Reading and Talking About - The Political Seduction of the Church by Michael L. Brown Article 2

 

Why These 2 Vids? Came up at the same time - A God Incident?

Specifically, can we stereotype by race? 

Surely that seems to be happening these days...

You know folks, I've included the last two videos, first, for a reason.  What I now know after reading just about 1/3 of The Political Seduction of the Church, is that, I, and I have to assume millions of others like me, HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAS BEEN AND IS GOING ON IN AMERICA's RELIGIOUS HIERARCHY...

...By those who identify as Christians... I don't know exactly what I mean by that, since I've professed my belief in Jesus since I was 13, when I was baptized into the Baptist Church. I have been involved in small-town churches all of my life. And my last involvements with a large church were, first, with Billy Graham, who I watched on television and attended one of his rallies. Second, my Mom was a huge fan of Jimmy Baker and so I watched them often...I also visited their "theme park" for want of a better word. Indeed, I found happiness and peace there, even though later, it was discovered that much was happening behind the scenes that was criminal... Same with Jimmy Swaggart... I also remember my entire family laughing and joking about a preacher from the south who was on TV, EA were his initials...... His antics included shouting "Healed!" and pushing each of his supplicants to the floor in, I suppose, being overpowered by the holy spirit...

Even then we became aware that not every "prophet" of God was...without sin... and, even, perhaps, were "false prophets..."

My family includes a number of pastors who represented different denominations... and at least one Nun... So, you can imagine that most of my life was involved in one way or another with religion... So, I remember when, the well-known atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair's, and other activists resulted in the Separation of Church and State... and the removal of The Lord's Prayer from all schools... And, also, the inability to formally stop using any religions relationship in government buildings on Christmas... Indeed, these were shocking for us at that time, simply because, normally, most of us were insulated from the nation at large, simply due to geography...

I think it is important, therefore, for me to provide this preamble so that you all can consider that my life had already been changed due to the advent of television! And, of course, much more since the Internet was available across the nation. What I saw then, and now, was that people could be both good and bad... whatever those words might mean to each of us individually. Mostly, I say, good over evil, as I talk about murder mysteries, suspense or thriller novels.

What I never would have considered was that the church itself might reach a point where it was...not...spotlighting God, Christ, The Holy Spirit or similar belief  terms used within other than religions not within the protestant faith of which I was a part. 

Suddenly we were learning that there were some people who didn't even believe that there was a God! And they lived, perhaps, nearby... Fast forward to today... we now have many people in America that do not believe as, perhaps, I believe... Yet, you are my neighbor... In Morgantown, WV, I met many people from foreign countries either as students or faculty... Frankly, it never occurred to me to question my interpersonal relationships with these people.. Other than as, if asked, stating that yes, I was a Christian.

I remember one physics professor, with whom I got into a discussion about the existence of God... I can't remember how it came about, but we were standing in Hodges Hall where he was a distinguished professor and I was probably there to deal with some type of classroom issue, part of my job at that time... It WAS a discussion. Neither of us got angry. Neither of us raised our voices to speak and cry out our truth... I remember that I often would respond to him with the words, something like, "I believe because I have faith and His Spirit.." Finally, he laughed and agreed that he believed...my belief... But he never really said he believed in God because I did...

And that was ok... Jesus tells us to go out and speak of Him to others... I would never believe that God wants us to "stuff" belief in Him...down somebody's throats... Even though historically that was done! Consider the Crusades, for one instance which included violent acts...

Many of you will know that I have agonized over the connection of evangelical christianity with the republican party's choice of Trump as a candidate for the presidency. I could not understand. Even while members of my family voted for him...

But never, in the last 5-6 years or so, did I realize that it was, apparently, the church, itself...which initiated all that has happened since then. I had to include the second video above, because I would not have believed that I was considered a demon because I decided to vote democratic! 

Some of the phrases that are used by Dr. Brown often is...Now What? What do we do? How do we move forward???

For me, here at Book Readers Heaven, I intend to go chapter by chapter...and give an overview for what is covered, doing the best I can to be objective... For, upfront, it is clear that Dr. Brown does not support our present president even though he acknowledges that Biden is indeed President of the United States...

Will you pray with and for me to 

Have My Eyes Open

Have My Ears Open

Have my Mouth Speak Truth...

God Bless,

Gabbie

What's Happening at Book Readers Heaven - Reading The Political Seduction of the Church by Michael L. Brown Article 0, Announcement

 

My newest book, The Political Seduction of the Church: How Millions of American Christians Have Confused Politics with the Gospel, has just been released. But what, exactly, do I mean by “political seduction”?

Do I mean that Christians who are involved in politics have been seduced? Certainly not. I believe Christians should be involved in politics, as I have stated repeatedly for years.

Am I critiquing those who supported Donald Trump, as if they were seduced into voting for him? Not at all. I voted for him myself, both in 2016 and 2020. And my book is about the church more than it is about President Trump (or any other political leader, for that matter).

Then what do I mean by political seduction?

I’m referring to the unhealthy marriage of politics and the gospel. I’m speaking about the church becoming an appendage to a political party. I’m talking about God’s people getting consumed with election fever. I’m referring to believers putting their hope in a political leader in a way that becomes unhealthy and even idolatrous.

That is what I mean by political seduction.

Unfortunately, seduction is very seducing. It comes in subtly, not overtly, through the side window, not the front door. And it looks so good at the outset, so justifiable, so right. It is only over time that it begins to show its fangs. (For a graphic picture of seduction and its consequences, read Proverbs 7.)

That’s why I have a whole chapter in the book titled, “The Subtlety of Seduction.”

That’s also why I devote two chapters to the false prophecies about Trump’s reelection in 2020, titled, “When the Prophets Prophesied Falsely,” and, “The Genesis of False Prophecy.”

That’s why the last chapter of the book is titled, “How We Failed the Test: Retracing Our Steps and Learning the Big Lessons.”

I am convinced that, as the people of God, we can do better. In fact, we must do better. Otherwise, without our light shining brightly, the nation will collapse.

But, to repeat, seduction is very subtle, and in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to understand why so many of us got so caught up in politics to the point of obsession.

After all, didn’t the fate of the nation hang in the balance? Weren’t our very freedoms at stake? Didn’t the radical left want to bring dangerous, existential changes to our country, changes that would affect us for generations to come?

The answer to all these questions was and is yes – yes in 2020; yes in 2022; and yes in 2024. These have been and will be absolutely pivotal elections.

The problem is when we merge the gospel with the elections, as if a political party was the key to advancing God’s kingdom on the earth. The problem is when we put our trust in the political system more than in the power of the gospel. The problem is when we try to fight spiritual battles with earthly weapons.

This is the political seduction of the church, and this is what happened to millions of us in recent years.

The question is: Did it happen to you? Did it happen to me?

Here are some telltale signs that we have been politically seduced.

When we’re more concerned with winning elections than winning the lost.

When we wrap the gospel in the American flag.

When we equate our country with the kingdom of God.

When we confuse patriotism with spirituality.

When we compromise our ethics to keep our party (or man or woman) in power.

When our church/denomination/ministry becomes an appendage of a political party.

When we put more trust in earthly methods than in spiritual methods.

When we make one political party the party of God and the other the party of Satan.

When we become as vulgar and rude as the candidates we follow.

When we look to the White House more than to God’s house.

When we make a human being into a political savior.

When we equate loyalty to God (which is unconditional) with loyalty to a party or political leader (which is conditional).

When our prayers and our prophecies become partisan.

These are all signs that we have been politically seduced, even if only one or two of them apply to us.

With all respect, I suggest that if the shoe fits, we wear it, own it, acknowledge it, learn from it, and move forward without feeling condemned.

We need to take our place on the front lines, putting first things first – and that means the gospel before politics.

If we keep our priorities straight, the nation can be shaken.

https://askdrbrown.org/library/what-i-mean-when-i-speak-political-seduction-church

Hi Everybody!

I've found another book that I immediately went out and bought. Unfortunately, it is not in ebook form at this time. The thing is, I've read enough already, that I want to continue to read and finish the book ASAP. It's, hopefully, an important book that will answer some questions for me, and maybe, for a lot of you, too.

I know I've said that I read nonfiction on an ad hoc basis based upon what I'm wanting to write about ...But, again, I'm hoping this book is, perhaps, the one I've been waiting for... It is by an evangelical christian, but he has an interesting background and is now on many social networks speaking about...well., just about anything you want to ask him! How Cool is That?! BTW, I just signed up on his site and commented on an article about this book, and more... 

Sooooo, just wanted to take the time and let you all know why I'll be away for...well, as long as it takes for me to read it. Since it is paperback, I cannot increase size of print and will need to be sitting for a longer period holding the book under a bright light...not easy to do, when I'm not supposed to be sitting for long periods at a time these days...

In the meantime, you might want to check out AskDr.Brown using the link above about the book...once you're there, check out the other topics he's covered in one way or another...I "think" I'm going to like this guy... So watch for my words on the book fairly soon...

By the way, I'm working with a writer on a spotlight author event... Hope everything works out on that activity as well!

Take Care

God Bless, Glenda

P. 52--A few weeks after the elections, when emotions were still at a fever pitch and Trump supporters were feeling robbed and raw, I was up late one night reading some online posts written by friends of mine. These were people whom my wife, Nancy, and I had known for years, people of good character, people who were gospel first in their orientation. But not that night. As I read their pro-Trump posts containing the most ridiculous claims, attacking other believers with angry words, reflecting extreme political biases, I broke down weeping. "What has become of us?" I asked my wife. "These are our friends." Those posts reflected just the tiniest tip of a massive iceberg. On a national level we had drifted seriously off course, deeply damaging our Christian witness...