VIEW VIEWPOINT

Culture vs. Elections

Written by Kerby Anderson December 28 - 2015
What is the relationship of elections to culture? Many Christians argue that elections are downstream from where real change is 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 explains this 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 has accepted 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. Viewpoints by Kerby Anderson

Listen to this Viewpoint

Viewpoints

View All
1789576878 6aaac6ae4fcf1
September 16, 2026
Author Alexander Campbell

test 1234

"Ipsum" redirects here. For the car, see Toyota Ipsum.Using Lorem ipsum to focus attention on graphic elements in a webpage design proposalAn example of the Lorem ipsum placeholder text on a Letraset...

Listen
Test View point SEp 15
September 15, 2026
Faiq Author Testing

Test View point SEp 15

Test

test home view
September 15, 2026
Faiq Author Testing

test home view

test

Take Action

View All
September 15, 2026

test home take

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.

Support the SAVE Act
April 2, 2026

Support the SAVE Act

SAVE Election Integrity with Voter ID.

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.