Beware False Prophets: Over the centuries a great way to raise money, gain political power and enrich one’s life has been to invent a religion, or use religion to advance a personal cause. It’s all about control. That’s how a religious movement becomes a cult.
Many politicians today use these tactics to try to gain “fans”. They cry alligator tears when proclaiming their love and reverence for the Constitution, all the while chipping away at its foundation until the original intent is lost.
They throw falsehoods and accusations at anyone who doesn’t agree with them. Likely, they have convinced themselves that they and no one else knows the truth. They use religion as a front, in much the same way that a small, inconspicuous shop hides the book-making operation in the back room.
The church is not exempt. In all too many cases the house of the Lord is operated like a corporation and the original intent of spreading the Gospel is replaced by self interest. Because they are the only ones allowed to proclaim the truth, that is their version of the truth, the idea of loving your neighbor turns into justification for picking his pocket.
Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips. (Jeremiah 7:28)
Jesus was NOT political
Jesus had no political ambition and did not encourage His followers to jump on any political bandwagon. During His time here, Israel was under Roman occupation and there was great resentment. That gave rise to the Zealots, who wanted to take on the Romans in an effort to chip away at the authoritarian regime.
Jesus came to free people from sin. The Romans saw the power of that the religious elite had over their people. The Roman occupiers used that power to their advantage in keeping the peace and maintaining control of the Jews.
Jewish leaders betrayed Jesus using Roman power
The religious elite used Roman power in an effort to stop the movement that Jesus started. They say that “religion and politics makes strange bedfellows,” and that was the case. What might have been shrouded as a religious cause by the Jews, was no more than an effort to maintain political power. God saw it all coming. Judaism was corrupted by personal greed and there were those who found the ministry of Jesus to be used for evil intent and their own self promotion.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (Matthew 7:15)
The concept was not at all new, as those who would pervert the truth have always been around.
You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. (Psalm 52:3)
Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. (Isiah 59:15)
Christian Nationalism is nothing new
Today we have the rise of another movement in the US with false prophets: Christian Nationalism. According to the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Christian Nationalism has five main points:
1– America is a divinely appointed nation by God that is Christian;
2– America’s founders, rather than wanting to disestablish religion as a unifier for the nation were in fact establishing a nation based on Christian principles, with white men as the leaders;
3– Others (native Americans, enslaved Africans and immigrants) would accept and cede to this narrative of America as a Christian nation, and accept their leadership;
4– America has a special place not only in world history, but in biblical Scripture, especially concerning the return of Christ;
5– There is no separation between church and state.
Christian Nationalism creates false profits
The Constitution of the United States does not mention God, the Bible, or the Ten Commandments. Thomas Jefferson was strongly in favor of the separation of church and state, something the Christian Nationalists do not believe in. Christian Nationalism is very different from mainstream Christianity. Some Christians believe the Christian church should be the governing body on Earth. That is not what Jesus called for!
In 1794, the congress affirmed that the United States was not founded, in any way, by the Christian religion. Still, the far right has embraced evangelical Christianity and has exploited it to its advantage. Some of the people who were involved at the U.S. Capital on January 6, 2021, used Christianity as their basis for trying to overturn the election results.
Christian Nationalism is about advancing itself… NOT Jesus
Christian Nationalism is not about advancing the Gospel, but it is all about political power and influence. Faith in God is replaced by allegiance to party, then country, as the dividing lines become blurred. Biblical Christianity is lost in the shuffle. Christian Nationalists focus on voter suppression, gerrymandering and religious intolerance and hatred of ALL outsiders.
People can disagree about religion. Therefore, the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynahan once said, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.”
Using religion for their own evil purposes
Hiding behind the trappings of Christianity, this political movement in large part ignores the teachings of Jesus. During His life on earth, followers of the Messiah thought He would defeat the Romans and establish His own government. That was far from the truth, however, as Jesus had no intention of overthrowing the government. He said, “render unto Cesar that which is Cesar’s. Render unto God, that which is God’s.”
Jesus did not question the Roman authority. He was with us to establish an eternal kingdom. He made no attempt to tear down cultures, or divide people. Quite the opposite. He unified people.
Beware False Prophets
The Christian Nationalist movement is about power and control. As freedoms are slowly chipped away and the people are blinded to the truth, there will no longer be any tolerance for the Lord Jesus Christ and Biblical Christianity.
It will someday be replaced by a watered down version, bearing no resemblance to the truth that Jesus brought to us. But to listen to them now, you’d be convinced that they love God and the flag. Neither are true.