A Biblical response to Blinded by Might, the new book by Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson
By Randall A. Terry
Operation Rescue Founder
It is with grief I tell you that we are once again being betrayed and sold out to our ethical, cultural and political opponents – by Christian leaders. There is treachery in our midst.
I have just finished reading the new book, Blinded By Might; Can the Religious Right Save America.
Have you seen it, or read it? Blinded By Might was written by Cal Thomas, syndicated newspaper columnist and radio commentator, and Ed Dobson, pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids Michigan, (no relation to Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family).
Both men were high level leaders in the Moral Majority. Both were close associates of Jerry Falwell. Their book is a “mia-culpa” for having been involved in the political realm, and a challenge to the Church, Christian pastors, and individual Christians to abandon the culture wars.
I know this is hard to believe. I still can hardly believe it. But I have read the book slowly and thoroughly. That is why I am so grieved.
I give you Cal Thomas’ own words: “We have tried to build a strong case for the church to lay down its impotent weapons of political activism in exchange for the greatest force we have to change the world: the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (Page 191)
I believe this book is in many ways more dangerous than the child-pornography at Barnes and Noble; and certainly more deplorable (in content and aim) than some of the most villainous books of history. Furthermore, the interview the authors did on 60 Minutes was tragic. I ask you for the opportunity to present my case, quote from their book, and then refute their arguments using scripture and logic. Allow me to make some opening remarks.
The Grief
First, writing this is grievous because these men are Christians. They are brothers in Christ, and I do not relish drawing swords with Christians.
Secondly, however grievous, I must respond. Too much is at stake. These men are using out-of-context Bible verses and fatally flawed logic to emasculate and disembowel the Church, her pastors, and ultimately the rank and file. They seek to gut us of courage and vision; they seek to pervert or dismiss our duty; and they seek to justify cowardice, retreat, and escape – all in the name of Christ.
Third – I must confess, I am angered: They have falsely represented Jesus, and they have spoken treacherously concerning our duties as Christians.
They have said Jesus is not political – yet the scriptures teach he is King of kings, Ruler of the nations, that all thrones were created by Him and for Him, that the government is upon His shoulder, that the increase of His government and peace will have no end. He warns kings and judges to obey him, or he will strike them down if His wrath flares up (Psalm 2).
They have said Jesus does not have a “political agenda” concerning laws and government and the judiciary – yet the scriptures show that God has clear laws and guidelines for thieves, murderers, rapists, and those committing assault; The word of God deals at length with legal/judicial questions. He says of Himself there is one Lawmaker – Him.
I am grieved that they have changed Christ, the Man of war, into the cosmic coward; that they have painted the one who has a two-edged sword and a rod of iron into one bearing articles of surrender; they have denied the political and cultural crown rights of King Jesus, and have made Christ, His law, and His church subservient to wicked politicians and governments.
I am distressed that they use the Bible to further their agenda of glorious defeat, courageous cowardice, and commanded surrender.
Like Satan’s temptation of Christ in the wilderness, they misquote the Bible for an unbiblical end. They use out-of-context verses and horrible Bible interpretation, while they ignore volumes of Scriptures dealing with our duty in the civil realm.
In this dark hour, the church militant – in other words Christians and Christianity that are sweeping and victorious in their sphere and authority; a Christianity that serves, leads, and prevails in the political, judicial, educational, business and cultural realms – the church militant is under attack. Obviously we are attacked by the enemies of God – but far worse; we are under siege from theological traitors and assassins in our midst. These are those that misuse God’s Word like a surgeon’s knife to castrate us of our will to fight, and disembowel us of our hope for victory.
We expect cries for our surrender from the enemy’s camp. However, the cries of “Amen,” and the raising of white flags tattooed with Bible verses from our chaplains is something new. The Red Cross used to be our rear guard, caring for the wounded: under the leadership of Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson, it would be the vanguard, announcing our intention to lay down our arms.
Please understand: I do not count these compromised ambassadors as my enemies – I count them as hostages of their own theology; a theology that is twisted and poisoned. I count them as sincere, yet sincerely deluded. I count them as those who have been captured by crafty arguments of separatists and defeatists, and are now repeating the half-truths, turned half-lies, turned error, turned heresy to the Lord’s people.
And remember, the misguided and deceived in our own camp can do far more damage than our enemies outside the camp. Leaders wearing clerical garb and quoting the Bible will lead far more sheep astray than will ambassadors with pointy tales, horns and pitchforks dressed in satanic red or dragon greed.
These well-meaning brothers have tragically become false witnesses of Christ’s authority and our duty, and so they must be confronted and disarmed. With God’s help, I am going to draw the sword of truth. I intend to do my best to disarm them before they disembowel you, or your loved ones, or other Christians. But more importantly, I hope to equip and arm you with the Truth to such an extent that you will be emboldened and enabled to protect yourself and rescue other Christians from this treachery.
The faith of our fathers is under attack – and you and I have a duty to defend that faith, even from her misguided friends inside Christianity. When you are done with this response, I don’t want you saying, “Amen,” and walking away. I want you girding up the loins of your mind, searching the scriptures for yourself, and arming yourself to liberate others from this theology, and to restore the gates of power to their rightful owners: the righteous.
Finally, I’m going to quote extensively from the Scriptures. Why? Because the Bible is the foundation for our theology, whether that theology applies to salvation, the Church, our families, civil government, our duty, Christ’s authority – whatever. I want you to see that while Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson sound “spiritual” in their arguments, they have violently misrepresented the Bible and Christ. Furthermore, I want you to have some Biblical starting points so that you can do further study on your own.
Let’s draw swords.
They Say Confronting Wicked Politicians is Wrong
Blinded By Might spends a great deal of time explaining how awful it is that we hold government officials accountable for their evil actions and/or policies. They condemn Christian leaders who have confronted, rebuked, or exposed Bill Clinton’s wicked agenda.
“Even if every accusation against the Clintons were true, there is a criminal justice system and a legal process that deals with these things, and even as we write, that system is working. It is the worst possible witness to unbelievers to have a minister running down the president of the United States.” (Page97)
Can they be serious? Do they really believe the “worst possible witness to unbelievers is to have a minister” speaking the truth? On the contrary – the Bible shows that confronting and rebuking civil leaders is part of a minister’s duty! Elijah confronted King Ahab and Jezebel (I Kings 17- II Kings 2). Nathan exposed King David (II Samuel 12). The priests withstood King Uzziah (II Chronicles 26). Jeremiah preached against Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 22-26). John the Baptist – the greatest man who ever lived according to Jesus – lost his life because he rebuked and prophesied against King Herod (Matthew 14 & Mark 6). Christ himself called Herod a fox (Luke 13:32).
Far from being a bad witness to confront wicked magistrates, it is a good witness; it is our duty. The Bible says, “They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.” Proverbs 28:4
And
“He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.” Proverbs 24:24 & 25
The “worst possible witness” for a minister might rather be cowardice and silence in the face of gross wickedness and tyranny in political leaders.
Furthermore, God Himself threatens wicked princes. “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalm 2:10-12
Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson have falsely represented Christ, falsely represented our duty as Christ’s Ambassadors, and given umbrage to cowardice, silence, and retreat among ministers.
Preachers: Monks, or Dual Office Holders?
The book urges pastors to be non-political; to be politically “neutral.” But is this a Biblical goal?
In their 60 Minutes interview, Pastor Ed Dobson whined, “Stop pressuring pastors to be politically active from their pulpit…”
In the book Ed Dobson testifies of himself, saying: “I decided that political involvement would hinder my ministry as a pastor. Therefore I would avoid all political entanglements. I would not attend either Republican or Democrat events. I would not march for or against anything. I was convinced that as a pastor I was called to reach Republicans and Democrats and Independents with the gospel. I was called to reach pro-life people and pro-choice people. I was called to reach pro-gay and anti-gay people. If I engaged in public political activities, I ran the risk of alienating the very people I was called to reach.” (Page 152)
He then quoted his father’s advice. “He believed that when you were ordained to pastoral ministry you were immediately exempted from political action, and when you were called to political service you were immediately exempted from pastoral ministry.” (Page 154) Doesn’t this sound spiritual? The problem is, it isn’t Biblical.
A pastor, a priest, a preacher, a prophet, etc., is someone who has authority in God’s church. They hold an “office” in God’s house; they are a minister of God. A statesman, a legislator, a judge, or civil magistrate, etc., is someone who has authority or an “office” in civil government. Romans 13:4 and 5 call the righteous civil magistrate the “minister of God.” Ed Dobson claims these two should never be mingled in any way.
But the Scriptures teach something else.
David was both king (Acts13:22) and prophet (Acts 2:29 & 30).
Moses was both prophet (Deuteronomy 34:10) and lawgiver (John 1:17).
Samuel was both prophet (I Samuel 3:20) and judge (I Samuel 7:6).
Deborah was both prophetess (Judges 4:4), and judge (Judges 4:4).
It was Solomon – a King – who built and dedicated Israel’s temple. (1Kings 8)
Melchisedeck was Priest of God most high, and King of Salem (Hebrews 7:1)
Jesus Christ – our perfect example – is Priest (Hebrews 3:1) and King (Matthew 27:11). All of these and many more were dual office holders. They had both ecclesiastical and political offices.
In Hebrews chapter eleven – the great chapter that teaches that faith pleases God, at least five of the heroes held authority, or were active in both “spiritual,” and “political” realms. This does not mean that having authority in one automatically qualifies someone for authority in the other, it just means that the Bible does not support the claims of Ed Dobson. Let God be true and every man a liar.
Our own history is rich with men who were dual office holders – preachers who were active in politics. Eighty percent of America’s revolutionary literature was written by clergy. Perhaps the most famous example is Rev. John Witherspoon. He was a renowned preacher, as well as an elected delegate to the Continental Congress, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Would to God that America’s clergy of today followed the courageous example of John Witherspoon rather than the paltry, retreatist example of the aforesaid authors.
Ed Dobson continues: “Being a pastor does not mean that we have no citizenship rights and privileges. We should vote, but we should not use our pulpit to influence the votes of others.” (Page 156)
Is this leading the flock of God responsibly? If a candidate wants to murder babies, give birth control to children behind their parents’ backs, promote special rights for homosexuals, and oppress Christian families, how could a pastor claim a clear conscience before God if he doesn’t try to lead the sheep away from such a wolf? How could the pastor believe he is doing God a service to not influence people toward the righteous and away from the wicked?
The Bible asks the question: “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalms 94:16
Ed Dobson answers, “Not I Lord! I’m a pastor!” This is as tragic as it is absurd.
We have seen that Jesus threatens and warns wicked princes, and that the religious leaders of the Bible rebuke and berate evil leaders. Ed Dobson would have preachers smile and politely hold their tongue. In fact Ed Dobson would have rebuked Mother Theresa for rebuking President Clinton to his face for supporting the child killing. But frankly, her forthright courage in speaking the truth to wicked princes is a rebuke to the Ed Dobsons of this world.
The sorry truth is Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson will not help people discern between the good and the evil. Such silence is treacherous.
The Role of Government
The authors make an astounding statement on page 108. Here it is: “The main purpose of government is to promote an ordered society.”
A communist could not have said it better. A fascist would raise his voice in agreement. The devils running the Chinese slave labor camps would give a hearty “amen!”
The statement, “The main purpose of government is to promote an ordered society,” is a lie from hell.
The main purpose for civil government is justice.
Romans 13:3-4 says, 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. (NKJV) The Bible commands: “Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 (NKJV)
The Bible asks, “Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You?” Psalm 94:20 (NKJV) The answer is no.
You can have “order” in hell. You can surely find “order” in Cuba and China and North Korea. But you don’t have justice. You don’t have freedom. You don’t have governments founded on Christian principles. You have oppression and tyranny. And you have civil magistrates who have betrayed God’s design for their office. They are not punishing the wicked and praising the righteous. They are punishing and oppressing the righteous, and strengthening the wicked. As such they are no longer God’s ministers of justice: they are tyrants.
God’s plan for civil magistrates is clear.
“The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.” II Samuel 23:3 (NKJV)
What does it mean for a ruler to be “just,” to rule in the “fear of God?” Good and evil, right and wrong – justice and injustice – are defined by God in His Word. The purpose, parameters, and duty of the civil magistrate and civil government are defined in the Scriptures.
We are not free to make up the rules for family government or church government. Why would we think God does not have a just plan for civil government?
Yet the authors make these astounding statements.
“Politics is a necessary evil… Politics is necessary – but it is also evil.” (Page 171)
Have they lost their minds? Was politics with David evil? Was politics with Joseph or Daniel evil? Was politics with Josiah evil? Was politics with the signers of the Mayflower Compact or the Declaration of Independence evil?
Certainly politics would be evil with Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson leading the way, because they would lead us, pastors, the church, and Biblical Law off the battlefield. That would make for truly evil politics. And it would make evil politicians delighted.
The Duty of Christians to Government
The reasoning of Blinded by Might, though it sounds spiritual, would do little more than make knaves and slaves of Christians – bowing at the feet of tyrants.
Here are the concise points of advice they list for our Christian responsibility toward government: “We are to pray for government leaders.” (Page109) “We are to submit to government leaders.” (Page 110) “We are to honor government leaders.” (Page111) “We are to pay our taxes.” (Page 113)
In this section, they make another slavish statement. “Submitting to government authority involves recognizing that authority is from God and then willingly and completely subjecting ourselves to that authority.” (Page 111)
This could have been preached by a German pastor who was afraid to oppose the Nazis. It certainly is being preached by Chinese Government Church pastors to keep their parishioners in line. It is the stuff that slaves are made of.
The only authority we are to “completely subject ourselves to” is Almighty God.
“For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us;” Isaiah 33:22 ( NKJV )
In the light of Thomas’ and Dobson’s Christian/political worldview, the founders of our Republic were in rebellion to God when they rebelled against King George III and the British Parliament. We should still be British subjects.
American Patriots such as George Washington, John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Witherspoon, all the great American heroes and advocates of Christian thought, government and revolution, should have been nice boys who prayed, submitted, paid their taxes, and shut their mouths. They should have licked the boots that trod on their backs.
And as for St. Patrick, or John Knox, or Samuel Rutherford, or Oliver Cromwell, we won’t even discuss their heresies!
Can you imagine what a horrifying world this would be if for the past two thousand years the church as a whole had been led by retreatists and escapists and defeatists like Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson?
Frankly, these men should have had a clue that they were in error when 60 Minutes host Leslie Stahl was oohing and cooing as they called on Christians to retreat.
I’ve been interviewed by Leslie Stahl for over an hour. She is a hard-core pro-abortionist, who is openly antagonistic toward a Christianity that has fixed laws, judgements, commandments, etc. When the dragons say “amen,” you’ve got a problem.
The Power of Law
Blinded by Might trots out the old cliché, “…government does not have the power to force virtue on a people who do not wish to be virtuous.” This is partly true, but mostly false.
Obviously government does not have the power to change the heart, only God does. But government certainly has the power to change behavior. Punishment, or the fear of punishment, is the primary power of law. In fact, God states specifically that the law is for wicked people. “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;” I Timothy 1:8-10. That is the purpose of law.
Unfortunately, the authors do not understand the place of Biblical law in regulating men’s behavior and stopping acts of evil and oppression. Let me make an illustration, after sharing their flimsy solution for the abortion holocaust. “So what can the church do, for example, about abortion? First, the church can faithfully preach the Scriptures and declare the uniqueness of human life, that it begins at conception, that it must be valued and protected. Second, the church can offer assistance to those who have had abortions and suffer from guilt and depression…At the end of the Bible study we conduct a memorial service to honor the memory of these babies who were never born but who now live in heaven.” (Page 163)
These ideas sound spiritual, and indeed they are. Certainly they are okay as for as they go, but they do little (or nothing) to protect babies scheduled to die today and tomorrow, and they do nothing to change the laws so that it would be illegal to kill babies.
Let’s apply their logic and solution to the horrific practice of man-stealing – American slavery.
“So what can the church do about slavery? First, the church can faithfully preach the Scriptures, and declare the uniqueness of every slave, and that the slave should be valued and protected. We can even preach to the slaves themselves. Second, the church can offer assistance to those slaveholders who suffer from guilt or depression. We can conduct a memorial service to honor the slaves who have died from being whipped too severely by the master. Third, we can offer alternatives to owning slaves – such as cheap labor.
(But of course we will never help slaves escape via the underground railroad, because that would be breaking the law. And our church won’t lobby for a law that would free the slaves, because our church never fights for any political cause.)”
Frankly, if you’re a slave, what do you care if a preacher is preaching to your master? What do you care if your master is Baptist or Presbyterian, or agnostic? (I wonder which one would beat him harder?) What you care about is freedom. The folly of their logic is that they forgot about the victim; the law of God is always concerned about the victim.
A slave is a victim and a slave wants freedom. What it took to end slavery in America was a constitutional amendment – a law – which changed men’s behavior, even if it didn’t change their hearts. I’m sure many ex-slaveholders still wanted slaves in their hearts, but the law and the punishment they would incur detoured most slave-holding behavior.
It was government – the law – that outlawed slavery in the British empire; it was law that ended Druid human sacrifice in Christendom; it was law that ended the hideous practice of child-prostitution in India, or the horrifying practice of tying widows to their husbands funeral pyres, to be burned alive. Undoubtedly many hearts longed for the good old days of Druid sacrifices or child-prostitution, but the law curtailed most evil behavior. Those who broke the law and were caught were punished. This served as a warning to others and further deterred these hideous crimes.
The history of what we call Christian civilization is in large part a history of Christian law – founded in the Ten Commandments, that was applied to nations via civil government. Those who want to separate the “preaching of the gospel” from Christian law, make a false, unbiblical, and unhistorical dichotomy.
What pre-born babies need is not just respect, or a change of heart in mothers or society, they need the protection of law.
Cal Thomas laments that our political pro-life efforts have been a waste. “Abortion is not the cause of our social problems; it is a reflection of them…The American Enterprise Institute and Roper Center examined opinion polls on abortion for the last twenty-five years. In January 1998 they concluded that despite the rhetoric and campaigns by both sides, attitudes about abortion remain pretty much unchanged . . . In perhaps the biggest and costliest battle waged by conservative Christians, twenty years of fighting has won nothing.” (Page 24)
“Abortion is not a cause of social problems”? Tell that to the dead children. “Twenty years of fighting has won nothing”? He speaks as a fool. We have saved hundreds of thousands of babies through direct action of all sorts. And legislatively, where parental notification laws and twenty-four hour waiting periods have been imposed, the number of children murdered has been cut in half.
This, of course, is only a beginning. We cannot rest until all children have the protection of law against being murdered just like you and I. But the small victories we have won show the power of just laws.
Finally, is Mr. Thomas saying that innocent babies are not worth the time, effort, and money we have spent?
Have Patience
Cal Thomas made these two astounding remarks on 60 Minutes.
“We had Newt Gingrich and the ‘Contract with America’ and the House of Representatives under Republican and mostly conservative control for the first time in forty years. If we couldn’t get it done with all of that presumed political power-then it’s quite clear to me at least-that it can’t be done.” (Cal Thomas, on 60 Minutes)
“Why would people send money to an organization or to a person, who never succeeds? It’s just it’s very curious. If you take your car to the car dealer to be repaired and they say, that will be seven hundred dollars, and it falls apart, it’ll be another seven hundred dollars-you don’t go back probably more than once” (Cal Thomas, on 60 Minutes).
Cal, have some patience. Can you imagine if Cal Thomas had been advising William Wilberforce? It took Wilberforce fifty years of parliamentary labor to finally make slavery illegal – just after he died. He would have told Wilberforce to throw in the towel. Likewise, it took multiple decades for the American Abolitionist movement to reach its goals. He would have cut off the funding of the anti-slavery movement if they hadn’t produced quick results. Does the word perseverance mean anything?
Furthermore, if Cal Thomas thought Newt Gingrich was a true friend, a true believer in justice and liberty based on Biblical law, he showed a sorry lack of discernment. Newt was always using us. Cal just needs to pick better political friends and allies.
Church and State
Lest any be misguided, we do believe in the separation of Church and state. We believe that Church government and civil government should be separate. At the same time we do believe that a man or woman could hold an office in both governments, also believe that the civil government should not run the affairs of the church; neither should church government run the affairs of civil government.
However, we do not believe in the separation of the civil government and the Law of God. The civil government has no authority to legalize murder; nor does it have the authority to make it a crime for parents to spank their children. The civil government is obliged to stay within the parameters set forth by God. Otherwise, politicians and judges become pretenders to the throne of God, legalizing and legitimizing every crime and atrocity, and oppressing just and righteous behavior. That, of course, is tyranny.
Is Satan tempting us?
In perhaps the most perverted, twisted argument of all, the authors insinuate that Satan himself is leading Christians into political activism.
“The third temptation of Jesus was the most subtle and the most dangerous, and it speaks clearly to those of us who want to use politics to usher in his kingdom. Those familiar with the story recall that Satan, who has had a lot of practice at this sort of thing (and gets new people to practice on with every generation), led Jesus into the wilderness…In the early days of the Moral Majority we were taken up to the mountain, and we saw how we could finally win the battle for Jesus’ sake. Unfortunately, the voice we were listening to was not that of Jesus.” (Page 53)
“Before evil characteristics are attributed to Satan, he is first called “subtle” or “crafty.” Could it be that the very strategy of Satan is to corrupt religious conservatives by luring them into the trap of focusing on political kingdoms instead of the eternal kingdom?” (Page127)
I must be honest, this misapplication of scripture is an offense to God and the angels.
Were David and Solomon and Daniel and Joseph and Josiah all lured by Satan into focusing on political kingdoms? Does Satan lure someone to be a minister of God? (Romans 13:1-5) Such an assertion is ludicrous. If Satan is divided against Satan, how can his kingdom stand? (Matthew 12:26)
In many ways, the next quote is worse, for it borders on blasphemy.
“The temptation is always to do good, never evil. That’s what makes it so subtle, and that’s why so many fall for the deception. Even the noblest political causes (and there is great nobility in saving the innocent unborn) can be a form of corruption when they divert our attention and effort from the work of Jesus in the world. For believers, this vision of worldly power is not a calling, but a distraction – another case of the good being the enemy of the best. It is a temptation Jesus rejected – not because it was dangerous, but because it was trivial compared with his greater mission.” (Page 94)
In other words, it is a temptation for us to try and save babies from death … a temptation that Jesus would reject.
It appears he is saying that Jesus would say, “I’m so busy preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, that I can’t divert my attention to saving babies from having their heads torn off. It bothers me that babies are being murdered, but I must resist the temptation to save them. Making child-killing illegal is trivial compared to my greater mission.”
This is damnable heresy. This is a satanic picture of Jesus; a Jesus who turns a blind eye and deaf ear to the cries of the innocent. This is a Jesus who makes heroes of the Pharisee and Levite as they ignore the man dying in the ditch on the way to Jericho. He now instructs his disciples that to love your neighbor is to let them die in the ditch. “Yes, we should mention abortion from our pulpits, but we should not march or become politically active on their behalf. Their death is trivial.”
Obviously, it is not Satan who calls God’s people into the service of being a righteous civil magistrate, nor is it Satan who lures God’s people to support righteous legislators.
The Bible says:
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29:2
As already quoted, God says “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” II Sam.23:3b
However, I do believe Satan would call the righteous out of the political arena. I’m sure Satan hated Josiah – who used “politics” to destroy child-sacrifice and homosexual prostitution in the Temple. And I’m sure Satan hated every righteous civil minister of God (Romans 13:4) since the beginning of time. And I have no doubt that Satan is giving his hearty “Amens!” to Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson as they use the Bible and the name of Jesus to urge the Church and Christians to “lay down it’s impotent weapons of political activism.”
I truly fear that these brothers have voiced the wishes of the underworld. Apply their logic and theology to any other era – any other great fight – slavery, human sacrifice, child-prostitution, and the demonic nature of their logic is made manifest.
The state cannot change a man’s heart to convert to Jesus. Salvation, that is a matter of faith. However, the state can regulate a man’s behavior, that is a matter of law.
Top Down
The authors make another argument common among naysayers; namely, you can’t change a country “from the top down.”
“Two decades after conservative Christians charged into the political arena, bringing new voters and millions of dollars with them in hopes of transforming the culture through political power, it must now be acknowledged that we have failed. We failed not because we were wrong about our critique of culture, or because we lacked conviction, or because there were not enough of us, or because too many were lethargic and uncommitted. We failed because we were unable to redirect a nation from the top down. Real change must come from the bottom up or, better yet, from the inside out.” (Page 23)
Again, this sounds spiritual, but it belies a lack of Biblical knowledge, and historical example.
Consider the transformations of culture recorded in the scripture during the reigns or ministries of Deborah (Judges 4 & 5), Gideon (Judges 6-8), Josiah (II Kings 22 & 23), Hezekiah (II Kings 18-20) and more. These were all transformations of righteousness.
Consider the wicked transformations under the political leadership of Ahab (I Kings 16 – II Kings 2) or Manasseh (II Kings 21). In fact, God warned Solomon that if he as king, or his sons as kings, turned their backs on God that the whole country would backslide and be judged.
“But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house? And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.” I Kings 9:6-9
Those who say change doesn’t come from the top down don’t know their Bible; and they don’t know history.
The end of human sacrifice in central America came from “the top down.”
The abolition of slavery came “from the top down.” The end of pagan idolatry in the Roman Empire came “from the top down.” The end of child-prostitution came “from the top down.”
In fact, most of the great transformations recorded in the scriptures, and most of the great “revivals”, were led by dual office holders. Study the lives of Samuel, Joshua, Gideon, Deborah, David, Hezekiah, Moses, Josiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah. To assert that change doesn’t come from the top down is folly, and betrays the clear record and instruction of the Scriptures.
Also, have you ever heard a missionary testify that he preached for twenty years and converted no one, but when the village chief converted, so did scores of others. This is a fact of history.
We do want individuals and families converted. We want hearts changed. But if you’re a slave, you don’t care if the masters heart is changed – you’re happy if your freedom comes from the top down. You’re free!
Blinded by Fright
I started this polemic stating that Blinded By Might could be more dangerous than the child-pornography at Barns and Noble. Why? Because while child-pornography is offensive, and abusive to children, the purveyors could be prosecuted, and the vast majority of the material banished. But Blinded By Might encourages Christians to abandon the fight to criminalize such filth. Blinded By Might sustains the legality and hence, acceptability of this wickedness. It insures this evil will survive.
Mein Kampf and the Communist Manifesto are both vile, oppressive anti-Christ works. But they can only flourish and take root in a world that has a Christ and a Christian community that retreat from their political agendas. Blinded By Might provides the blueprint for our retreat, and the Jesus who leads the way. Thus the theology and content of Blinded By Might are critical for the health and success of these vile world-views. In that way, Blinded By Might is far more dangerous for it neutralizes the only force for truth that will ultimately stand and prevail against such tyranny.
The Fear of Man
I think the authors unknowingly tipped their hand concerning why they really want out of the culture wars: they’re embarrassed. “Too many of us in the conservative Christian community are trying to fight the Philistines using the wrong weapons. It has resulted in our not only being defeated, but humiliated. Even as Gary Bauer publicly muses about the possibility of running for president, my journalism colleagues are snickering.
“If we truly desire to transform the world in which we live, we must look to God, his power, and the might of his Holy Spirit. Otherwise, we will continue to bring dishonor and embarrassment on the high cause to which we claim allegiance.” (Page 129)
I ask you: who cares if pagan journalists are snickering? If you are trying to win the approval of your journalistic colleagues, stay away from the Crucified Carpenter, who boldly threatens to send them to hell if they don’t repent and believe in Him.
If you want to be free from embarrassment, stay away from the rantings of Jeremiah and the howling condemnation of John the Baptist. Slink into the shadows before. Slink into the shadows before you’re embarrassed by the extremism of Ezekial, the visions of Isaiah. Quietly walk away from the lunacy of the prophets who call to be struck with a sword; and please, give ample excuses for Jesus, as He harshly calls people names, overthrows tables, chases people with whips, and otherwise embarrasses you.
But if you want to be blessed, remember the words of Jesus:
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12
Notice that he says, “persecuted for righteousness sake.” Because you did the right thing – in life, in family, in business, in politics. You stood up. You spoke the truth. “For so they persecuted the prophets which were before you.” Prophets who rebuked kings. Prophets who meddled in political issues. Prophets who were thrown into a lion’s den because they were righteous politicians, like Daniel.
Reader: take your pick. You can lay down your political weapons in the name of Christ, and win the approval of the Philistines and the snickering journalists. Or you can hold high the banner of God’s Truth and the Authority of the King of kings in the political realm, and be scorned at, scoffed at, and hated by the Philistines and the snickering Journalists.
Have the approval of men, or have the approval of God.
Which do you prefer? And which do you think will lead to the reformation and restoration of our Republic? If we will stay in the fight, we will win.
If the authors of Blinded By Might wish to curry the favor and interest of the pagan elite, they should become Amish. There they can have their separatism and religion with a curious flare. But don’t try and recruit us into your religious ghetto, and don’t misuse the scripture and Jesus’ name to vindicate your flight from the fight. I call on you, as a brother in Christ, as a student of the scriptures and history, abandon your defeatist theology, forsake your respectability, and learn at the feet of the warring King Jesus as He reveals Himself in Psalm 2 and Psalm 110.
If you will not, then I leave you with the words of a true Christian patriot, Samuel Adams, who said: “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsel or arms, crouch down and lick the hands that feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you. And may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”