“Larry, I’m a pastor and I want to be like Billy Graham – preach the gospel! I don’t want to get involved in politics.”

Billy did preach the gospel and lots more. He’s been my hero for 50 years as he once told me personally (pointing to his Bible): “Stay in the book. Stay in the book!”

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Have you taken your place on the wall?

Remember Billy was an evangelist, not a pastor whose primary responsibility is to feed the flock and equip the saints for works of service (Eph.4:12) so we fulfill our mandate to be “salting” society, holding back decay.

Billy did both as God’s ambassador announcing the gospel plus addressing the evils of his day: atheistic communism; segregation and racism (front page headline in South Africa: “Billy Graham Calls Apartheid Sin!”); Same sex “marriage” and sexual immorality. He and Franklin placed a full-page statement in the Charlotte Observer exposing gay “marriage” and upholding biblical marriage between a man and a woman!

Spurgeon

In the mid-1800s, Charles Spurgeon, Prince of Preachers, was a master Bible teacher believing in the Sufficiency of Scripture to address all issues as he emphasized the Sovereignty of God and call for repentance to his mega church and ministry students.

He also spoke out boldly against slavery, causing his sermons to be burned in America. He said “I often hear it said, ‘Do not bring religion into politics.’ This is precisely where it ought to be! The Cabinet and Parliament do work of the nation as before God and I say enough of men without conscience! Let policies founded on wrong foundations be cast to the moles and bats! Whether Kings or Queens, Prime Minister or members of Parliament, God grant that the day come when the division between secular and religion shall no more be heard!”

Free Speech

Mr. Spurgeon speaks to us in America today! Multitudes have been misled regarding the “separation of church and state,” which appears nowhere in our founding documents and, correctly interpreted, means freedom OF religion, not freedom from religion!

Likewise, many have been misled by the so-called “Johnson Amendment” (1954) used to intimidate and muzzle pastors afraid of losing tax exempt status causing scores to refrain from any advocacy or opposition to political candidates or legislation. Truth be told the IRS has never actually revoked the tax-exempt status of any church for violating this unconstitutional policy. The Alliance Defending Freedom is currently working to once and for all eliminate this measure (contact them for any caution or clarification).

Are you aware that prior to 1954 churches and ministries never had any problem speaking about political issues and political leaders?

Mr. Spurgeon was not afraid to address controversial issues like freedom of speech and religion! He was bold on other political issues:  slavery which he branded as the “foulest blot;” corruption in government (excoriating a “tyrant king”); using his monthly magazine “Sword and the Trowel” to address societal events (which were mild compared to today). He refused to go “woke’ as he spoke out about compromise and what he believed to be unscriptural practices, eventually departing his Baptist Union denomination and being “canceled”
by colleagues and friends.

There is a cost to being a person of conviction! I know this firsthand as I experienced the same thing along my ministry journey.

Applied Today

Do you really think Mr. Spurgeon, a man of strong convictions, would’ve been silent if a young girl in his congregation had teen boys come into her bathroom or changing room? Would he have been mute if leaders in London were endorsing and celebrating taxpayer funded abortion up until the moment of birth and beyond? Would he have turned a deaf ear to English magistrates pushing surgical mutilation of young children in the name of “gender care” … pornography distributed in schools… calls for defunding police and parades of homosexuals and lesbians openly in the streets of London along with drag queen presentations in elementary schools… ?

Would Mr. Spurgeon simply look the other way if over 1 million unborn babies were slaughtered in the womb yearly? How about a hundred thousand dying yearly from drugs coming into the UK from “open borders?” Or 100,000 children declared missing with scores ending up in sex trafficking, rape and horrible deaths?

Is this “loving our neighbor” to allow this on our watch and to support politicians who have this blood on their hands?

“If anyone knows what to do is right and does not do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).

4 Kinds of Pastors

I’m privileged to have served in pastoral ministry for over 50 years and as I survey the scene today, I admit the existential crisis we are in as a country and observe four kinds of pastors.

1. COMPLACENT
Sadly, there are many in the pulpit who have “lost their first love” (Rev. 2:4) and are merely maintaining status quo religious services to make a living and “wait out the clock” till it’s time to recalibrate careers or comfortably retire.

2. COMPROMISING
Tragically some are caving to “woke” cultural pressures and betraying the call to “contend for the faith once delivered” (Jude 2) and choosing to yield to the fear of man and societal acceptance.

3. COWARDLY
Those first “cast in the lake of fire” (Rev. 21:8) are those who submit to the fear of man, lacking biblical convictions in these “times that try men’s souls,” they’re afraid of losing members, tithers and maybe their salary and next mortgage payment (they are those most to be pitted).

4. COURAGEOUS
Billy Graham said, “Courage is contagious!” and the good news today is that many are awakening to bring both grace and truth declaring the “whole counsel of God” in one of the most serious moments in America’s history.

Our Defining Moment

Liberty or tyranny? Free market, capitalism or Marxist socialism?

We are at an inflection point in this existential crisis requiring all of us to summon  bravery to honor our Judeo-Christian heritage and our Founder’s ideals.

If you are a pastor, parent or person who can influence others, please avail yourself of the FREE instantly available, brief videos prepared by 16 key leaders in America to help you with the 30 hot button issues of our day. We’re not living in Spurgeon’s or Billy’s day but we need to be informed influencers changing the hearts and minds of as many as we possibly can.  Go to larrytomczak.com and click the Bullseye graphic and get started so you can speak courageously and confidently rescuing people from the deception.

Here’s the Deal

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years, telling our children and children’s children what it was once like in the United States, where men were free.”
-Ronald Reagan

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Larry Tomczak is a cultural commentator of 46 years, an IFA board member, a bestselling author, and a public-policy adviser with Liberty Counsel. His innovative video/book, BULLSEYE, develops informed influencers in 30 days (see www.bullseyechallenge.com). Hear his weekly podcast here. Photo Credit: Photo Credit: AndreyPopov/Getty Images via Canva Pro.