Informed voting is an NAR catch phrase that means Republican voting. As already pointed out there are some redeemable facets of both political parties and things that one could twist to fit the narrative of being more "Christian." The NAR wants you to only look at two issues and ignore everything else. Those issues are then reinforced through the pulpit, so we are conditioned to think they are all God cares about. Except God cares about people besides us too. He cares about people dying in other countries as well. He cares about the people we are conditioned to hate, or be fearful of. He cares about impoverishing poor people. He cares about the widow and the orphan. These are all points that do not point one towards the Republican Party at all but make no mistake about this. That is exactly what Dr. Brown is trying to do. His hypocrisy is also showing because the very people he supports vigorously, are the very people with the nasty, ugly, mocking lives on display. Not to mention Brown's primary vehicle for his writing is Charisma News, and there is no greater bastion of Republican NAR talking points than this. They routinely run absolute partisan hackery. This is the illusion Brown always tries to sell. That he is somehow spiritually above the carnal fray, floating in the clouds for Jesus. Out of the other side of his mouth however he calls the president unfit while ignoring the 34 times convicted adulterer, sex offender and liar solely because of the party he is in. Oh, but he is denouncing partisan political cesspools, right.
"As Jacob (James) said, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water" (James 3:9-12, NIV). Surely, when our whole nation is shaking and uncertainty rules the day, we can step higher and do better and shine like lights in dark places"all while staying politically active. Put another way, whether America recognizes it or not, our nation desperately needs the church to be the church, to proclaim our faith, live out our faith and offer the hope of the gospel, the most powerful force on earth to transform hearts and lives. Let us, then, prioritize our role as followers of the Lord." - Dr. Michael Brown
Listen, we can shine light in the dark and be politically active. The problem is when we mix them. The problem is that people like Dr. Brown unequivocally supports those who preach partisan politics directly from the pulpit. Brown has it a little confused though. America needs the gospel, not the church. God has ordained the church as His vehicle for delivering the gospel but today it no longer does that. Instead, it mixes faith so deeply with carnal politics that the lost see the church for what the church cannot see itself as - corrupt, hypocritical and absolutely worldly. I do not doubt that Dr. Brown thinks he prioritizes the gospel but the reality is that he pays lip service to such, as this in article, but even within that he cannot help but spew GOP talking points and NAR coded language.
"In that light, here are some dangerous tendencies to avoid:
" We wrap the gospel in the American flag (or any national or state flag).
" We equate our country with the kingdom of God.
" We confuse patriotism with spirituality.
" We compromise our ethics to keep our party (or leader) in power.
" Our church/denomination/ministry becomes an appendage of a political party.
" We put more trust in earthly methods than in spiritual methods.
" We marry the cause of Christ to the cause of a political party (or leader) as if they were one and the same.
" We become as vulgar and rude as the candidates we follow.
