There is a distinct difference between these two belief systems. I will compare them here.
“Republican Christianity”: Wants power.
“Biblical Christian”: Knows God is the power.
“Republican Christianity”: Fears everything that does not believe the same way they do.
“Biblical Christian”: Fears nothing by relying on God to know what he is doing.
“Republican Christianity”: Wishes for a theocracy where they can implement their beliefs on everyone. They do not see that this same Theocracy is what the original colonists, that founded North America, were escaping and that this Theocracy, for the same goals, is what Isis and al qaeda want.
“Biblical Christian”: Knows that only God can change hearts.
“Republican Christianity”: Is afraid of new ideas.
“Biblical Christian”: Does not fear new ideas.
“Republican Christianity”: Only speaks in black and white because they are fearful of nuance as an attack on belief.
“Biblical Christian”: Can understand nuance even though they believe all things need to go through a biblical filter before judgement.
“Republican Christianity”: Believes all abortion is wrong no matter what.
“Biblical Christian”: Can understand there may be circumstances like rape, incest, or saving one by losing the other, where abortion may be needed while at the same time not liking it.
“Republican Christianity”: Does not care about the moral fiber of leadership if power is attained. E.g. Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump, etc.
“Biblical Christian”: Knows there is a moral requirement for leadership of family, church, and society.
“Republican Christianity”: Believes that a good Christian is financially successful.
“Biblical Christian”: Is not fixated on money.
“Republican Christianity”: Believes the poor are losers, scammers, immoral.
“Biblical Christian”: Knows that being poor is not an immoral state.
“Republican Christianity”: Shows no compassion on others less well off than themselves.
“Biblical Christian”: Has compassion on others. “But by the grace of God there go I” is the motto of the “Biblical Christian”.
“Republican Christianity”: Fears being taken advantage of by others.
“Biblical Christian”: Is not worried about their advantage over others relying on God to know where they stand and uphold them.
“Republican Christianity”: Is not grounded in biblical understanding but takes its beliefs from the powers of the moment.
“Biblical Christian”: Is grounded in biblical understanding and knows there are difficult passages that must be faced (yes, I know this is my wishful thinking and not often the reality)
“Republican Christianity”: Blames society’s problems on others, especially non-whites.
“Biblical Christian”: Knows that all people are born sinful.
“Republican Christianity”: Will do and say anything for their image and to hold their power base.
“Biblical Christian”: Will strive for truth even when not to personal advantage.
Sadly, the Republican Christian does not realize the branding that their religion, their God, and their faith and life, is suffering from “Republican Christianity”. Hold your politicians accountable but not for the sake of power but for the effect that Biblical Christianity can have on society. Change the lives of people and they will follow God; call them losers, scammers, and other names and they will not listen to you and worse will brand you and God as hateful, racist, and fascist. Go back to “Mere Christianity” (without the Anglican overtones) and remember that people connect your life and words to your God.
Hark 