VIEW VIEWPOINT

Culture vs Election

Written by Kerby Anderson November 10 - 2014
Now that the midterm elections are behind us, we should focus on what is even more important: culture. Many Christians argue that elections are downstream from where real change in taking place. Often politicians and judges are making decisions to “catch-up” with the culture. Mark Steyn understands this. He writes about this in his book, The Undocumented Mark Steyn. He gives us a preview of some of his insights in his New York Post article, “The real battle for America is over culture, not elections.” His argument is simple. Culture trumps politics. In many ways politics is merely the reflection of cultural change. He acknowledges: “You can’t have conservative government in a liberal culture, and that’s the position the Republican Party is in.” He goes on to explain: “Liberals expend tremendous effort changing the culture. Conservatives expend tremendous effort changing elected officials every other November — and then are surprised that it doesn’t make much difference.” Try this as a thought experiment. Imagine that some of the candidates you supported who lost their elections actually won. How much difference do you think their election would make as the culture has become more secular and anti-Christian? There might have been a few less assaults on religious freedom, but the impact of a single candidate on many of these cases might be negligible. What would be the impact on a culture that seems to be embracing homosexuality and same-sex marriage? Again, there might be a small impact, but the culture trend continues. Mark Steyn concludes that: “If the culture’s liberal, if the schools are liberal, if the churches are liberal, if the hip, groovy business elite is liberal, if the guys who make the movies and the pop songs are liberal” electing a particular candidate “isn’t going to make a lot of difference.” This isn’t to say that elections aren’t important. Elections do have consequences. But the lesson here is that culture trumps politics. http://ncfr.net/ncfr.net/subdomains/commentary/Downloads/Kerby_Anderson/11-10-2014.mp3

Viewpoints

View All
1786663334 6a7e51a66837e
August 14, 2026
Penna Dexter

Blue City Results

Blue cities throughout the U.S. are struggling. Sometimes their solutions are making their problems worse.

Listen
1786568413 6a7cdedd35a34
August 14, 2026
Kerby Anderson

Discernment

Christians have always needed discernment, but we especially need to develop our skill at discernment in our confused world. One book I would recommend is: Why Bad Looks Good: Biblical Wisdom to Make...

Listen
1786488303 6a7ba5efc13fa
August 13, 2026
Kerby Anderson

Christian Worldview

What does the word “Christian” mean these days? It doesn’t seem to mean very much. The last few reports from the George Barna’s Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University reveal that a v...

Listen

Take Action

View All
Protect Privacy Against Flock Cameras
August 9, 2026

Protect Privacy Against Flock Cameras

Flock cameras are everywhere. While one camera is a tool, the more than 100,000 AI-powered cameras now posted around our nation are a new layer of dig...

Support the SAVE Act
July 20, 2026

Support the SAVE Act

SAVE Election Integrity with Voter ID.

Support the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act
April 15, 2026

Support the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act

The abortion pill harms women and kills unborn children. Congress must act.

FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025
January 12, 2026

FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025

Pro-lifers have been abused under the FACE Act for long enough.