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It is as simple and as complex as this. 21st-century Christian nationalists are to America what 1st-century Judaizers were to Israel.

Jesus spoke against them. So did Paul and the prophets. And before my trip to Greece, I dabbled some in warning people but that was a battle I did not see as mine. One I did not want to take on.

I saw it as a "evangelical Christian problem." It was their problem. Let them fix their problem.

But it is all of our problem as followers of Jesus Christ. Because it is now forcibly mandating how we are to live, educate our children and live freely our lives.

It is driving people, especially young people, away from the church because they see the hypocrisy. And many are too blind to see that the problem is the problematic church. The most vocal church people preach one thing to the rest of us, yet live as they want.

It is for freedom Christ died for us all. We are free to choose or not. Believe or not believe. They speak the words but have hearts of stone except for their own.

It's how the religious of Jesus' day could so easily lead the charge to crucify the very One they had waited decades for as foretold by the prophets.

Be leery of anyone speaking the language of Christianity without love and compassion for people. Watch how they live not what comes from their lips. Without the correct application of scripture. Applying it only to fit a political and social ideology or construct.  

We need wise, bold, knowledgeable leaders unafraid and unashamed to push back against this heresy that is destroying the people of God, dividing our communities, cities, states, and nation, and minimizing justice and righteousness for all.

Those who claim to be for right but keep their mouth shut for fear of offending those with deep pockets and big platforms, thus shutting off the spigot of dollars and open doors. They should be ashamed. I have tuned many out though I still count them as friends.

But as the Apostle Paul asked the believers in Corinth, “What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you are so great, and as though you have accomplished something on your own?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

What do any of us have that God didn't provide or need that he won't provide? We need righteousness, not self-righteous, controlling, religious dogma.

Not those claiming some mysteriously Christian "special knowledge" as so many of them claim to have. There is no one given in this century  "special knowledge" nor has God given anyone or any religion a special assignment to lord their religion over the rest of us.

In fact, Jesus taught the opposite. They speak in broad  terms of "America First," "Christian nation," and " biblical worldview," as it pertains to governments and systems, governing bodies, curriculums, statutes, and especially if they speak of having a mandate from God to guard the "gates of the city."

These are not evil people but seriously misguided people who believe they have been given special powers, special mandates, and special orders directly from God.

Some will come to you speaking in "tongues." Claiming to have special knowledge or a word from God for the nations or for cities. These people have control now of many state legislatures and their goal is to take over cities, then states, then the nation. And it is up to us, who know better to teach better. As did Jesus. As did the Apostles.

All of this sounds like a Steven Spielberg movie but it is our reality in America. It did not end well for Israel in the 1st century and it will not end well for America in the 21st.

The self-imposed shackles are off my feet. My mind is as clear as the Aegean Sea and my heart beats for truth in governing and serving and educating people.

If I am like the salmon swimming upstream I am confident in knowing there were those before me who did the same. There are always those in every generation. This happens to be my generation. Your generation. Our generation.

And when it is all said and done I want it said of me as it was with many of old that I "served the purposes of God in my generation."

I used to be one of those folks. God called me out from among them but until this two-week long sabbatical of sorts to the ancient cities of the Bible, I didn't have the confidence.

Now I do. What can these people do to me? One word, nothing.

What has God done for me? One word, everything. All to Him I owe. And I owe people nothing but an obligation as commanded by Jesus to love them.