God ― a republican?

There is a song by Joan Osborne that asks the question “What if God was one of us?” I think about its lyrics often, these days, when I hear discussions about balancing the budget, paying off the national debt, and raising the debt ceiling. I find myself wondering “What would God do about these issues ― if He was one of us? What role would He play in our society? How would He be treated in the United States?


First of all, His name is Jehovah. He was born and raised in the Middle East. I suspect that His complexion, His features, and the texture of His facial hair would make it difficult for Him to travel ― especially on airplanes, and He would be an ideal candidate for ethnic profiling.

But aside from these personal issues, He would still be our God, who died for our sins, and the Father to whom we pray and ask for help ― every day these days. So I am wondering “What would be His ideology and party affiliation if He was living presently in the United States of America?


Would He cut entitlements? Or increases the tax on the richest Americans? Would He privatize social security, and cut school funding? What steps would He take to reduce unemployment? What policies would He suggest for reducing our national debt? Would He have the same level of trust and confidence in corporate America that appears to be so prevalent in our national and state leaders?

These questions are relevant at the present time because the Republican Party promotes itself as the party of Christian beliefs and moral values. It promotes itself as the party of the Christian faith and religions. It argues for school prayer and the teaching of religion in school. It argues for the placing of the Ten Commandments in public buildings, and it passes laws against funding for abortion. So it is important to wonder “What would the God of the Christian faith do? Would the Republican Party accept Him: Given His name, His ethnicity, and His looks would they allow Him to be a prominent member of their party?”

Suppose He ran for office as a democrat. Wouldn’t the republican big-money investors and special interest groups flood the media with political ads announcing the fact that our God is a liberal, who welcomed and provided for the poor and the hungry, the beggars and the sinners, and the prostitutes and the thieves?

There are few things in this world of which I am certain; however, I feel very confident in saying “If God was one of us, He never would have been a republican!