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PHILADELPHIA --- An evangelist with the Philadelphia-based ministry Repent America is blasting the nation's religious leaders for furthering wickedness and the presidency of Barack Obama through its "Godless government gospel" of demanding morality in and by our government apart from the moral Lawgiver.
Ministry director Michael Marcavage has observed much hypocrisy from evangelicals this election, who have decried the sins of America while at the same time aggressively supporting and promoting candidates that advocate evil. Democrats and Republicans alike used identical reasoning this election to dismiss the gravity of the immorality that their candidate espoused in an attempt to justify their unBiblical voting practices. In regard to those who voted Democratic, as in 2008, Barack Obama held the support of a large following of black churches from across the nation. Despite their disappointment with Obama's stance on homosexual "marriage" and abortion, they stated that they would agree to disagree with the president because they favored his "Christian values" of caring for the sick and poor. "[Obama] swore to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution, not the Bible," preached Frederick Haynes III, senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas in a sermon earlier this year. "He is not the pastor of the United States; he is the president of the United States."
Likewise, numerous prominent evangelicals stated that while they disagreed with Mitt Romney's Mormonism, his support for abortion exceptions and his advocacy for homosexual adoption, they backed the candidate because "Jesus is not on the ballot." At the same time, many called for moral reformation and cried out to God for revival.
"God ordained government, and we are not electing a pastor-in-chief, we are electing a commander-in-chief," wrote Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, in his article Can an Evangelical Christian Vote for a Mormon?. "Americans must remember that while our nation was founded upon godly principles, we do not have a state religion."
"Leading up to the election, in evaluating both Obama and Romney, many religious leaders repeated the mantra that we are not electing a 'pastor-in-chief' as if those in civil government have no moral responsibility or accountability to God. At the same time, they decried the rejection of God's law and commands in our government," Marcavage stated. "Let us not forget the words of our nation's first president, George Washington, who said, 'It is impossible to govern rightly without God and the Bible.'" "The Godless government gospel is contrary to the will and word of God. If our rulers are expected to follow a standard, then whose if not God's? Law and government come from God, and He certainly has criteria for how they should function," Marcavage continued. "Since our elected officials are a reflection of the heart of the people, it is clear that our nation is in desperate need of the preaching of the Gospel. However, the Gospel preached in Scripture was not limited to personal salvation, but its central announcement was about Jesus Christ being enthroned as King," he stated. "Christ is King, and we must preach and pray as He taught, 'Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.'"  | | Michael Marcavage |
"It has been grievous to observe the religious leaders of our day reject God's standards for choosing rulers as they push their own deceitful agendas on the Church for political expediency," Marcavage said. "God's word is not silent on choosing rulers, but the majority of professing Christians are clueless as to whether or not Scripture provides any instruction on the matter. It is evident that pastors in America are providing little to no guidance on how to honor God in civil government, or are imparting false teaching that it is permissible to vote for 'the lesser of evils.' The blind are leading the blind, and both are driving the country into the pit."
Noah Webster, former member of the Connecticut House of Representatives and author of the first American dictionary, once spoke on these concerns when he said, "It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness. But if we had no Divine instruction on the subject, our own interest would demand of us a strict observance of the principle of these injunctions. And it is the neglect of this rule of conduct in our citizens that we must ascribe the [evils] that tarnish the character of our country..."
Despite the reality that America is faced with four more years of continued rebellion against God, Marcavage urges local government officials to use this time to discuss implementing what is known as the Lesser-Magistrate Doctrine.
"It is time for serious discussion on how those in civil government should respond to the unrighteous decrees of the federal government," he stated. "Civil rulers are directly accountable to God's authority and are to be 'ministers of God' for good, not evil. Therefore, governors, mayors, legislators and even law enforcement must work to oppose any law that impugns or violates the very commands of God. Those in authority must not permit lawlessness within their borders, from the shedding of innocent blood to the flagrant flaunting of immorality and perversion in our land. May God raise up some to come together to take such a stand." "Instead of giving America the destruction that it deserves, God has been patient and merciful in giving us Barack Obama in judgment. He will not, however, hold back His wrath forever," Marcavage concluded. "Judgment begins at the house of God, and as Jesus warned, if we refuse to heed His commands, 'it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that city.' As the Psalm says, 'The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God.'" "They have set up kings, but not by Me: they have made princes, and I knew it not ... I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing." - Hosea 8:4,12 |
