Pastors are now Attacking Conservative Christians. Are they right?
By Mario Murillo
A new book by a well-known pastor says that there is “the tendency on the right and on the left to conflate the kingdom of God with a particular political party. “Many conservative Christians have made the mistake of substituting America for the Israel of the Old Testament, failing to realize the danger of adopting Old Testament principles that were never affirmed in the New Testament. Their message has sometimes been harsh and legalistic, making it difficult for them to proclaim a gospel of grace. Even though there is a great deal of emphasis on the Bible in such churches, it can often be the wrong emphasis.”
What possible fault could you or I find with these words? At first nothing but a second look reveals plenty.
1.The author does not balance his criticism. He only singles out Conservative Christians. He never uses the term “Liberal Christians”…with good reason, because, in this current manifestation of liberalism, Liberal Christian is a mind-numbing oxymoron. And who can say with a straight face “I have conflated the Kingdom of God to the Democratic Party?”
Democrats roundly booed God and Israel at their last convention and essentially told the believers among them “pick up your Bible and get out.” They are the party of abortion, atheism, Islam, and same sex marriage. And then there is their long list of antis’: Anti-police, anti-constitution, anti-church, anti-Israel, anti-military and anti-free speech for any voice that disagrees with them.
2.Even Paul understood that he had to make a choice even when it is not a perfect choice. In Acts 23 he faced a death sentence and stood between two political parties: The Sadducee who sincerely believed in wrong things and the Pharisees who hypocritically believed in right things.
Verse 6 says “But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducee and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” With these words Paul clearly sided with the Pharisees.
Matthew Henry said of this moment in Paul’s life “His own prudence and ingenuity stand him in some stead, and contribute much to his escape. His being a citizen of Rome saved him in the foregoing chapter from his being scourged by the chief captain as a vagabond, and here his being a Pharisee saved him from being condemned by the Sanhedrim, as an apostate from the faith and worship of the God of Israel. It will consist very well with our willingness to suffer for Christ to use all lawful methods, nay, and arts too, both to prevent suffering and to extricate ourselves out of it.”
In plain terms, the Republican Party is as bad as the Pharisees but like the Pharisees they are our best choice at this time to escape the disastrous policies that Obama has set in motion that will not only dismantle our freedoms but will drive the church underground.
However, I can tell you with great assurance that many Conservative Christians are displeased with the Republican party and will bail on them if they do when they assume control of the Senate is to mirror the other party.
3. Conservative Christians do not believe America is modern Israel. They believe America is a modern miracle. The author continues his attack on Conservative Christians by saying ““Many conservative Christians have made the mistake of substituting America for the Israel of the Old Testament.”
I can only speak for myself and the multitude of Christian leaders I know. We do not believe that America is modern Israel we believe America is a modern miracle –a miracle worth fighting for. We believe that it was a miracle that we defeated England. We see divine wisdom is in the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution.
4. Who is being harsh? The writer finishes his attack on Conservative Christians by saying “Their message has sometimes been harsh and legalistic, making it difficult for them to proclaim a gospel of grace.” When I read this part, I said a big “HUH?”
As I look around me, I see nothing but grace being preached. In fact, I see it being exalted even above God’s rightful demands for holiness. I see a bevy of preachers on talk shows back peddling, parsing words and obsequiously kowtowing to the media. It would have been more accurate for this writer to say “there are a few pockets left here and there of preachers who are still not preaching grace.”
Don’t ask me who this author is. I admire him and respect his ministry. My object in writing this is not to keep you from reading his book but to point out the mistake of trying to be neutral on an issue that is so painfully clear. Oh, and also, I am saying to any pastor, don’t be a traitor to your brethren just so the world will like you better.
It sounds so spiritual to say “I am not right wing or left wing; I am out of the political arena all together.” This is especially for urban pastors who face brutal persecution for opposing Obama and for other ministers who wish to appear progressive.
We are in a battle for America and everyone has to choose sides. You either believe that America became great by our own wits or it was God that made us great. Once you settle that question, you will know what to stand for and what to preach.