Over the past several years, I have carried a deep burden in my spirit. I have shared parts of it in blog posts, in prayer, and in conversations with people who are willing to listen. The burden is this: the Church must remember who we are. We are not called to be a political machine. We are not called to cling to earthly power. We are called to be the Body of Christ.
To be the Body of Christ means we belong to Jesus before we belong to any party, movement, nation, or leader. It means our first loyalty is not to winning elections, protecting privilege, or defending a man. Our first loyalty is to the One who died on the cross, rose again, and taught us to love God, love our neighbor, tell the truth, seek justice, show mercy, and walk humbly.
When Faith Becomes a Cover for Power
One of the most painful things to witness is how many white evangelicals have clung to earthly power while claiming to defend the faith. That is the very opposite of the way of Jesus. Christ did not die on the cross so His followers could trade the gospel for political access. He did not suffer and rise again so we could bless deception, excuse cruelty, or look away from unrighteousness because it benefits our side.
When the Church becomes more committed to power than to truth, we lose our witness. When we excuse lies because they come from someone we support, we become part of the deception. When fear is used to gain political control, we must discern the spirit behind it. God has not given us a spirit of fear. He calls us to truth, courage, love, and a sound mind.
The Danger of a Demagogue
A demagogue is a leader who stirs up people’s emotions, fears, anger, and prejudices in order to gain power. Instead of leading with truth and wisdom, a demagogue inflames the crowd. He tells people what they want to hear, gives them someone to hate, and makes false promises for political gain.
We have seen language that does not heal, but provokes. We have heard words like “I am your retribution,” words that stir resentment instead of repentance. That kind of speech is not the fruit of the Spirit. It is not love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control. It is a warning sign.
Followers of Jesus should not be easily swept up by someone who lies for political gain. We should be people of discernment. We should ask: Does this leader tell the truth? Does this leader stir up hatred or call people toward righteousness? Does this leader protect the vulnerable or use them? Does this leader seek justice, or only personal power?
Truth, Justice, and Democracy Matter
Democracy is not perfect, but it matters. It matters because it gives people a voice. It matters because it limits the power of rulers. It matters because no one person should be above the law. When leaders try to overturn the will of the people, spread claims they know are false, or obstruct the peaceful transfer of power, that is not just politics as usual. That is a moral crisis.
The Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity made this moment even more serious. The Court said a former president has some immunity for official acts, while there is no immunity for unofficial acts. But if motive and purpose cannot be fully considered, many people rightly ask how justice can be done. If a president can misuse power and then hide behind the office, the nation is in danger.
This is why truth matters. This is why justice matters. This is why righteousness matters. We cannot simply shrug and move on when deception is rewarded. We cannot call evil good because it helps our side. We cannot pretend that character does not matter when Scripture teaches that the fruit of a person’s life reveals what is in the heart.
Learning From the Past Without Living in It
We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it. We can tell the truth about what happened. We can repent where we were silent. We can admit where fear, pride, racism, nationalism, or party loyalty blinded us. And then, by God’s grace, we can be free to move on—not by ignoring the truth, but by facing it.
Moving on does not mean forgetting. It means refusing to let deception keep leading us. It means choosing a better way. It means returning to the gospel, where power looks like service, greatness looks like humility, and victory looks like love poured out for others.
The Gospel Is Essential in This Moment
This is why the preaching of the gospel is so essential in our time. The gospel reminds us that Jesus is Lord, not Caesar, not a party, not a president, not a movement. The gospel teaches us that truth is not optional. Love is not weakness. Justice is not partisan. Righteousness is not negotiable.
Some want the Church to be apolitical, meaning silent about anything that sounds political. But the prophets were not silent about injustice. Jesus was not silent about hypocrisy. The apostles were not silent when earthly powers demanded their ultimate loyalty. The Church must never be owned by a party, but it must also never be silent when truth, justice, mercy, and human dignity are at stake.
God gave me a voice to speak the truth in love. That does not mean speaking with hatred. It does not mean mocking people. It does not mean pretending I am better than anyone else. It means refusing to stay silent when deception is harming families, churches, communities, mental health, and the nation.
A Call to Discernment
We are living in a time that requires discernment. A spirit of deception has moved through the public square. Fear has been used as a tool for political power. Lies have been repeated until many accepted them as truth. But the people of God are called to test the spirits, examine the fruit, and follow Christ.
A win for a corrupt leader can be a loss for the nation. A victory for earthly power can become a defeat for the witness of the Church. We must not confuse political success with God’s approval. God is love. God is righteous. God is just. He does not bless deception, cruelty, arrogance, or the hunger for domination.
So let us be the Body. Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus. Let us stand for truth, justice, and righteousness as a nation. Let us reject the spirit of fear and deception. Let us love our neighbors enough to tell the truth. And let us remember that Christ is building His Church—not through lies, not through earthly power, but through love, humility, holiness, and truth.
Minister A Francine Green I June 2026