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BY RON WINTER

In the 1960s the liberals of a socialistic/communistic persuasion began to put forth a lie that politics was a dirty business that decent persons, especially Christians, should not participate in it, i.e., get their hands dirty. This was slowly but purposely put forward by the media. Far too many Christians  bought this lie thus Christian participation in the government began to decline.

These Christians did not review our nation’s history when Christians regularly participated in the government and political process. These Christians became weaklings and did not have the fortitudes to stand up for what they believed. Neither did they think about the needs of their fellow citizens nor did they look at the end results of their lack of participation. They developed the attitude of not wanting to be involved; i.e., just leave us alone. This is a negative position that refuses to deal with the sinful nature of man/society – i.e., freedom is not free. 

If you do not have a Christian worldview reflected in your government then what worldview will you be governed or controlled by? What worldview will your children be controlled by? If it does not have a Christian influence, you and/or your children will be eventually oppressed; i.e., you will lose your rights of free speech and free assembly. This has been proven over and over again in history.

During this same time frame the lifestyle of Lynden Johnson was being deservedly criticized  by several Christian leaders/ministers (He did not want people to hear the truth). As you would expect from a liberal politician, Johnson attempted to stop the criticism by adding an amendment to a bill that stated that if a church or minister took a political stand relative to any politician or political endeavor the church would lose their tax exempt status. In essence they were not allowed to speak on political issues from the pulpit or over the radio or other media.  This passed and became law. Unfortunately the majority of the ministers, somewhat blinded by fear, accepted this edict. They should have stood together against this law and declared that the ruling was unconstitutional and took the issue to the courts.

As a result today virtually no minister will discuss politically related issues in the church which is the opposite of the past. It was ministers that came out of their pulpits (Black Robed Regiment) and fought in the Revolutionary War to establish this nation and the freedom of speech/religion.  Throughout American history up to the late 1960s, ministers took part in political decisions/issues. Look where non-participation has got us today – erosion of the freedom of speech, attacks on the 2nd Amendment, treating the perpetrators of sinful behavior better than the offended, an unjust judicial system, etc. As historian William “Bill” Federer said in his recent book “SILENCE EQUALS CONSENT” – the sin of omission. We are there, teetering on the brink of moral and ethical collapse. And all of you, whether Christian, conservative or liberal, who are non-participants or who straddle the fence your day of oppression is coming. The day when your participation could have made a difference will be  gone.

Once the government is filled with people of a liberal worldview they move past feeling; i.e., don’t feel they need God. Which means they no longer feel for others instead they work to remain in office, maintain power and increase their wealth; i.e. greed takes over. That is when oppression begins and the weaponization of the police and justice system occurs. This is to secure their position and maintain control. Lies and deception become a way of political life. We are seeing evidence of this in our nation today.

If you are a non-participating citizen I urge you to search for the truth (facts) then participate for your sake and for that of future generations. Remember it is the summation of all the votes that determine the direction of the nation. But even the minority votes tell those in leadership that there are some concerns that they should be aware of. So don’t fall for the temptation that “my vote doesn’t count.”

(Ron Winter, retired, lives in Elizabethton, and is a professing Christian and church member)