Idle Christians: The Root of Our National Crisis
A Faithful Response To Bipartisan Political Corruption
American Christians know more about the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop than the officials in their local government.
There is a big difference between what Christian Nationalism is and how the term is used as a weapon to condemn one’s political (or social) opponents.
Did you know your city manager or planner holds more authority over your daily life than Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Klaus Schwab, or any of the regular cast of characters in the MSM soap opera?
By Brad Ward, Director, Armor of Truth
POP QUIZ! No cheating: Name one member of the city council in your town or city. Who is your city manager/planner? Who sits on your school board? What is your sheriff’s name? Do you know whether or not he or she is Conservative or Progressive? We’ll come back to grade your pop quiz in just a moment.
NO CHRISTIAN SHOULD VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
On February 3rd, Seth Brickley, lead pastor at Eureka Baptist Church in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, published an article for Truthscript.com, arguing that “[N]o Christian should vote for the Democratic Party.” Read the entire article linked below.
Here’s an excerpt from Pastor Brickley’s article.
Let me explain the obvious: no Christian should vote for the Democratic Party. No political party in American history is more at odds with biblical Christianity than modern-day Democrats. The party has enshrined the ritualistic child sacrifice of abortion in their party platform. Scripture teaches that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-16) but the Democrat Party advocates for abortion at every moment of pregnancy, with the vast majority of Democratic leadership also advocating for even killing children post-birth in cases of botched abortions. In January 2023, almost all House Democrats voted for this evil.
…It has become nearly impossible to find one Democratic leader who believes in the exclusivity of God’s design for marriage as being between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). The breakdown of the family is progressively causing the overall breakdown of American society. For societal flourishing, there must be both a father and mother to raise their children with an understanding of the gospel and biblical morality. The rising prevalence of “alternatives” to the God-designed family is bringing about more disarray. The Democrat Party has championed these abominations to the point of demanding the entire culture at large join in celebrating these evils.
Since roughly 2015, the Democratic leadership has also supported the practices of “gender-affirming-care,” a whitewashed term used to mask the shockingly grotesque and brutal reality of self-mutilation and its accompanying consequences. This goes against God’s created design of man and woman (Genesis 1:27) and really should cease discussion of any Christian support for Democrats.
Inexplicably, this is not the case.1
These have become controversial statements in America. Or, in the pomposity of the establishment, it is “hateful problematic rhetoric.” Of course, we could not agree more with pastor Brickley’s sentiment. He speaks truth directly from God’s special revelation (the Bible) and honors the obvious order in God’s general revelation (nature).
What I found concerning was not Pastor Brickley’s argument but rather what saw in the comments beneath the YouTube Community Post on John Harris’ Conversations That Matter2 channel where John had shared the article and received 60 or so comments. Here’s a thread,
Text version:
@mkshffr4936: “Nor the Republican party.”
Reply: @kimalonzo3363: “Then what do you suggest?”
Reply: @robertblomberg5863: “Wrong.”
Reply: @cosmictreason2242: “There are reasons to divest from the GOP
but it's not on the same level. It is not ipso
facto sin to vote Republican, but it is [sin]
to vote Democrat.”
As you can see, there is some confusion about which vote supports sin and which is not. Comments elsewhere about this question often run something like this,
The government should not legislate morality.
We should not force our religious beliefs on other people.
As you can see, there is some confusion about a Christian’s duty concerning engagement with the American government. In light of the growing sense of authoritarianism and the clearly sinful actions of leaders from both parties, some Christians have decided that it is best to disengage from the system altogether. What is a Christian’s duty regarding sinful leadership?
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
(Proverbs 13:34)
Many will suggest that since God is sovereign and in control of everything, we need not bother voting or even paying attention to politics. But, then Proverbs 28:12 teaches us that godless leadership is the cause of much suffering in the world. And Romans 13 teaches us that all governments are ordained by God for the restraining and punishing of evil and the rewarding of good.
As we see in 1 Samuel 12:13-25, there is no neutral ground on which to stand. On one side, there is obedience and submission to God; and on the other side is rebellion and disobedience. God will not bless disobedience.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 commands us to pray for our leaders. Acts 5:27-29 and Romans 13:1-7 command us to obey legitimate authority unless or until it forbids us from following the Lord’s commands, or commands us to that which God forbids.
Pastor Brickley is absolutely right. Christians simply cannot knowingly support the open violation of God’s order and commands for life, family, marriage, and faith (Proverbs 14:34).
Article: Government Bans Prayer
WHAT DO WE DO?
As corruption is being exposed daily, not only in government, but also in the Church, our societal institutions, and cultural establishments, God is revealing to us the depths and darkness of human depravity.
We have had it so good for so long that we feel if we just keep our head down and wait it out things will return to normal soon. We cannot live this way anymore. God is requiring our obedience as a nation right now. We cannot afford to ignore the clear commands of God’s word any longer. The Scriptures are our firm foundation and our only viable weapon in this world. Therefore, we must openly and intently live and speak biblical truth. We must engage the culture and the government if we desire God’s blessing for our nation. We cannot be soft on sin and we must cease our compromises on the gospel.
Many Christians for too long now have taken the dangerous and false position that the loving (safe) response is to remain neutral, and that it’s un-Christian to express bold opinions. However, Christians in America no longer have the option of seeking to make friends with the world. Fear God, not man (Proverbs 29:25).
Jesus said,
“He who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.” (Luke 11:23)
James, the leader of the church at Jerusalem and brother of Jesus, said,
“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world sets himself as an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
“And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you be limping between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)
We restore our nation by strengthening our families, local churches, and more importantly than the Presidential election, we must engage with and make our local governments strong. God has given us the design and the plan. Now is the time to stop our bickering and apathy and work together as Christ’s hands and feet in the world, building back righteous leadership one family, one church, and one local government at a time.
Silence in the face of evil is just as wicked as the evil itself. Edmund Burke famously said,
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
That is a biblical principle if I’ve ever seen one.
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17)
Paul exhorts believers to not only refrain from participating in evil but also to take an active stance against it.
"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." (Ephesians 5:11)
How do we “expose them?” Christians are expected to be upstanding citizens. That includes acting against injustice and correcting oppression, which goes against being passive in the face of evil.
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
(Micah 6:8)"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." (Isaiah 1:17)
Likewise, the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) emphasizes the importance of taking action to help those in need. Jesus here teaches about loving one’s neighbor through the actions of the Samaritan, who did not ignore the man beaten by robbers, unlike the priest and the Levite.
A WORD ON CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM
The debate over the terminology “Christian Nationalism” is one of the strangest and most divisive arguments between faithful Christians I’ve seen in my lifetime. Like the term “ideology,” which is typically used in a negative sense rather than according to what it actually is, the term Christian Nationalism is like a spitball shot by those who either don’t understand it or intend to use it as a pejorative to defame Christians.
What is nationalism? Stephen Wolfe, author of A Case For Christian Nationalism3 defines nationalism as
“A totality of national action consisting of civil laws and social Customs conducted by a nation as a nation in order to procure for itself both Earthly and Heavenly good.”
A “totality of national action” is really just the people of a nation (or perhaps even scaled down: a city, tribe, or community) working for a common purpose. A totality of national action simply refers to all the actions that a nation expects of its members for their overall National good. This includes individual acts of sacrifice, like a mother caring for and nurturing her children and a father providing for his family and nudging his children along by challenging them and helping them to grow into faithful, responsible men and women. It’s a man changing oil for drivers in the community. It’s the janitor at the local school maintaining a clean, safe space for children to learn and socialize. It’s the banker who maintains the accounts of his neighbors. And it is certainly the members of local government working together for the good of the community and, by extension, the nation. A healthy nation shares the same ultimate purpose, to glorify God. That is a purpose that will never fail.
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
While the term is used broadly today, there is no other species of nationalism than Christian Nationalism. A proper nation exists for the good of its people and only God is good. (Luke 18:19, 1 John 1:5, Romans 7:12, Psalm 119:68: 100:5)
When everyone understands their ultimate purpose, and all share the same rules of action that determine what you ought to do and ought not to do. When most people share this greater purpose, it is possible for things to go well and to have a functioning, free Society. Any other organization of people, dictatorship, monarchy, etc. is not by definition a “nation.”
When the ultimate purpose of a people becomes fragmented and the individual sees himself as entitled, you get what we see in America right now: a kind of division that nobody seems to know how to heal. The same symptom has been at work in Europe for many years and today, Farmers all over the continent are protesting because the leaders of their various states do not share in the ultimate purpose or good of the people. They have become a law unto themselves, autonomous, absolute authority. This is why we see unrest in our nation and around the world. As America goes, so goes the world.
Christian Nationalism is a phrase that seems to be only used by those who are either strongly for it or strongly against it. People seem to have their minds pretty well made up about what they think it is. But there is chasm between the idea of a nation founded on Christian principles and the way the term is being used today as a banner or weapon. Personally, I have never and do not now identify as a Christian Nationalist. The term is redundant and has no redemptive value in the public square. There is no freedom, liberty, or coherent nation apart from Christian principles of order in society. Christian Nationalism, properly “nationalism” is simply knowing and fulfilling what is required of those who desire and intend to restore our Republic to the glory of The Lord. It is a shared ultimate purpose to glorify God.
THE ROOT OF OUR NATIONAL CRISIS
How did you do on the pop quiz? Were you able to name one, a few, or none of your local officials? This little experiment is intended to expose the fact that most Americans actually do not know who is governing their daily lives. We seem to be well aware of Trump’s latest lawsuit, Biden’s latest gaffe, or who’s cocaine got left behind in the foyer of the White House. And that laptop, of course.
Did you know that the city manager or planner is the “CEO” of your city? That single office holds more authority over your daily life than Joe Biden, Donald Trump, or Klaus Schwab, or any of the regular cast of characters in the MSM soap opera?
Here, we have identified the root of our national crisis and a major reason why America is today on the precipice of collapse.
Local government is where the takeover of private property and water rights is happening right now. Not in Geneva, Switzerland. Not in Washington, D.C. The policies of the new world order, Agenda 21/2030, the green policies, carbon taxes, fees, fines, etc., are being implemented by your neighbors in your local government. Even social policies like advocating for and writing into law the allowing of mostly homosexual men dressed as female strippers (AKA drag queens) to maintain a presence at your local schools and restrictions on your basic freedoms are being implemented directly by your own neighbors who hold positions in your local government.
Once more, the globalist agenda is being directly implemented in your life, not by the WEF, WHO, or the UN, but by your neighbors who hold positions in your local government and are being persuaded, promoted, and enriched to establish the policies that will eventually end your religious freedom and hinder the spreading of the gospel.
Just so you’re clear, a third time: It’s being done in your backyard by your neighbors who hold elected or appointed positions in your local government.
Who actually secures your rights and freedoms to worship, own, and carry a gun, keep your small business open, keep your schools from falling under the spell of the Spirit of the Age, or pray with a homosexual whose heart is being convicted by the Holy Spirit? Who actually protects your rights to keep your city parks and public resources from being invaded and depleted by federal or United Nations-funded operations?
If you said it's my local government, you get a star for paying attention, but you're still wrong. That responsibility belongs to you. WE THE PEOPLE are where the rubber meets the road. We hold the power to change the course of our nation because WE ARE THE NATION.
As Christians, our obligation to society is clearly commanded in God’s word.
We must be sure to care for, provide for, and minister to our own families, our local church family, and neighbors FIRST (1 Timothy 5:8).
We must do all we can to be at peace with everyone, rejecting any urge or movement that demonstrates a spirit of revenge or exalts any candidate to savior status. We must cling to that which is good and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:9-21).
Yield now and be at peace with the Lord;
Thereby, good will come to you. (Job 22:21)
BENT, BUT NOT BROKEN
Most of our leadership at the federal level is misguided and ignorant of God’s grace. However, by God’s grace, we are not yet actually being oppressed. So far, we’ve only been tested, and, praise God, we still have a functional Republic. It might be bent, but it’s not yet broken.
In 1787, Benjamin Franklin sternly warned that the system they had constructed would require vigilance from The People. A woman outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia asked Franklin,
“Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”
Franklin, one of the primary framers of the system, responded,
“A Republic, madam - IF YOU CAN KEEP IT.”
What did old Ben mean when he said, “if you can keep it.” He meant that if the people fall asleep on their liberty, someone will be ready and waiting to slither right into the role of making their choices for them. For the “common good,” of course. For your safety. For inclusivity. Etc…
How did we arrive here? A slow process of barely perceptible incremental change over decades has caused a kind of complacency to set in within our Republic. This is the danger Ben Frankiln was warning about. When free men become fat, happy, and distracted from their God who established their freedom. Americans have bought into the mythology of America so deeply that we now can’t imagine our demise. This complacency has allowed more and more encroachment into our private lives by a centralized federal government entity that is far, far detached from our daily lives and experiences. An entity that not only ignores the law of God but actively works against truth. This globalist, one-world, ecumenical movement seeks to fully franchise all human life and interaction into central governance - a “benevolent despotism” where even the smallest decisions and allowances are meted out by the new god; the state; the Government God.
WHERE IS THE HOPE?
“It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.”
—Horace Greeley, Founder: New York Tribune“The Bible is worth more than all other books which have ever been printed.”
—Patrick Henry“The whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever-growing influence of the Bible.”
—William Henry Seward, United States Secretary of State from 1861 to 1869“The Bible is no mere book, but a living creature that conquers all who oppose it.” —Napoleon Bonaparte
Ben Franklin was no doubt insisting that God’s gift of Liberty in America is contingent upon the People’s faithful stewardship. Freedom is protected by mothers, fathers, teachers, and local government.
The best way to proclaim the gospel today just might be to cooperate with the system instead of fighting against it and to engage it with respect. A great example of this kind of engagement is Oklahoma state representative Dusty Deevers. Deevers is a pastor. His church family met, discussed, and prayed for guidance on how to restore God’s blessing in their state. The church commissioned their beloved pastor to go to the State House on their behalf and to fight for God’s law.
The bickering and salaciousness of the federal government and the Geneva cult of the New Babelites are the shiny objects that the establishment would like us to be looking at, thinking about, and arguing about all day. And while we’re watching the big circus and speculating about this conspiracy and that operation, we’re not minding our own house, and they’re free to move right into our backyards and take over our lives using our own neighbors to do it.
We’re in a national crisis. That is no longer debatable. If we are Christians who love God and seek to honor Him with our actions, and if we humble ourselves to fulfill the Great Commission in our own communities and local governments, first, He will bless our efforts.
“Then [the angel] said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your [prayers] have been heard, and I have come because of your words.” (Daniel 10:12)
Christians must pay closer attention to our neighbors and our local governments, the civil magistrates and officials who have a daily and direct impact on our ability to worship freely and live peacefully making disciples of those very neighbors who might then go forth into local, state, or higher positions of government.
We must be diligent and sober-minded. These are not qualities not often cultivated when our minds are waterlogged from the daily quagmire of speculative propaganda. Nor will we find renewal from the daily huffing of the fumes of the social media dumpster fire.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Ultimately, the only way we prevail is with the Sword of the Gospel. Repentance and forgiveness of sins through the shed blood and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our leaders need a change of heart and a renewal of mind. That can only be accomplished by God. In fact, we all need renewal. Fathers need renewal. Pastors need renewal, and Christians in America need renewal. So, we must pray for that renewal and then trust that when we go forth into the breach in the name of Jesus Christ for the freedom of the gospel The Lord will be with us because He is faithful.
We are part of the culture. Culture is what we do with what God has made. We are affected by the culture around us, and we also affect the culture around us. We can’t separate or isolate ourselves from culture. There are many things God calls Christians to do. But the Great Commission, the calling to take the good news of Christ to our nation, make disciples in our nation, herald the teaching of Christ to our nation, and build up our culture into a Christian culture must be a priority in our age.
CHRISTIAN, YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL
Shake yourself from the dust, and rise up, and free yourself from the chains around your neck, 3 Thus says the Lord, […] “Those who rule over you howl, and My name is continually blasphemed all day long.
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of those who proclaim the good news, who announce peace and proclaim the good news of good things, who announce salvation, and say to God’s people, “Your God reigns!” Your watchmen lift up their voices; they shout joyfully together;” Break forth, shout joyfully together, for The Lord has comforted and redeemed His people; Yahweh has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God. GO, THEREFORE — For The Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”
(Isaiah 52: 2,3,7-11)…the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. GO, THEREFORE, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:16-20)
Sources and Links:
Brickley, S. (2024, February 3). No, Christians Cannot Support The Democrat Party. Truthscript.com. Retrieved February 5, 2024, from https://truthscript.com/culture/no-christians-cannot-support-the-democrat-party/
Harris, J. (2024, February 5). Conversations That Matter. YouTube. Retrieved February 5, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxBXcghXfTmdiO_XeB6HpIqyTQzYY8_1FA
Wolfe, S. (2022). The case for Christian nationalism. Canon Press.
Other reading:
What The Collapse May Look Like By Matthew Littlefield
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