02/05/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/15sNvSY1qf/
Hijacked: How a Strongman Took Over the GOP, Christianity, and Now the Country
By A Country Pastor
As a country pastor, I’ve watched in disbelief as a single man hijacked an entire political party, twisting it away from its principles and turning it into something unrecognizable. He took over the GOP so easily because they came to crave power more than they valued their own principles. What should have been a party of conservative values, personal responsibility, and moral leadership has instead become a movement built on loyalty to one person, power at any cost, and a willingness to tear down institutions rather than serve the people they were meant to protect.
Now, through that hijacking of faith and politics, they have taken over the country with the people’s own vote—intent on chaos both here and across the world. This isn’t about progressive vs. conservative. This isn’t just politics as usual. This is about resisting an authoritarian movement that has co-opted faith and patriotism to justify its own quest for wealth and power—while inflicting suffering on those it has deemed enemies.
I remember watching episodes of Gunsmoke where a strong man would ride into town, thinking he could take over by force. But instead of getting his way, he’d learn his lesson—not just by the law, but by good people standing together, looking out for each other, and refusing to be ruled by fear. The real strength wasn’t in the bully trying to take over—it was in the community that stood firm in what was right. But, here we are.
Jesus is clearly above politics, yet His ways of love, grace, peace, and equal justice should be our foundation. Jesus didn’t align Himself with earthly political parties—He stood above them. His ways should be the foundation for how we live, vote, and lead. Yet today, we see people claiming His name while pushing fear, division, and control—things that look nothing like Jesus.
Christian nationalism isn’t Christian (following Jesus) or for America’s democracy. Instead, it is one of the greatest threats to both Christianity (followers of Jesus) and democracy today. It seeks to merge Christian identity with American identity, distorting both in the process. It teaches that to be a “good American,” one must be Christian —while ignoring the fact that Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) and that our faith binds us to Christ, not a nation (Philippians 3:20).
As Christians (followers of Jesus), our faith teaches us everyone is created in God’s image and commands us to love one another. As Americans, we value our system of government and the good that can be accomplished in our constitutional democracy.
Christian nationalism distorts the gospel, provides cover for white supremacy, and conflates religious authority with political power, turning faith into a weapon rather than a witness. It is an idolatrous movement that leads to oppression, violence, and spiritual emptiness.
Faithful patriotism does not require nationalistic idolatry. Being a Christian (follower of Jesus) does not mean being blind to injustice. Being a patriot does not mean worshiping a political leader. Our country is strongest when we honor religious freedom, pluralism, and equal standing for all people, regardless of faith or background.
“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
If that sounds too liberal, you might need to take another look at who Jesus was and is—because those words weren’t mine, they were Paul’s.
It’s time to stand up and speak out. If we truly follow Jesus, we cannot allow His name to be used to justify corruption, cruelty, and authoritarian control.
Christian nationalism is a distortion of the gospel and a threat to democracy, and Strong Men aren’t for you but themselves. And if we don’t resist it now, we will wake up to find both our faith and our country in ruins.
