Halftime and America’s New Religion

I have been asked for my thoughts on the TPUSA halftime show. I did not watch either halftime show—or the Super Bowl, for that matter—and cannot remember the last time I saw one. I spent last night fellowshipping with a group of pastors. That said, by all accounts, I am glad I didn’t watch.

​I am a very active pastor in engaging the issues of the day and interacting with governmental figures (I speak and meet with politicians on policy issues nearly every week), but I do not attend political rallies. I have met with presidential candidates and a small group of pastors prior to their events and then left before the event, despite having a seat reserved in preferred areas. Simply put, I am not called to represent a party; I represent the Kingdom. Pastors, our voice is not FOR them, it is TO them.

​Thus, it is with a heavy heart that I have listened to my colleagues describe the “alternative” show. I cannot critique it, because I have not seen it and will not be seeing it. But, by all accounts, it sounds like something that has been happening in an increasing manner in this nation: politically motivated events that seek to present themselves as inherently Christian. We even see partisan rallies blur the lines with mimic worship services and vice versa. It is a cheap grift, and is being perpetrated by those on both sides, the church and the politicos.

​I firmly believe our nation has a Christian foundation, but it was never intended for the lines between political parties and Christianity to be erased.

​Since the days of our founding fathers, politics has always included religion, but now we see a dangerous shift; for many, politics has become religion.

​This new religion is complete with its own saints, martyrs, and evangelists. We see politicians being venerated with cult-like tenacity and influencers, claiming to speak primarily as Christians, who engage politics with a zeal that should be reserved for the gospel.

​We see new liturgy, new icons, and these weird new rally/worship services where the collective energy of the audience—having been whipped into a frenzy by speakers who glide between vulgarity and piety with ease and song sets that perfectly blend nostalgic anthems of Americana with religious standards—is directed not toward God, but toward action at the ballot box or an expression of hatred of our political opponents.

​We are steadily trending toward a Christianity that confuses polarized opinion with righteous discernment, political fervor with spiritual unction, and devotion to party/personality with religious conviction.

​In the end, a movement that changes minds but does not transform hearts will have fleeting results and leave its adherents disappointed and lost. The only answer for hearts, including the “heart” of the nation, is Jesus, and He is no more apt to be co-opted by today’s zealots than He was by those who desired a political Messiah during His time among us.

​A rock concert with Christ’s name scribbled at the end is not a faith moment. A rally with a hymn is no church service. Politicians are not our saviors. Politics cannot be our religion. You cannot change a nation without a gospel that first changes hearts.

​Politicians want a voting bloc. Influencers want clout. Organizations want money. Parties want power.

​Christians should be more concerned with what God wants: a church that doesn’t sacrifice holiness for relevance or trade its witness for access.

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