When Culture Overrules Christ: What the Virginia Election Reveals About the Black Church
By Dr. Eric M. Wallace
The recent Virginia gubernatorial election exposed a profound spiritual crisis within American Christianity — particularly in the Black Church. Even when a candidate stood firmly for biblical values, openly professed faith in Christ, and reflected the lived experience of Black believers, the majority of Black voters overwhelmingly rejected her in favor of a white progressive whose positions contradict historic Christian teaching on life, family, and religious liberty.
The implications are sobering: Many in the Church no longer vote their professed values — even when those values are on the ballot.
According to exit poll reporting summarized by The Washington Post, Black voters supported the Democratic candidate over the Republican candidate by approximately 85% to 15%, consistent with longstanding national trends. Even with a candidate who openly professed Christian faith and articulated positions aligned with biblical teaching, the vast majority of Black voters cast ballots for the opponent.
This is not primarily a political failure. It is a theological one.
In my book, The Heart of Apostasy, I describe this growing confusion in the Black Church as a crisis of divided loyalty — a departure from biblical authority in favor of cultural identity. As I write: “We are not fully free if we must conform to the opinions and expectations of any particular group.”— The Heart of Apostasy, p. 13
This warning was on full display in Virginia. Despite two candidates who could not be more different in their relationship to Scripture, Black voters chose overwhelmingly along cultural and partisan lines — not spiritual ones.
This reveals what I call the divided heart: a heart that still claims Christ but whose allegiance is shaped more by political identity than by biblical conviction.
Many are unaware of the ideological forces that have subtly reshaped the Church’s priorities. As I note in the book: “Voices… competing for influence… have divided our loyalties, reshaped our worldview, and weakened our witness.”— p. 13
These forces include progressive identity politics, Critical Race Theory, and partisan messaging from the left that has displaced Scripture as the final authority in moral reasoning. As I also write: “Too frequently, the Black Church prioritizes cultural solidarity over Kingdom loyalty.”— p. 13
The tragedy here is not that the culture rejects biblical truth — that is expected. The tragedy is that the Church is rejecting biblical truth in order to remain in good standing with the culture.
The result is predictable: When biblical priorities collide with political ones, many choose politics.
How did we reach this point? Because too many pulpits have grown uncertain. The Word of God has not changed — but our willingness to preach it has.
When pastors refuse to speak on moral issues because those issues are considered “political, they unintentionally disciple their congregations to follow the world’s wisdom rather than God’s Word. Silence becomes endorsement. And when biblical clarity is absent, cultural voices fill the void: “These competing messages have displaced the voice of God’s Word.”— p. 13
The Virginia election revealed the fruit of that displacement.
A candidate who aligned closely with biblical ethics on life, family, and religious liberty lost by enormous margins among Christians who publicly profess belief in those same values.
This disconnect is not accidental. It is the fruit of silence.
This crisis requires more than political commentary — it calls for repentance. As I emphasize: “This is not simply an academic exercise, but a plea to the Church to reclaim its prophetic voice.”— p. 11
We must return to the authority of Scripture over every area of life — including civic engagement. A biblical worldview cannot be something we affirm on Sunday but abandon on Tuesday.
The Church must remember that Christ is not merely Lord of our salvation —He is Lord of our public witness, our moral judgments, and our allegiance.
Every vote is a confession of what we genuinely believe about God and the world He made. As I write: “…the condition of the Black Church and the witness of the entire Church in America depends on how we hear and respond to the Word of God.”— p. 11
The Virginia election was a mirror. It revealed a painful truth: that many in the Church are discipled more by political forces than by Scripture.
The way forward is not partisan loyalty — it is repentance.
We must:
The choice remains the same as it has always been: Will we serve culture — or Christ?
It is time for the Church to decide.
The recent Virginia gubernatorial election exposed a profound spiritual crisis within American Christianity — particularly in the Black Church. Even when a candidate stood firmly for biblical values, openly professed faith in Christ, and reflected the lived experience of Black believers, the majority of Black voters overwhelmingly rejected her in favor of a white progressive whose positions contradict historic Christian teaching on life, family, and religious liberty.
The implications are sobering: Many in the Church no longer vote their professed values — even when those values are on the ballot.
According to exit poll reporting summarized by The Washington Post, Black voters supported the Democratic candidate over the Republican candidate by approximately 85% to 15%, consistent with longstanding national trends. Even with a candidate who openly professed Christian faith and articulated positions aligned with biblical teaching, the vast majority of Black voters cast ballots for the opponent.
This is not primarily a political failure. It is a theological one.
In my book, The Heart of Apostasy, I describe this growing confusion in the Black Church as a crisis of divided loyalty — a departure from biblical authority in favor of cultural identity. As I write: “We are not fully free if we must conform to the opinions and expectations of any particular group.”— The Heart of Apostasy, p. 13
This warning was on full display in Virginia. Despite two candidates who could not be more different in their relationship to Scripture, Black voters chose overwhelmingly along cultural and partisan lines — not spiritual ones.
This reveals what I call the divided heart: a heart that still claims Christ but whose allegiance is shaped more by political identity than by biblical conviction.
Many are unaware of the ideological forces that have subtly reshaped the Church’s priorities. As I note in the book: “Voices… competing for influence… have divided our loyalties, reshaped our worldview, and weakened our witness.”— p. 13
These forces include progressive identity politics, Critical Race Theory, and partisan messaging from the left that has displaced Scripture as the final authority in moral reasoning. As I also write: “Too frequently, the Black Church prioritizes cultural solidarity over Kingdom loyalty.”— p. 13
The tragedy here is not that the culture rejects biblical truth — that is expected. The tragedy is that the Church is rejecting biblical truth in order to remain in good standing with the culture.
The result is predictable: When biblical priorities collide with political ones, many choose politics.
How did we reach this point? Because too many pulpits have grown uncertain. The Word of God has not changed — but our willingness to preach it has.
When pastors refuse to speak on moral issues because those issues are considered “political, they unintentionally disciple their congregations to follow the world’s wisdom rather than God’s Word. Silence becomes endorsement. And when biblical clarity is absent, cultural voices fill the void: “These competing messages have displaced the voice of God’s Word.”— p. 13
The Virginia election revealed the fruit of that displacement.
A candidate who aligned closely with biblical ethics on life, family, and religious liberty lost by enormous margins among Christians who publicly profess belief in those same values.
This disconnect is not accidental. It is the fruit of silence.
This crisis requires more than political commentary — it calls for repentance. As I emphasize: “This is not simply an academic exercise, but a plea to the Church to reclaim its prophetic voice.”— p. 11
We must return to the authority of Scripture over every area of life — including civic engagement. A biblical worldview cannot be something we affirm on Sunday but abandon on Tuesday.
The Church must remember that Christ is not merely Lord of our salvation —He is Lord of our public witness, our moral judgments, and our allegiance.
Every vote is a confession of what we genuinely believe about God and the world He made. As I write: “…the condition of the Black Church and the witness of the entire Church in America depends on how we hear and respond to the Word of God.”— p. 11
The Virginia election was a mirror. It revealed a painful truth: that many in the Church are discipled more by political forces than by Scripture.
The way forward is not partisan loyalty — it is repentance.
We must:
- Return to the Word
- Disciple believers holistically
- Expose competing ideologies
- Lift Christ above culture, race, and party
The choice remains the same as it has always been: Will we serve culture — or Christ?
It is time for the Church to decide.
Dr. Eric M. Wallace, author of the new book, The Heart of Apostasy: How The Black Church Abandoned Biblical Authority for Political Ideology--And How to Reclaim It, is a trailblazing scholar, dynamic speaker, and passionate advocate for faith-based conservatism. With a distinguished academic background and an unwavering commitment to biblical truth, Wallace has become a leading voice challenging cultural and political narratives that conflict with a biblical worldview.
Wallace holds postgraduate degrees in biblical studies (M.A., ThM, Ph.D.), Wallace is the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in biblical studies from Union-PSCE (now Union Presbyterian Seminary). His scholarship and ministry experience equip him to address today’s most pressing sociopolitical issues through the lens of faith, reason, and historical accuracy.
Wallace holds postgraduate degrees in biblical studies (M.A., ThM, Ph.D.), Wallace is the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in biblical studies from Union-PSCE (now Union Presbyterian Seminary). His scholarship and ministry experience equip him to address today’s most pressing sociopolitical issues through the lens of faith, reason, and historical accuracy.
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When Culture Overrules Christ: What the Virginia Election Reveals About the Black Church
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4 Comments
Well said and completely true. I would simply add that it applies to any and all churches who prioritize politics over Christ. We must remember that it's our Savior Jesus Christ who specifically said," By their fruits you will know them." And at the risk of sounding sarcastic, the fruit of liberals and liberalism is pretty sour!
If the fruit of liberals and liberalism is "pretty sour," the fruit of far-right conservatism is poison. I rejected Winsome Earle-Sears because she posed with an assault rifle. What in the world does that have to do with Christian values? I do not believe she is evil. I refuse to demonize her in that way. We can agree to disagree. But in this moment, to vote for the GOP candidate at any level is seen by most Black people, Christian or otherwise, as a vote for the MAGA agenda in general and Trump in particular. Trump is the most un-Christian President I have seen in my 67 years on this earth. He and his faux-Christian nationalist supporters use the church and the name of Christ for racist, economic, and political advantage. My understanding of the prophets and Jesus requires me to oppose everything this administration stands for. I would have no problem if true conservatism was still a thing. I disagreed with John McCain on some policy issues, but he was a man of integrity who would not allow his supporters to lie about Obama. The GOP is way beyond that kind of integrity now. It is my conviction as a Christian that I must oppose the selective, literalistic interpretation (distortion) of Scripture to promote hate, oppression, and division against anyone. I do not support abortion, but I believe that is a decision that the woman must make for herself. These so-called pro-life advocates typically demand that the child be born, but will then legislate in ways that deny any quality of life for the mother and child once they are born. Conservatives would make it far easier to obtain an assault rifle than it is to vote. They will ignore the multiple injunctions in the Bible to love and welcome the immigrant and sojourner in your land. They will deny SNAP to millions of poor people on the very day they have a Great Gatsby-style party for their billionaire sycophants. The president thinks ICE agents' violence against women and children hasn't gone far enough. This, to me, is unconscionable and un-Christian.
Thank you for your thoughtful engagement. I appreciate your conviction, even though we differ. Because the stakes are high—both spiritually and culturally—I’d like to respond to several key points you’ve raised.
n
n1. On judging political candidates by imagery (e.g., “posing with an assault rifle”)
nMany voters saw that photo not as an embrace of violence, but as a statement of support for the Second Amendment, personal defense, and the right of law-abiding citizens—especially minorities—to protect themselves.
nBlack communities suffer disproportionately from violent crime, and cities with the strictest gun-control laws (Chicago, DC, Baltimore) remain among the most dangerous.
nThe biblical question is not, “Does a person own a firearm?” but “Does a person uphold justice, protect the innocent, and promote righteousness?” (Romans 13:1–4).
nSymbols can be misinterpreted; what matters are policies and character.
n
n2. On “voting for the GOP = voting for Trump/MAGA”
nThis is a political oversimplification.
nWinsome Sears ran as her own person—with her own biography, values, and convictions—not as a proxy for any personality. She is a Jamaican-born immigrant, veteran, small-business advocate, and devout Christian.
nReducing all Republican candidates to Trump is like reducing all Democratic candidates to the policies of their most extreme members.
nChristians must evaluate candidates on:
nPolicy alignment with biblical values
nCharacter
nCompetence
n—not merely political associations or stereotypes.
n
n3. On Donald Trump being “un-Christian”
nThis argument assumes elections are a referendum on personality rather than policy.
nScripture shows God works through flawed people—including Cyrus, Nebuchadnezzar, and others—toward His purposes. Christians aren’t electing a pastor-in-chief but a leader whose policies influence the nation’s moral direction.
nA Christian must ask:
nWhich policies produce or restrain evil?
n(cf. Proverbs 14:34; Psalm 94:20; 1 Tim. 2:1–4)
nEven if someone objects to Trump’s behavior, his policies—on religious liberty, abortion, marriage, school choice, and Israel—aligned more closely with a biblical worldview than the alternative.
n
n4. On “true conservatism is gone”
nIf the standard is John McCain, then Winsome Sears—an immigrant, veteran, and committed Christian—should qualify.
nIf she is disqualified simply by party association, that reveals a political filter, not a biblical one.
n
n5. On biblical interpretation and accusations of “hate/oppression/division”
nThis is a serious charge.
nBut disagreement is not hate.
nMoral boundaries are not oppression.
nJesus Himself divided people by calling them to repent (Matt. 10:34).
nChristians believe God has the authority to define moral truth—even when culture disagrees. Calling sin “sin” is not hate; it is love that longs for repentance and life (John 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:9–11).
n6. On abortion: “I don't support it, but it’s the woman’s decision.”
nThis argument sidesteps the central issue:
nWhat is the unborn?
nIf the unborn is a human being—and Scripture teaches that it is (Psalm 139:13–16; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:41)—then the Christian cannot affirm a policy that gives one person the legal right to end another’s life.
nThe call to protect the vulnerable begins in the womb.
n
n7. On conservative “hypocrisy” regarding social care
nCaricatures are emotionally powerful but factually weak.
nOrganizations championed by conservatives—pregnancy centers, churches, private charities—provide vastly more assistance to mothers and children than government programs do, with better outcomes.
nPro-life Christians overwhelmingly support adoption, foster care, housing, job-training, and private charity.
nGovernment redistribution has not rebuilt families—indeed, it helped destroy them.
n
n8. On immigration, SNAP, and economic policy
nScripture calls believers to love and welcome the sojourner—but it never abolishes national borders.
nIsrael had borders, laws, and distinctions between citizens and foreigners.
nTo claim that enforcing immigration law violates Scripture is to read the text selectively.
nAs for SNAP or welfare, the Bible’s primary model of care is family → church → community, not federal bureaucracy. Christians may disagree on methods, but big government is not the biblical solution to poverty.
n
n9. On “the prophets and Jesus require me to oppose this administration”
nThe prophets confronted:
nIdolatry
nSexual immorality
nChild sacrifice
nInjustice
nYet today, the loudest critique from many Christians focuses on tone or personality, while turning a blind eye to the legalized killing of the unborn, the redefinition of the family, and cultural ideologies opposed to biblical truth.
nThe prophetic witness begins with calling God’s people back to God’s law—not political preference.
n
n10. Conclusion
nYou and I agree that character matters and that Christians must not demonize opponents.
nBut the biblical calling is to evaluate policies, not personalities—and to prioritize life, family, religious liberty, and truth above rhetoric.
nWinsome Earle-Sears embodies many of these values.
nTo reject her based on a photo or her party affiliation—while supporting leaders who champion abortion, sexual radicalism, and government dependence—suggests that political identity has eclipsed biblical identity.
nChristians must be discipled by Scripture, not by parties.
nAnd Scripture compels us to defend life, truth, family, and justice—no matter which party happens to align most closely with those convictions.
nWe may not agree on every point.
nBut let us at least agree that God’s Word, not party loyalty or emotional reaction, must be our final authority.
All faiths make unverifiable claims, why should we belt any of the claims?