The United States of America was, contrary to some people, founded on Christian beliefs. The pilgrims and early settlers came to the United States because of the persecution they received in Europe specifically in England and Germany and other countries where the right to practice Christianity as the Bible laid it out was well not just frowned upon but legal. You could be thrown in jail for holding biblical beliefs that were contrary to the Church of England or to the Catholic Church.
And so settlers came to the United States, long before it was the United States, in order that they might be able to practice Biblical Christianity.
And we might argue whether or not they actually succeeded whether they were actually practicing Biblical Christianity. And it really just depends on what variety of Christianity we’re talking about.
Well, the same is true today. We might look at various types of Christianity various variants of Christianity and say I’m not so sure that’s a biblically sound version of faith and that is really what we have always struggled with in Christianity trying to find the most, well, the most pure form of our faith.
There are a lot of things that people are offended by. In fact, the Bible is very clear that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is an offense to those who are perishing.
Now what does it mean those who are perishing? Well, according to Scripture the only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ the Son. Now people don’t like that particular statement but Jesus was very plain, and let’s face it divisive, in his statement that he was and is the way the truth and the life, that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
Now you can certainly reject that. You can certainly say I don’t think that is a very loving form of Christianity, and I don’t prefer to believe it that’s what Jesus meant. You know I don’t know what else you could take away from his words but I believe Jesus clearly taught that there was only one way to have a relationship with God.
Now again this is Christianity. These are the teachings of Jesus Christ; that He came from the Father and that the Father sent him into this world to live the life that he did and that everything that he did he did at the behest of God the Father.
Everything that he did was to follow his father’s commandments from the healings from the miracles even the feeding of the 5000 and all the different numbers of people that he fed, miraculously.
The walking on water. The raising of Lazarus from the dead that all these things were commanded by the Father and Jesus obeyed. And this includes subjecting himself to death even the death upon the cross. These are fundamental tenets of our faith. If we believe. That Jesus is the Son of God and that he came for the express purpose of saving our souls, well, this is what we believe.
Jesus taught this very clearly. Now most Christians are very happy to quote from John 3:16.
You know most of us learn this in vacation Bible school. Most of us learn this in some other place at church.
John 3:16 is a beautiful expression of God’s love. When Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever should believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
Now we should understand that this is an exclusive statement he says for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that who whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
I repeat that again because Notice he says that we must believe in him. We must believe in the Son of God to have everlasting life. This is what is established in Scripture.
It goes on to say, I should say the Lord goes on to say, in verse 17:
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world. But that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in him is not condemned but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world and men love the darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light. That his deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in God.”
I read all this because it’s important to understand the underpinnings of Christian faith and this is the gospel of Jesus Christ, that we must come to the light. Jesus Himself is the light we must repent of our wicked deeds, we must repent of our sin and come to him for salvation.
OK, now I make that point because it is at the core of Biblical Christianity. Now I do understand there are other variants of Christianity that are not so biblical, but I’m not dealing with those because in our nation we have as our first amendment that Congress will not pass any law to stifle the freedom of religion.
Obviously that’s not a direct quote, but really what we have in the Constitution of the United States is this right to practice peacefully our religion. To say “hey, look I love you, God loves you” and there’s already condemnation on our lives when we do not come to Jesus Christ repenting of our sins and confessing our sins and accepting the free gift of salvation. Look that is Biblical Christianity, summarized. And I think John chapter 3 gives us that summary quite nicely.
It’s not complete. It’s not everything. It’s not all inclusive of Christianity, but it is a good summary of how you come to Jesus and the condition of the world around us.
OK. So I say all this because you know the title is “No Room for Christians.” Well, Bernie Sanders this week, you know the senator from Vermont who was running for president that godless progressive who embraces what he calls democratic socialism what I call slavery and stealing.
He opposed a nominee that Donald Trump put up for the deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget a, bean counter and accountant.
And this was Russell Vought and Russell Vought is a Christian. He’s a believer in Jesus Christ and as a Christian, he believes that salvation through Jesus Christ can only be found in Jesus Christ. He believes that salvation is just what I described from the Scriptures.
And the reason that this all came up is because Russell Vaught wrote an article defending this belief. In a publication known as the Resurgent he was defending in 2016 his alma mater Wheaton College.
Now you might remember that Wheaton College had a professor, a female professor, who basically said that Islam is also a way to heaven. That you can get to the Father through the false teachings of Islam and through the false god of Islam and through its false prophet.
I am always careful to say these things because, well, I’m a Christian.
I’m a Christian pastor and I too believe that a relationship with God is exclusively through Jesus Christ. Now you have the right and everyone else in America has the right to disagree with that view.
You can believe that Islam is the way you can believe that Buddhism is the way and through their false teachings that is how you get to whatever version of heaven you believe you’re going to get to that’s fine. I’m not going to take away or right or say that you don’t have the right to say such things, but, if such a teacher raises their head in a Christian college that I’ve been a part of or that I have supported in the past and I believe that they’ve held to Christian values in the past, I think it’s important for me and others to call them out on that. And that is exactly what Vought did.
He actually said no that’s not right. If we hold Christian values Christian values teach that Jesus is the only way. And you can believe what you want about Islam and other religions but that’s not appropriate in the setting of Wheaton College because this is a Christian college and we hold Christian values.
And so he was laying out a theological statement. Well, as this man was being confirmed by the Senate to hold this accounting position. He was quite literally attacked by Senator Bernie Sanders for holding these Christian views.
And so what I’m going to read (now. I thought about actually downloading the audio and playing it, but I don’t tend to do that on this show so I would prefer to read) what was said and comment that way because I think it is important. And I also want to be careful not to trample on copyright issues by playing audio that I don’t own the rights to.
So Senator Bernie Sanders said in questioning Mr. Vought, he said, “Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ His Son and they stand condemned. Do you believe that statement is Islamophobic.
Well, Mr. Vought replied, “Absolutely not Senator. I am a Christian and I believe in a Christian set of principles based on my faith…”
And Bernie Sanders interrupted him saying, “Forgive me. We just don’t have a lot of time. Do you believe people in the Muslim religion stand condemned? Is that your view?”
Vought said again, “Senator, I’m a Christian and I wrote that piece in accordance with the statement of faith at Wheaton College.
Bernie Sanders interrupts again. “I understand that. I don’t know how many Muslims there are in America. Maybe a couple million. Are you suggesting that these people stand condemned? What about Jews? Did they stand condemned to.
Vaught replies, “Senator, I am a Christian.
Sanders shouting shouting at this point saying, “I understand you are a Christian but this country is made of people who are not just, I understand that Christianity is the majority religion, but there are other people of different religions in this country and around the world. In your judgment do you think that people who are not Christians are going to be condemned.
Vought says, “Thank you for probing on that question. As a Christian I believe that all individuals are made in the image of God and are worthy of dignity and respect regardless of their religious beliefs. I believe that as a Christian that’s how I should treat all individuals.”
Sanders replies, “Do you think that’s respectful of other religions. I would simply say Mr. Chairman that this nominee is really not someone who this country is supposed to be about.”
Well, come on, this is a core teaching of Christianity that Americans have held since the founding of this country. We should understand that correctly that Bernie Sanders is actually violating the First Amendment by attacking Mr. Vought’s religion, by attacking his Christianity.
Look, we have, You know we should make no secret that the Gospel is exclusive that Jesus actually makes statements that exclude people. Jesus said there is only one way to the Father and that is through the Son.
Again, if you don’t believe that, if you don’t accept that you can reject it at your own peril. You can reject that.
Christians believe that you have the right to reject that. A biblically based Christian holds that you have the right to believe whatever you want as long as it’s not violent against me, as long as it’s not destructive.
You can believe what you want and even if it is destructive you know as we limit what we’re going to do.
If you break a law then you’re going to be arrested for breaking that law not for your religion. Now if your religion, causes you to break a law, well, you need to re-examine your religion even in Christianity.
As a pastor I believe it is my duty to come against those that would kill an abortion doctor or those that perform abortions even though I am with all my heart soul and mind opposed to abortion. Christians are not allowed to go and carry out the judgment of God to be judge jury and executioner.
That is not the authority given to any Christian. Just as the Bible might say that adulterers should be stoned. Well you don’t have the authority to stone anybody just because you believe the Bible teaches that.
I don’t have the right to stone anyone just because I know that there is a death sentence so those that commit adultery you know we all have death sentences hanging over us we have the condemnation because of the sins we’ve committed if we’ve committed murder adultery in our hearts. Guess what. There’s a death sentence hanging over us.
We need to ask the Lord for forgiveness and have that death sentence removed. The wages of sin are death. That’s true of all sin.
[00:17:20] So as Christians we might believe something but that if it’s contrary to the laws of the United States you have to remember that the Bible also gave the laws to Israel. There are death penalties in the United States for committing certain crimes just like there is a death penalty in Israel.
If they were operating according to the Bible as their actual law if that were active completely in Israel right now then yeah a person would be stoned for committing adultery.
If they had two witnesses brought against them and went through the legal process just like here in the United States if you murdered someone. If you’re in a state that allows the death penalty and you went through the legal process as a murderer, then 30 years later you might be executed for committing murder.
So what we need to understand is that Bernie Sanders is, well, bigoted against Biblical Christianity. The actual carrying out of one’s faith includes sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ but also making clear the condemnation of rejecting that good news.
That there is already condemnation for all people unless you come to Jesus Christ and come to him in faith with repentance. You know, you have to mourn for your sins. You have to actually believe that sin is evil and wrong and should not be conducted.
[00:19:11] And as a result you should change direction. That’s Biblical Christianity. Bernie Sanders does not like that. Bernie Sanders is offended by the Gospel and he does not believe that biblically focused Christians should serve in the United States government.
Well, Bernie Sanders owes Mr. Vought and the United States an apology. He is wrong and he is opposing the Constitution of the United States the law of the land as has been and enacted legally by our government.
We operate by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And one of the rights one of the most basic of rights that we have is the free exercise of religion.
Even if we serve in the government.
The fact is that if an atheist sat before Bernie Sanders or a Muslim sat before Bernie Sanders, now remember that Muslims believe that their way is correct and they’ll actually kill you.
In certain countries if they have enough power. If you don’t believe in Islam. I mean that’s why people are running away from the Islamic State.
The fact is that a Muslim believes wholeheartedly that their way is correct and that there is no other way and that eventually Islam will be the only religion because all other religions will have been driven from the face of the earth.
They believe that, it is a core tenet. But I guarantee you that Bernie Sanders would not oppose a Muslim being nominated to any government position. I don’t care what it was because as I’ve stated previously I believe that Marxism, Socialism, Communism whatever variant of Marxism we are dealing with.
Even Democratic socialism.
Which I don’t really think is a thing but, whatever.
The fact is that whatever version of Marxism a person practices usually includes a godless ideology, they have rejected God in some way shape or form usually completely and totally.
That’s certainly the case with Bernie Sanders who’s ethnically, a Jew but spiritually, an atheist. It’s interesting that they will oppose Biblical Christianity or Biblical Judaism, but anything else is good to go. Anything else they’ll let through.
That’s because, you know, they share the same father. Marxism, comes from the same source as Islam. In fact, Islam, as a government, when it is instituted as a government, actually practices a lot of things that are very close to Marxism. The sharing of misery and poverty.
We need to understand that correctly. Why is it that the godless progressives are always sympathetic to Islam and Buddhism but especially Islam?
Why is it that this week as President Trump condemned the London attacks, several London attacks that have happened in the last month really, that he’s gotten so much push back from Europe, from the mayor of London, to many of the leaders in Europe and in England itself?
Well, it’s because they share a similar ideology. Islam and progressivism. They share the same spirit they share the same father if you will, the father of lies.
And Jesus is very clear.
That there’s really only two sides. There’s two roads you know, I won’t go breaking down the wide road versus the narrow road.
But in my reading of John 3 we find that the groups can also be separated into those that walk towards the light and those that are walking in darkness. The condemnation is that those who have rejected the Lord prefer the darkness to the light.
This week I started a Bible study in our church of first John. The first chapter first John, well, same writer thinking along the same lines about how if we reject God if we say that we have no sin but we actually are sinning, we are walking in darkness and there is no light in us.
So, the Bible’s very clear there are only two paths you either walk with the Lord or you walk opposed to Him. You either walk in the light or you walk in the darkness walking down the wide road or the narrow road.
However you want to break it up.
The Bible is clear there is only one way to the father. There’s only one path. There’s only one truth.
The truth is, that this world is condemned already. This is not something that Bernie Sanders can abide.
You know Americans should never be forced to choose between their faith and public service nor should the U.S. Senate try to impose a stealth litmus test that says you can be religious as long as you don’t actually believe or talk about what the Bible teaches.
Sanders, Bernie Sanders, kept up his rant and he said while there are a lot of people that. Think that Bernie Sanders is right. And. There are people that are defending. Bernie Sanders and David French wrote.
Wrote a powerful rebuke in the National Review saying, “There’s nothing extreme about Vought statements and they mirror the statements of faith of countless Christian churches and schools across the land that are these believers also not fit for public office?”
Well, I think it’s a fair quick question.
We need to hold Bernie Sanders accountable.
Everybody needs to contact his office and ask if Christianity is no longer allowed in the United States. If a person cannot serve in a government position because they believe in Biblical Christianity.
You see. In the United States, we founded this country to have the right to actually believe that Jesus is the way the truth and the life. We let everybody else in by the way. The Buddhist doesn’t believe that. The Muslim doesn’t believe that, neither do most Jews.
The fact is that we have a right to believe that Jesus is the way and they have the right to believe that Jesus is not the way.
We don’t do the condemning. That’s not our job. That’s above our pay grade. I don’t condemn you I don’t condemn anyone else.
Look, our faith is between us and the Lord. Or us and whoever you do or do not worship. You even have the right to not believe anything (which technically isn’t possible) but you have the right to believe there is no God or at least make that statement.
And I’ll defend your right to make that statement. You don’t believe in God. Hey, that’s your choice. I believe that when you stand before God it’s not going to go well for you and I’m going to tell you what I believe and you have a right to tell me to go away and not talk to you again about that sort of thing.
I mean that’s that’s our rights. I have the right to speak. You have the right not to listen. I have the right to believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the life. And you have the right to say yeah whatever. I don’t think so.
We have rights to believe what the Lord wants us to believe or to not believe what the Lord wants us to believe. We should be able to serve in government. We should be able to serve wherever we are called as long as we’re qualified to do the job.
Look, I may not like people without faith or people of another faith to be in charge of government affairs, but hey, as long as they’re qualified and don’t have a criminal record and aren’t looking to hurt people, I guess I don’t have a whole lot of choice in the matter, do I?
You know if they’re doing a bad job I have the right to criticize them, and they don’t have the right to arrest me for criticism because I have free speech and free religion.
But Bernie Sanders doesn’t want us to have those things. He doesn’t want the Biblical Christian to serve at all.
But we have the right to believe that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the life. And that’s why I recommend that you seek first the Kingdom of God in His righteousness because Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life no one comes to the Father except through Him.
May the Lord richly bless you indeed as you seek first His kingdom.
We have a right to stand up to people who oppose. These sentiments we have a right to say we have a right to believe this. May God bless you.
