourner Truth | February 28, 2008 12:52 PM
And do you think, Marcia, that disciples of Jesus are more independent in the way they relate their faith to politics than they ever were? Why?
And choosing to live one's faith out in the context of political activism in the Democratic or Republican parties is no greater of a challenge than being faithful to Jesus as a Baptist, employee of the post office, or member of the YMCA. These are simply avenues through which to exercise our political freedoms as citizens.
I think we strain too hard at too many of these issues.
Posted by: letjusticerolldown | February 28, 2008 6:22 PM
My trouble with this is the notion that somehow it is more Christian to rise above the work of politics, with all its ambiguity and messiness, than to deal with the structures that exist in the world. And that somehow, by refusing to take a party affiliation we can keep ourselves "pure."
Do we really presume that everyone in a political party is a diehard true believer in everything their party says and does? Isn't it possible that a party affiliation is a reflection of where one's heart MOSTLY lies? And a willingness to work for those MOSTLY in agreement?
And don't we need to be mindful of our OWN inability to grasp the whole truth?
Reinhold Niebuhr said a lot about what it means to follow Jesus in an imperfect, political world. I think we should be reading him like crazy.
Finally, the author seems to suggest the "independents" she is meeting in churches all think the same. I sat at a table of Christian "independents" the other day, and well, it took 2.5 seconds for an argument to break out. If we are to have new political parties --will they all be "a party of one?"
Posted by: justanidea | February 28, 2008 9:52 PM
Well, among some folk, when you make a joke about "GOP" standing for "God's Own Party," you get hearty yet completely serious "Amen, brother!" responses.
And party loyalty necessarily means you are expected to make political affiliation of primacy over other considerations - party activists really are true believers - just not necessarily in God. There is a reason for Party Whips who make Party discipline. keeping people with the Party line. It's not for nothing that "born-again" Hot Tub Tom DeLay was known as "The Hammer" in his Party enforcement role.
Party politics can become all-consuming and idolatrous and it is very much a blood sport.
Being independent means you don't buy into the exclusive lock on political truth, power-at-any-price, us vs. them demonizing that is so much a part of the Red/Blue wars.
If called, by all means be involved - but try not to sell your soul, at least not too cheaply.
Posted by: N.M. Rod | February 29, 2008 1:44 AM
N.M.Rod--But is there not a difference between an intrinsically evil enterprise (e.g. a criminal gang) versus a political party designed to exercise political stewardship. Every human institution is full of mixed motives and mixed ethics.
I do not think we are being well-served by the two parties. I have belonged to both and been independent. But schools, corporations, hospitals, museums, and tow-truck companies do not become more righteous by Christian abandonment.
If independence allows for better political engagement and better influence on our political structures--I am all for it. If it is used as a way to withdraw from political stewardship I am against it.
Posted by: letjusticerolldown | February 29, 2008 8:39 AM
Thanks letjusticerolldown.
Methinks this conversation about "Christian independents" is really about specific issues-- Perhaps these independents want some progressive economic policies (aid for the poor), and greater care for the environment, but would like to retain the more conservative social policies of the Republican party. (On abortion and gay marriage, for example. Though you may want to be less noisy about them than previous generations.)
So you can't go Republican, can't go Democrat. So you despair of party politics.
But this Christian favors progressive economic AND social policies. Making me more or less comfortable on the far left end of the Democratic party.
Ah well. We can disagree about these things, but you won't convince me that its perfectly clear that the only place for a Christian is in that great middle trough.
I'm guessing you'd count me out of your new consensus. Not because I got my hands dirty in partisan politics, but because I really don't agree with you on the issues.
Can we talk about politics without presuming a Christian consensus. . . yours or mine?
Posted by: justanidea | March 6, 2008 10:38 PM
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