Letter to the Editor Response to Pastor Ken Gurley
- Rick Scarborough
- Sep 20, 2010
I’m saddened that Pastor Ken Gurley misinterprets my message. In his posting of September 18, 2010 (Click here to view), Pastor Gurley suggests that I’m calling on pastors to be politically active for the sake of politics – that I view preachers as just another constituency to be mobilized and activated to achieve my political goals.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I am not – and let me be clear about this – calling on preachers to be involved in politics for the sake of politics – but for Jesus’ sake.
Currently, many pastors aren’t preaching the full Gospel – the Gospel that acknowledges that we have citizenship on earth as well as in Heaven. Until he returns, our Lord commanded us to be proactive in the work of redemption, and that includes confronting and redeeming the culture.
With an eye on Heaven, we must also be concerned with the things of this world which impact souls and salvation, including the operations of our government.
To cite but one example, this week the Senate is expected to vote on the current Defense Authorization Bill. As crafted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, it would repeal Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell and force Christian doctors and medical personnel to perform abortions on military bases around the world and provide amnesty to illegal aliens in exchange for military service.
The provision regarding abortion will force medical personnel of conscience to either resign from the military or do something they believe is morally wrong. Regarding Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, lifting the ban on homosexuals will be used to remove from the ranks any military personnel, including Christians, who are unwilling to affirm a lie – that there is nothing sinful about homosexual conduct. The issue of amnesty should be debated thoroughly in the halls of Congress as opposed to cowardly hiding it in a Defense Authorization Bill.
Finally, I would say to my dear brother in Christ, Pastor Gurley, that some of the greatest soul-winning pastors of the past generation were active in politics, including Dr. D. James Kennedy (Presbyterian), Dr. Jerry Falwell (Baptist) and Dr. Bill Bright , who built the largest missionary force in the world -- Campus Crusade for Christ.
None of them made the choice between walking “before God in prayerful humility” and fighting the growing darkness in this country and world, with the weapons God has provided for us to use. Neither should we.
Sincerely,
Pastor Rick Scarborough, D. Min.
President of VisionAmericaAction.org
