I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form.
“It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.”
The quote came from a forty-five-year-old magazine article about one of the world’s most influential church leaders.
Preach the Gospel
It was February 1981. I had been a pastor for seven months. That era had more in common with 2025 than I remembered. 1981 saw the advent of the Moral Majority, a failed American political organization founded by Pastor Jerry Falwell. Their goal was to use political power to advance Christian values.
Dr. Billy Graham was interviewed by Parade magazine, the most widely read magazine in America at the time. Dr Graham shared his conversations with Jerry Falwell. The full quote from Dr Graham is:
“I told him to preach the Gospel. That’s our calling. I want to preserve the purity of the Gospel and the freedom of religion in America. I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form. Liberals organized in the ’60s, and conservatives certainly have a right to organize in the ’80s, but it would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.”
Working Against the Gospel
From the time I was a rookie pastor in 1980 until now, “preach the Gospel” was sound advice for fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission.
One of my many issues with the rise of Christian Nationalism (CN) (this post does a deep dive into CN) is the Christian supremacist theological belief that advocates for Christian dominion over all aspects of society through political power.
Church history is clear. Political power corrupts the Church 100% of the time. On a human level, it works against reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Upside Down
God’s kingdom has been defined in Scriptures, and by theologians through the ages as upside down. The weak are strong. The first are last. Sinners are forgiven. The whole quest for Christian control has always felt like Israel begging God for a king, when God was like “well, I’ve been here the whole time, but if you want a representation of yourselves, here you go. You want someone who is your definition of ‘strong leader?’ Have fun.”
The most effective things that the church does are small and hidden. Political power lures and promises. Chasing it distracts from the work we are actually called to do.
Facts and Trust
And take into consideration the influence of social media. 1981 has nothing on 2025 when it comes to the infection of a virus of lies, igniting fear, anger and hatred.
Lies laced with anger and hate spread faster and further than facts.
Without facts, you can’t have truth.
Without truth you can’t have trust.
And without all three, you have no shared reality. All meaningful human endeavours and relationships are threatened.
Jesus calls his followers to be people of justice, mercy, and compassion. To make disciples, set the prisoners free, open the eyes of the blind and proclaim the time of the Lord’s acceptance
What do you think? Please join the conversation and post a comment below.
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