The above two links are to a new article on Charisma News from NAR dominionist extraordinaire, Jim Garlow. His organization is devoted to the goals of dominionism. His website is a frightening reminder of someone using Christianity as a thin veil over a political organization. Now I do not know Mr. Garlow and I do not have to. Perhaps he is well deceived and deceiving others as so many who are unwittingly wrapped up and leveraged within the NAR. Maybe he truly believes the nonsense he represents. It matters not to the cause of the gospel. The true gospel has nothing to do with electing leaders, passing legislation or seeking a revival from that which has always been dead. The new cause du jour on the political right in this country are the small band of Canadian truckers blocking the border between America and Canada. They are upset because the Canadian government mandates vaccines and masks. Never mind that all of the science agrees with the government. Never mind that 90% of Canadian truckers are actually vaccinated. It actually has nothing to do with that anymore because political operatives, such as Jim Garlow, have taken it over. This is a battle of science versus ignorance. This thread of people who refuse to listen to common sense has probably always existed in our society but with the advent of social media, they now have a platform to connect and feel supported within their sphere of ignorance. I expect the Tucker Carlson's of the world to do what they do because they are grifters making money off of it. It is the Garlow's of the world that bother me because he drags Jesus Christ into this mess and pretends that breaking the law, thumbing your nose at authority and general obliviousness are somehow Christian virtues. They are not. These two articles from Garlow are long but I will try to respond to all because it is important that someone still holds to what the bible actually says. So let us reason together once more beloved.
"In 1978, God looked down on America and could not find enough bold pastors to stand up, so He said, "I am going to find an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, with a Ph.D. in child development, and I am going to prepare him to do what I need done." So God raised a young Dr. James Dobson to a position of national and international influence for righteousness. In 1980, God looked down on America and could not find enough bold pastors to stand up, so He said, "I am going to find a Hollywood actor who has been divorced, once a liberal, and I am going to prepare him to do what I need done." So God raised Ronald Reagan to a national and international position of influence for righteousness. In 1990, God looked down on America and could not find enough bold pastors to stand up, so He said, "I am going to find a football coach at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and he is going to launch a movement for men called "Promise Keepers." So God raised Bill McCartney to a position of national and international influence for righteousness." - Jim Garlow
The premise of the first article is to point to people Garlow thinks have been crucial in the world and credit their rise to God Himself. This is not about permissive will. God certainly allowed these people to proceed in what they did. That does not mean that God couldn't find pastors so He turned to these folks. That is just absurd and completely carnal. When Garlow says that God couldn't find any bold pastors, he just means pastors willing to preach politics from the pulpit instead of the gospel. Who however does he start with here? James Dobson is as radical an NAR dominionist as Garlow. He has been plying his trade for decades trying to convince people they could only be Christians if they vote as he commands. Ronald Reagan? God did not raise Ronald Reagan up. I will not even get into he myriad of unchristian endeavors by his administration because it would not even be fair to Reagan, who was president not pope. Promise keepers? Just do a Google search and see how they are essentially ecumenical in their desire to obliterate doctrine. I think I'd rather listen to the "unbold" pastors bring the gospel than these three.
"In 2016, God looked down on America and could not find enough bold pastors to stand up, so He said, "I am going to find a braggadocious New York City billionaire who has owned casinos, has been a playboy, is in his third marriage and tweets too much, and I am going to prepare him to do what I need done." So God raised up Donald Trump to a position of national and international influence for righteousness." - Jim Garlow
C'mon. First of all Garlow keeps downplaying serious sin as if it doesn't matter to God. Yes, God will use anyone or anything for His glory but that does not mean everyone and everything. Trump was not just on his third marriage but he committed infidelity in all of them! He bragged about grabbing women by their genitals because he was famous. The notion that God looked down in America and could not find enough bold pastors so he turned to Donald Trump is simply stupid. It denigrates God. This gives you an insight however into where Jim Garlow is coming from. His concerns are political in nature, not Christian. Trump influenced for righteousness? Once again, c'mon.
