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Father, we pray that You would strip away the false teaching that are so prevalent in our nation. Draw Americans closer to You, God, and motivate believers to vote for leaders who honor You.
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Analysis. As we approach the 2022 midterms, and even more as we approach the 2024 presidential elections, Christian conservatives who are politically active will be accused of marrying the gospel with the politics.

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“Have you not heard of the separation of Church and State?” our critics will ask.

But that sword cuts both ways.

The left is also guilty of this very thing, to the point of celebrating the marriage of politics with the gospel.

To be clear, I believe that it is very dangerous to conflate the gospel with politics, as if the goals of both were identical.

I have addressed this concern in many relevant articles as well as in my recent book The Political Seduction of the Church.

Of course, I believe that our faith should inform our politics and we should be politically involved. I consider this part of our sacred stewardship in a country like America, as long as we don’t confuse the gospel with politics.

But, to repeat, it is just not the right that is guilty of blurring these lines. The left most certainly is, and even more blatantly.

Here’s an example from the past and an example from the present that underscore my point.

In 1988, both Pat Robertson and Jesse Jackson ran for president.

Speaking about Robertson, the Britannica.com website noted that in the 1980s he “became increasingly involved in politics, and he subsequently resigned as minister in order to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1988.”

So, he was no longer “Rev. Pat Robertson,” but just Pat Robertson. This way, there would be no blurring of the lines between his beliefs as a minister of the gospel and his political agenda. He was here to serve all Americans as a potential president, not simply preach the gospel as a minister.

In stark contrast, to this day, Jesse Jackson is known as “the Rev. Jesse Jackson.” That’s because the left has no problem with blurring the lines between Church and State, as long as it’s for their causes. Be a reverend and be a politician. That’s great, as long as you are on the left.

Consequently, when a Republican candidate who is also a Christian speaks up for the unborn or points back to some of our founding, Christian values, he or she is accused of being a dangerous Christian nationalist. “You are a Christian dominionist trying to take over our country! How dare you try to impose a theocracy on us.”

But when a gay clergyman supports a Democratic candidate or cause, he or she is hailed as a pioneer, a reformer, someone who exemplifies the true American spirit.

The double standard is glaring.

If you think I’m exaggerating, consider the current Senate race in Georgia.

The Republican candidate is Herschel Walker, a football legend and a Christian conservative.

As stated on the TeamHerschel.com website, “As a Christian, a father, and a husband, Herschel knows that strong families are the bedrock of our country. Herschel’s upbringing in rural Georgia instilled a personal faith in God, which he carries with him to this day. He prays every day for this country, and with God’s help will bring those values with him to Washington. Herschel is a compassionate conservative who is pro-life and pro-family.”

Not surprisingly, critics group Walker with dangerous Christian nationalists.

Walker is running to unseat Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, whose Twitter handle is @ReverendWarnock. (His full name is listed on Twitter as Reverend Raphael Warnock.)

Yet Rev. Warnock is proudly pro-abortion to the point of claiming that his pro-choice views are “consistent with my view as a minister.”

And Rev. Warnock, who is the senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, said this in an editorial posted on the flagship gay website Advocate.com in October 2020: “Some might find it strange that a pastor would submit himself to the business of politics, and I would agree. But this fight, this campaign, is a continuation of my lifelong commitment to service. Our votes are sacred, living prayers of action for the kind of world we want to live in. In November, it’s on all of us to make it known that we support the protection of LGBTQ people and to help build a better nation where all Americans can without fear of retribution be themselves authentically.”

So, not only does Warnock link together his calling to be a pastor and his calling to be a politician, but he also champions LGBTQ+ causes in the name of being a pastor.

Yet it is Walker who is maligned by the left as blurring the lines between Church and State and Warnock who is hailed as both a political and spiritual hero.

To drive the point home a little more, can you imagine how hysterical the reaction from the left would be if a conservative Christian pastor ran for national office, as a pastor? He would be branded as one of the most dangerous men in the country, surely an insurrectionist and white supremacist (whatever the color of his own skin) with plans to establish a theocracy.

But a “progressive,” left-leaning pastor? He should be celebrated.

This looks like a classic example of “rules for thee but not for me.”

In this case, the left says to the right, “Keep your religion out of your politics!”

Then the left says to its own, “We celebrate the union of religion and politics, as long as it’s our kind of religion.”

Jesus addressed this long ago, telling His disciples, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

No wonder that the world is threatened by our faith but embraces the faith of the left.

That’s because it is only a biblically based gospel that poses a threat to the world system. A compromised gospel is warmly welcomed by the world for the very reason that it is no longer the gospel at all.

What do you think of the left’s conflation of politics and the gospel? Share your thoughts and prayers below.

(Used with permission. By Dr. Michael L. Brown from Ask Dr Brown. Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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Barbara Kuhls
October 31, 2022

Ebenezer Baptist is the church of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
it is worse than appalling that the people have allowed such desecration and blasphemy to occur there. God have mercy.

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Carol
October 30, 2022

I’m a born again Christian and I ask my GOD in the Name of JESUS for everything I do! HE orders my path and directs my steps, so everything HE has me do is HIS path for me! When I was chairman over multiple committees to benefit my community, it was by direction of my GOD! If I run for political office, it will be at HIS direction! CHRIST is involved in every aspect of our lives that belong to HIM, and does not separate it into religious / political, it is one life of which every part is dedicated to HIM! FATHER GOD please help YOUR people to read their Bible and learn of YOU and YOUR Ways! Let all of YOUR people let YOU lead their lives instead of them leading. In the MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS! Amen!

11
Elana
October 30, 2022

We are in a war. The enemy wants to defeat the US without firing a shot. What we just read is a tactic: Fight a Biblical worldview by claiming to have the true Christian viewpoint. One of many fronts. How do we fight this? Vote in more and more Godly conservatives. Then pray for their success.

7
Ken Rumbarger
October 30, 2022

Fortunately I don’t live in GA so I don’t have to vote for Herschel Walker because Warnock is worse, which I probably would. Walker admitted in a 2008 book to having problems with what is now called DID, or “multiple personality” syndrome. “Pro-family” Walker has had four children by four different women. Was there no one in GA public service with a better record and equal dedication to conservative causes? Or was a “big name” more important? Unfortunately this was not dealt with in the primaries. That ship has sailed. And as I said, Warnock is worse. But if Walker wins we have six years to find out the unintended consequences.

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    Carol
    October 30, 2022

    I’m glad that when I got saved “old things passed away, and behold all things became new! Only one person was/is perfect, and HIS Name is JESUS, not Ken! I’m glad you haven’t made mistakes in your life! Remember the thief on the cross who had lived a sinful life, yet asked JESUS to remember him when HE came into HIS Kingdom? JESUS forgave him and said, “This day you will be with ME in MY Kingdom!” I’m glad I serve that CHRIST! Who forgives all of our sins (mistakes) and redeems our lives! And… JESUS will never bring up our past sins that we have repented for! Satan brings them up! FATHER please bless Ken and give him a forgiving heart in JESUS NAME! FATHER GOD also please bless Herschel Walker and thank YOU for forgiving him and me and all who calls on YOUR Name! I decree that no weapon formed against Herschel shall prosper and every tongue that rises against him in judgment he shall condemn in JESUS NAME! Please let Herschel win as he stands for life, freedom, and YOU! Please send YOUR angels to surround and protect him and his family in JESUS MIGHTY NAME! Amen!

    9
Steve
October 30, 2022

I think you make very good points with very clear examples but in my opinion an important fact was missed.

The separation of church and state is not in an document governing our nation. It is a phrase that was used in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to a group of Baptist leaders. The Baptists had a concern that this new government in America would be in involved in the running of churches as the King and the English government had been. This is one reason why they fought to leave English control. Thomas said, in the American government there will be separation of church and state, meaning the state will not have any involvement in the churches.

It was not that the churches would not have any involvement in the state. To the contrary, church services and bible studies were held in the Capitol building by Thomas Jefferson and others. In fact all of the men in volved in the new government were spiritual people. They were not all of the strict Christian faith but they did agree that there is a God who created us.

So enforcing the church and state as Jefferson had said it would put us back on the right track. But we are Republic that holds elections to elect the people representing us. With the church not holding the line to teach people to live as Christ has instructed, we have created a populus that will vote in people based on feelings and fleshly desires to represent us.

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    Carol
    October 30, 2022

    Great reply! All truth! Thank you for this wonderful history truth! FATHER GOD please educate YOUR people to YOU and history in JESUS NAME! Amen!

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