Author: Richard Miller
Publisher: Xulon Press
Title: Why Christians Don’t Vote for Democrats
Genre: Nonfiction

There is a vast economic and political difference between secular communism and secular democracy. It is not our intention to study the complexity of this difference, but to keep in mind the frightening similarities causing alarm for Christians in America. What American slavery is to racism, secular communism is to secular democracy. There is a vast difference in degree and form between slavery and racism, but a similar racial prejudice. There is a vast difference in degree and form between secular communism and secular democracy, but a similar religious prejudice. This similarity is a prejudice against religion in general, and Christians in particular.

[...] Not all Democrats, not all secular Democrats, are prejudiced against religion. With this exception to the description acknowledged, hereafter the term secular Democrat refers to those secular Democrats who are prejudiced against Christians.

Richard Miller translates “Christian speak into political speak” and makes a real effort to communicate with a group that doesn’t understand him and doesn’t seem to want to try. The modern Democratic party is perplexed by Bible-believing Christians, and has been for years. From calling us “poor, uneducated and easy to command” to Senator Tom Harkin comparing Christian broadcasters to the Taliban, it’s clear that they don’t understand or like Christians.

Miller tries to explain, in a non-judgemental manner and with a minimum of Christian jargon, the mainstream Christian point of view. He’s not affiliated with a political party, but since two of his three daughters are Democrats, and his other daughter and wife are Republican, he’s the man in the middle. He’s not advocating a partisan political view in this book, he’s explaining the Christian view as applied to American politics. He gently explains, with very clear examples and analogies, why “Christian America shuns the Democratic Party, not just for this election, but also for every election to come.”

Miller writes on a variety of topics including how Christians both pay for public schools which promote a “cesspool culture,” and also pay parochial school tuition, to how journalists write inaccurately about Christianity because they have so little familiarity with it. (Remember the Falwell “assault ministry” versus “a salt ministry” quote?) He addresses the fact that one third of our government – the Supreme Court – has been permitted to attain supreme status over the other two thirds.

This is a book that Christians will enjoy, because it clearly states many mainstream points of view in a very concise and quotable way. It’s great fodder for political discussions with the Democrats you know, and because he states his case gently and doesn’t take gratuitous slams at Democrats, it’s very effective. It’s a book that will enrage those who meet Miller’s definition of “secular Democrat” because the Christian point of view is so abhorrent to them. I would rate this book a 4, because it is a wonderful example of how Christians can engage an adversarial and frequently hostile culture with this verse in mind:

But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence in God when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear. Then those who treat the good Christian life you live with contempt will feel ashamed that they have ridiculed you.
(1 Peter 3:15-16)

Reviewed for Active Christian Media
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Laura Curtis is a web developer and master certified computer trainer in New Orleans.