On the error of pastors getting entangled in politics, by Professor Michael Haykin
This preface are my own comments to the below article. Professor Michael Haykin’s article is below my preface. During the 2008 Presidential election, I saw an increase of well-known Pastors crossing the line from pulpit duty into the arena of politics, including giving endorsements. But to make matters worse, some made either derogatory or untrue remarks about Christians that might vote differently than them.
In 2008 Pastor Jack Hibbs endorsed the far ‘left of the center’ Mitt Romney (a Mormon) while referring to any Christian that did not vote for Romney as being stupid by “taking stupid pills.” Then more recently in 2020 Pastor John MacArthur told President Donald Trump, “[A]ny real true believer is going to be on your side in this election,..”
MacArthur’s political remarks have brought an offense to many Christians. To insinuate that ‘how we vote’ is peripherally somehow associated with salvation, or an evidence of salvation (as he promotes Trump) is very unwise. The fact is, Trump considers it “a great honor” to be ‘the most pro-gay president,’ and he is only quasi pro-life. Though Pence seems to be more consistent with Christianity, Pence committed blasphemy in the White House while swearing-in a homosexual who vows to decriminalize homosexuality in the Middle East.
Another pastor on Facebook is fearmongering that “persecution” will come if his candidate is not elected.
Today’s Americanized Christendom will do anything to avoid persecution. Yesteryears men embraced and rejoiced in it. As Tertullian said, “The blood of Christians is seed.” Augustine later said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Though we are to pray for the persecuted, some are praying for persecution. Our churches need to be less American, and more like Christ. Lord, not my will, but Thine will be done. That kind of Christianity will make the church and America great again.
The republican god sits in heaven biting his nails saying “Oh no, I didn’t see that coming, what am I going to do?” But the One True God is a sovereign King who ordains all the events below to come to fruition. Which God are you going to be enslaved to?
Pastors ought to continue being more concerned with God’s elect, than the Presidential election. I get it. I don’t understand how professing Christians could vote for one of todays Democrats, I never have, and I never will. But some of us still vote on principle, not the party.
“To live for a political party is unworthy of a man who professes to be a Christian.” – Charles H. Spurgeon
Therefore despite the opinions of men like Hibbs and MacArthur, I will be writing-in my choice of candidate. That is my Biblical conviction and Christian conscience (1 Cor. 8:9-13, Rom. 14) . But I guess I must not be a “true believer.” As I stated in a previous post –
I no longer vote based on platforms (i.e. abortion or Israel). Today my number one platform is the candidates’ view of God, Christ, and His Scriptures, lest I commit idolatry by putting platforms before God. If they have a Biblical view of the above, they will have a Biblical view horizontally. Which oftentimes means writing-in, my candidate. Moreover, God is sovereign, and I will trust Him for the final results.
Regardless of how you vote, I won’t love you any less.
Church history is important. Today I saw the below refreshing post on a Facebook friends wall (a Pastor). It is a short gem written by Dr. Michael Haykin. Haykin is Chair & Professor of Church History at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Disclaimer: I do not endorse the SBC.
ON THE ERROR OF GETTING ENTANGLED IN POLITICS – by Professor Michael Haykin
“During the 1780s, the Particular Baptist [PB] pastor Robert Robinson, who had had a glorious conversion under the preaching of George Whitefield, became increasingly tied up with politics as he joined with a number of rational Dissenters to secure the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts. The final result was a sad departure from the Gospel. Yes, in those days many Baptist found themselves on the left-wing of the political spectrum (though the terms of left and right emerged from the French Revolution of the same era).
In the 1790s and 1800s as the political climate heated up, riot and war convulsed Europe and the government of William Pitt suspended habeas corpus due to the fear of revolution in England (the London PB pastor John Martin [see pic] foolishly predicted that if the French revolutionaries ever invaded England as they threatened to do circa 1803, the PBs were not to be trusted, they would all go wholesale over to the enemy due to their hatred of the monarchy–recall PB support for the American Revolution), men like Andrew Fuller became increasingly concerned about the example of Robinson influencing younger Baptist pastors and getting them deeply enmeshed in politics. Fuller saw it as a stratagem of Satan to defuse the preaching of the Gospel.
Similarly the great PB preacher William Steadman, himself a Fullerite and one who was such a force for renewal in Yorkshire, stated in his ordination sermon “The Christian Minister’s Duty and Reward” (1807) when he advised the man being ordained, Richard Pengilly, “I do not wish you to be wholly ignorant of the political state of your country… but do not, I beseech you, let politics engross so much of your thoughts, or your conversation, as to cause the duties of the citizens to interfere with those of the preacher.” Of course, there were some areas, such as the slave trade, where Fuller recognized Christians had to speak out against the status quo.
But Steadman’s words are wise advice for pastors in our trying times when it seems to me that Satan is having a heyday diverting the interests of pastors into that muddy stream of politics, which will only do our Evangelical cause great harm. As Fuller told John Fountain (1767-1800), a missionary to India, “All political concerns are only affairs of this life with which he that will please him, who hath chosen him to be a soldier, must not entangle himself.”
Brothers and sisters: are you so entangled?”
You can also view the Professors post via his Facebook page here (it’s ‘public’).
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I just watched President Trumps’ 46:08 minute speech entitled “The most important speech I’ve ever made.” It’s still nothing more than lots of allegations with no forensic evidence. If the SCOTUS does investigate this, I pray they will be objective and non-partisan. Trump also claimed after many investigations of him, to be “The cleanest person in America!” Sir, I’m nothing but excrement in Gods hands.
Today I voted as a registered Christian. I can hardly wait to watch the faithless panic when they wake up in the morning. I can hardly wait until the 2024 presidential election .
But the Lord (‘ădônây), the Master of the universe already knows who the winners and losers are, He even decreed it beforehand. Therefore, He’s not sitting in heaven biting on His nails saying, ‘Oh no, I didn’t see that coming. What am I going to do?’
But God, who sits in heaven (yâshab) will laugh (śâchaq) at the unfaithful complainers. His Holy laughter, an expression of His sovereignty, will joyfully mock, ridicule, and scoff the faithless, the prideful, and the rebellious. Oh Lord, let Your will be done. – Psalm 2:4
Do you know Him? But more importantly, does He know you in a salvific way?
https://www.theexpositor.tv/the-good-news/
#Election2022 #ElectionResults #2022GeneralElection
My response when people compare Trump to great men in the Scriptures.
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We must be careful when using those comparisons. However, though the Lord is NOT the author of sin, He sovereignly decrees all things to occur. He doesn’t just allow or “use” people or things, He decrees them all. This also means had Hillary won years ago, God would have decreed that. When Trump became president, He decreed that. When Biden became president, God decreed that. I’m only going to speak of your above David here. But David repented, as we see the evidence of that in the 51st chapter of Psalm. And that repentance came from the Lord. But Trump clearly said that he has NO need for forgiveness, and has NO need to repent, David was broken over his sin and wrote about it. When a man like Trump says they do not need salvation, the forgiveness of sin, and/or a need to repent; they are saying they do NOT believe in the Gospel or the need for it. That’s a perfect description of a Pharisee. And to be anti-Gospel is to be anti-Christ. I see the same type of comparisons used to defend females in office. Someone recently said he supported Nikki Haley, because “God used Deborah” (in the Scriptures). But that was bad hermeneutics. Because though God did decree Deborah into leadership, He put her there as a form of His judgment upon the people, and the land. So we have to be very careful when using those comparisons. Not saying you don’t. But we have to have a higher view of the Lord and His Scriptures, and His sovereignty, than a sinful nation who has legislated sin & lawlessness against God, from her highest levels of legislative juris prudence. Lastly, remember my wording in the preface of this post. I am not against a person that votes for Trump. I’d rather have him than Biden. But I believe it is wrong for Christ’s followers, especially “Christian” leaders to publicly “endorse” the man along with his advocacy of homosexuality, incrementalism within abortion, etcetera. I miss the days when people used to vote inside a booth behind a curtain.
Melania Trump and her work with Log Cabin Republicans.
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Trump has always been an advocate and promoter of the homosexual agenda. He even agreed that he was ”the most pro-gay president in America’s history.” Including hosting gay weddings at his Mar-a-Lago resort. And let us not forget the blasphemy Pence committed in the Whitehouse with two Homos and their “big black Bible.”
https://www.oann.com/newsroom/melania-trump-introduces-dr-oz-caitlyn-jenner-and-more-to-gop-fundraiser-at-mar-a-lago/
My comment under Right Response podcast ‘Abolitionists & Voting For Trump with Ben Garrett’
I am glad to see someone else call Allie Beth Stuckey what she is – a “feminist.” But said with respect. What is lacking in your Trump/abortion issue, especially coming from a professing 1689 pastor, is that you’ve seemingly ignored the sovereignty of God in this podcast. And that He decrees all things to occur. Though I could be wrong, I suspect abortion is a form of His judgment upon amerika.
Regarding “loving our neighbors” by voting for Trump. I refuse to vote for Trump who is an open promoter of the homosexual sin. For starters, they’ve advanced their sinister cause worldwide, promoted them into their cabinet, and his wife hosted 2 fundraisers for homosexuals in their Trump Tower and Mira Lago resort. And you’re insinuating those of us who won’t vote for Trump are not loving our neighbor? BTW, a great way for me to “love my neighbor” was to preach His Law and Gospel at abortion mills, and in public places during the covid lockdown. All the while 95% of churches cowardly closed their churches, claiming they were “loving my neighbors” by closing their churches. Frankly, I’m tired of seeing professing Christians abuse the sheep by twisting or misapplying the 2nd Commandment to “love your neighbor.” Unless we get the first greatest Commandment right, we have no business acting like we’ve got the 2nd Commandment right.
As you know, the Greatest Commandment is a summary of the first four Commandments of the Decalogue. The Second Commandment is a summary of the remaining six Commandments.
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” – Matthew 22:36-38.
Though I do not call myself an abolitionist, I am for abolishing abortion – Lord willing. But the Triunity of the Godhead, His Law, the Gospel, and His Scriptures must be the Vanguard of the pro-life movement. Lest ‘the cause’ or the fetus become idolatry.
https://youtu.be/dMCwsVI6ftg?si=rOflVVXsEhD8ghD4
Today’s election day. Though I’ve never voted Democrat, and never will. I won’t be voting for any moderate Republicans, females (aka feminism), emasculated men, or any man who’s not a consistent opponent of national sins – abortion and homosexuality. I refuse to be part of the establishment that says we have to vote for one of the choices on the ballet. This means in some votes, I will either write in my preferred choice, or I will undervote. An undervote is tactical voting, a protest vote, and/or an abstention. I am a bondslave to CHRIST, not Ceasar nor Uncle Sam. Lord, let Your will be done! #ElectionDay #ElectionDay2024