On this 4th of July I submit to you that American politics has now become the fastest growing religion in the Republic. It has two denominations, Church of the Left and Church of the Right. There are 100 Bishops (better known as Senators) and 435 Priests (located in the House of Representatives). Countless citizen-evangelists in both denominations dot the landscape of our nation, each one incurably convinced that their denomination best represents the sacred values of the religion. These zealots proclaim their gospel on social media in order to convince anyone who will listen to join their Church. Conversion rates are nearly non-existent, but not from a lack of each denomination preaching their core doctrines at high decibels. The Church of the Right heartily thump their bible (often referred to as the Constitution) while the Church on the left seems to hold to a less objective measure which empowers a floating standard of what feels right on any given day. The marketing strategy for the Church on the Left is powerful, having harnessed the mainstream media to loyally proclaim their gospel. The Church on the right currently has the power base and seems comfortable letting their Pope of Politics do most of their own marketing from his egg-shaped office on Pennsylvania Avenue where his anointed digits move with fluidity via his potent pulpit (known better as Twitter). It is difficult to tell which denomination has gained the upper hand in evangelizing and discipleship. Currently, the chosen mode of proselytizing for both camps seems to be harnessing cultural outrage and a relentless commitment to anointed finger pointing. Nobody seems confident of the final outcome, but the international audience who views the daily church services through thousands of livestreams seem to be enjoying the raunchy show of this swiftly growing religion.
As for me, I have left the Church. My former denomination, the Church on the Right, in my opinion, lacks compassion and mercy. There also seems to be an absence of commitment to justice for the marginalized among us. They hold tight to their Bible (again, the Constitution) and are very skilled at communicating the apologetics of their core beliefs. Their denominational flags are well-starched and those aligned with the Church on the Right can truly hold their salutes through the fiercest opposition. The Church on the Right does not allow emotion get in the way of policy, and the congregants are admirable at enforcing what their political bible teaches them. Their denomination is secured through discipline and unapologetic displays of power. They don’t ask questions. They prefer to bark answers. They sense little need to re-examine their core beliefs and are not open to much negotiation seeing as how they are cemented in a confidence that all their answers are right (maybe even righteous). Their favorite hymns were written right after 1776 and they sing them with all their might. You can join their Church, but it is easier for you to get in with them if you will display a no-nonsense commitment to reforming the Church on the Left with hardline answers, repeated Constitution-thumping, and a suspicious eye being kept on those who might want to enter the Church illegally without going through the New Members Class. The Church on the Right made a lot of sense to me once upon a time. Currently, it seems to me, however, that the Spirit is no longer there, if He ever actually was. I’m a little sad that I have to move my membership.
But there is no way I will move that membership to the Church on the Left. What a debacle this denomination has become. Not only are the leaders of the Church on the Left illogical, it appears that they may have a demon. They incite their members to riot and violence under the banner of denominational zeal. In a land of laws, they cherry-pick which laws are good and which ones are bad. Truthfully, they have no objective standard and worship at the altar of reaction. While their countless evangelists seem extremely committed as they protest across the Republic day after day, I still cannot find out what their core doctrine is. The best that I can tell, their primary message is that the Church on the Right is diabolical and must be destroyed for the overall good of the Republic. That’s not a mission that I can hang my hat on. Speaking of hats, if you join the Church on the Left, you will receive a blue baseball cap that says M.A.M.A – Make America Mad Again. I appreciate that the Church on the Left seems to have a heart for the weak, the oppressed and the foreigner. Those are things that are consistent with the heart of the Christian’s God, my God. Most in the Church on the Right dismiss that compassion as they position themselves unreachable behind American immigration laws. Objectively and legally, the Church on the Right is justified in their position concerning immigration, but I think the Church on the Left has some valid points in the arena of compassion – it’s too bad that they employ their most ridiculous evangelists to communicate their position on this issue. Also, while the Church on the Left has compassion on those born in other places who desire to come here, they seem to have a denomination-wide hold on nodding at barbaric practices when it comes to babies conceived here. They are rabid defenders of their legal right to exterminate infants’ lives in the womb, while being willing to die for their compassion toward illegal immigrants. While the Church on the Left does not believe in a literal interpretation of the national Bible (the Constitution), they do loosely hold to the laws on the books that advance their own agendas. Roe Vs. Wade is the hill on which they plant their most treasured flag. If for no other reason, this alone is why I would never take my family to visit the Church on the Left, much less join it. I could not bear to be associated with the soulless practice of infanticide while, all the while, crying hypocritical tears for children dying near America’s borders as they try to enter. In the end, the Church on the Left lacks sound reason and objectivity in what they preach. While the Church on the Right often seems like a frozen ice cube which results in soul-freeze, the Church on the Left is a shallow puddle without any shape.
So, I am a man without a Church in the religion of American politics. I have nowhere to go. I don’t like any of it. There’s no glory in it. There is nothing worth committing myself to. Screaming, protesting, anarchist, frothing church members do not motivate me to join the Church on the Left. Outrage is not a magnet that attracts me. Maybe, if they ever find a shape to their message, I might listen. The Church on the Right just seems to be smug and, frankly, heartless at times. They also have the main office in the Church with the highest positioned minister. They have the power of the Law on their side. The doors on their Church on the Right feel more like walls that communicate, “We are fine without you. Knock if you are willing to become just like us. If not, please step away from the door and move down the street.” As I ponder the only two denominations available in the Church of American politics, I now find myself a spectator and no longer a participator. I am going to let all the other monkeys run the circus. I have officially left the Church.
You see, I am a Christian. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. The Church of American politics is not where you will find me donating my resources, spending my time or investing my words. I don’t own a red baseball cap or a blue one. My social media feeds are not dedicated to the Church on the Left or the Church on the Right. I will be bold here: countless Christians should be embarrassed about how they communicate their allegiance to the Church of American politics while rarely if ever posting anything on social media that points lost and broken people to He who is the Truth. They say that Jesus is their Lord but, somehow, their views on Trump, Pence, Ryan, Obama, Clinton, Schumer and Waters get far more glory than the Son of God. I wish the Bible could have said, “They shall be known by their social media feeds!” Please hear this: God does not endorse your Church on the Right or your Church on the Left. He attends neither denomination. He endorses none of it. He is displeased when people hijack His words from the Bible and stretch them over their political views. Church on the Right, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit do not care about the Second Amendment, so stop acting like it’s some holy virtue. Church on the Left, The Godhead Trinity is filled with righteous anger against the shedding of innocent blood and the redefining of human sexuality. To both denominations in the religion of American Politics: please stop lying by declaring that God is the head of your denomination. Become honest enough to start saying that your views are your own and that the God of the Bible is not factored in to your message or mission. The notion that Jesus would walk into either side of American politics with His signed endorsement is laughable. He isn’t within a hundred miles of either camp. He won’t join your Church.
Therefore, neither will I. Maybe you also should aim for something higher.
Happy 4th.
Don’t want to be contradictory or offensive, but this is how many Christians on the right see it: Our governmental system is – and has been – very corrupt and evil below the surface for many, many years as we are now seeing exposed more and more daily in the news. God raised up President Trump and is using him and his presence in the white house, standing in the office of President – and even his irritating quirks – to expose corruption on all sides. (He is using Cyrus types/ leaders in this season to expose corruption in other countries as well.) I may not agree with His vessel in everything he (Trump) does, but it is amazing how God is using him because of his unique qualifications. Check out some of the Trump prophecies by Mark Taylor, Lance Wallnau, Kat Kerr and Johnny Enlow – as well as a host of other prophets published daily on the Elijah List concerning what God is doing in this season to expose satan’s agenda through President Trump. Mexico has 4 US consulates and a US embassy immigrants can go to for assylum. There is absolutely no reason for people (including drug dealers, criminals like MS-13 and terrorists) to sneak into the country illegally… and it so not fair to those immigrants that follow the law and have respect for our country enough to be properly processed for safety reasons and become honorable US citizens. Compassion, yes of course, but open borders as the left wants will lead to chaos like Germany and England are experiencing. It may seem heartless to not open our arms and borders to everyone and provide them all with finances to live here, but no country can feasibly support unlimited numbers of immigrants. We should at least properly check them out and accept those with motives to contribute to our country and assimilate – not to destroy it -before granting citizenship. My opinion.
I agree respectfully with Tammy. The author and his readers come away with different interpretation, I think. When I hear Christians proclaim they are neither left nor right, (because they are extremely enlightened?) while others are still engaged in politics, I have come to view them as “feeling dirty doing politics”. They tell me “I am holy because I do not ….XYZ”. Those that work on the right are not conscientious objectors, but have to pick up arms dropped by the too righteous. Wouldn’t want to soil them with a label. Your blog article subject isn’t the first time told whilst speaker holdeth nose in the air. I hope you understand my sense of humor.
Nailed it, Pastor Jeff.
Wow! Frankly, sad and disturbing. Being very much aware that you are God‘s anointed, and I must be very careful in my attitude and choosing my words carefully, I have prayerfully read your blog and feel obligated to compose a response. ( hope we are still friends after this) although I do not consider it a church even though your analogy was entertaining, I vote right! ( pun intended )
Your statement that my views are my own and God is not factored into my mission, are completely false.
See, I’m a member of the right because the independent party is not strong enough to win an election. And, I am part of the intercessor group that spent years praying our leader into office. We watched from the earliest prophecies, to the completed miracle of the election, to the many good acts that have followed once he was in office. God put him there. I am greatly encouraged that much corruption is being uncovered, And there are many more great things that God, yes God intends to use this man to accomplish. I’m sad that you are missing the blessing of watching this unfold. Not I, nor any of my many Christ following friends of ALL races and denominations are unmerciful, or lack compassion. Many give of their personal time, energy and resources to minister to those who are marginalized among us. Neither are we smug or heartless. And, since these are Yahweh’s children who He has filled with his Holy Spirit, one might use caution in how they speak about them. There is a balance and a commonsense approach that seems lacking in this interpretation of our present reality. And I wonder if your opinions come from personal experience or just social media. I would have to suggest, maybe you visited the wrong church. Or possibly your friend list has been too filled with people who are out of balance and lack discernment. But Pastor, I would respectfully suggest that you pray carefully about resigning altogether. I believe the Spirit of the Lord is desperately trying to raise up godly people to become more involved in American politics, rather than pull out and let the devil have it all! We need balance. Not extremism. I know you know government is God’s idea, but since we don’t have a king like David, he has given us the next best thing on this earth today. And he uses it to protect the citizens. He believes in building walls (refer to ancient Israel) to keep out those who would come and harm the innocent. There is nothing wrong with having laws. This is why we need godly people to elect godly representatives to make good laws. And change old ones obviously our immigration system needs to be fixed. And definitely, America needs prayer. Sir, I think you are very wrong if you assume God has no interest. It was His heart that began this nation as a safe haven for Jews and Christians! And it used to be the only place on earth they were not persecuted. The devil is on an all out attack to change that! And you think our God doesn’t care? That is heartbreaking. Maybe time for some serious history lessons in the church. I submit this in love and continue to pray. I praise God that you live in a country where you are free to speak your mind. And don’t forget to vote! Happy 4th
Tammy, you should go back and carefully read the blog. Your response sounds like I was talking about each and every Republican or each and every Democrat. You are answering questions I didn’t ask and giving responses to things not said. The entire American political system is broken – that’s the point of the blog. Can God use a broken system? Yes. Did the sovereign God of Heaven place Trump in office? Yes, just as he did Obama. Does He approve or endorse either of them or their respective political parties? No. He uses them because the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1). Jesus picked and used Judas to accomplish the Father’s sovereign, preordained purposes. Does that mean God endorsed the character or beliefs of Judas, the man? Of course not. My blog was written to tell my audience that the ridiculous notion that God favors one side above another is a spiritual black-hole. He’s not a Republican. He’s not a conservative. He is not a bible-belt right-winger. Nor is he a left-winged, anything goes, do what feels good, I demand my rights, ANTIFA radical. The idea that God Almighty can be squeezed into a 21st Century political platform is borderline blasphemous. The fact that God exalts a leader to accomplish His divine purposes must not be confused with God saying, “I love this political party -they have my vote!” That’s the point of my blog post. Any one who blindly exalts their political party as being representative of the heart of God on all matters is, at best, confused and, at worst, ignorant of the magnitude of the sinlessness of His nature and the sinfulness of American political ideologies. I am an equal opportunity offender, so you have full rights to your opinion. You represent the very people who need to consider the actual point of my blog. The American Right is deeply flawed. The American left suffers from the same disease. Choose your political party but please don’t commit the absurd act of attaching Jesus’ endorsement to it.
BRILLIANT