Kenneth LaPrade lives in El Paso, Texas, on the border between the United States and Mexico. His wife is Mexican and many of the folks in his house church are from Mexico. In such a context, immigration is always a touchy subject, but lately some Christians have baptized certain political rhetoric and presented it as “the” Christian position on this complicated issue. LaPrade sees this as merely one aspect of the much larger problem of Christians trying to take power in America as if establishing God’s kingdom here, now. In this interview, he urges us to retain the bible’s teaching about the future kingdom and see ourselves as Christians first and Americans (or Mexicans) second.
Here’s the text of Ken LaPrade’s statement on how Christians should orient themselves politically that inspired this interview:
I honestly feel a bit frustrated concerning the following situation (which I will briefly describe), and I believe its persistence is related to Satan’s tricks to promote biblical unawareness concerning the priority of the future kingdom. I know that my attempted reminders, in certain cases, keep falling on deaf ears. Please, pray concerning this highly distracting issue.
I am earnestly still prayerfully concerned about so-called Christian efforts at erroneous “kingdom NOW” thinking – such as an obsession with American politics, either defending or demonizing “Trump” or current social or political trends.
I personally work with several immigrants who have been quite hurt by very strange, insensitive comments (even bullying remarks) posted quite publicly as if representing a “Christian” perspective!
In my estimation, ALL such misguided trends (either to justify or condemn pagan leaders in a pagan nation) are a failure (among so-called Christians) to really grasp the Kingdom of God as FUTURE!
Present hurtful rhetoric is tantamount (in my assessment) to the hypothetical absurdity of retroactively getting 1st century Christians to hotly debate whether Tiberius, Nero, or Domitian were better or worse for the Roman Empire! As is obvious, 1st century Christians were far too future Kingdom focused to be so distracted!
We, as 21st century Christians, do not help anyone by being seduced into speaking for one side or another of two (or more) warring camps of Gentile hate-mongers who are ruled in typically corrupt Gentile fashion!
“Christian” pop-culture labels pasted on political & social movements do not “Christianize” blatant disregard for Jesus himself. Neither do they “COVER” for outright demonic evil – whether from “the left” or from “the right.”
We’d be better off suffering NOW for obeying him, rather than getting bamboozled by a pseudo-Christian ( with NO Future Kingdom focus) bandwagon to get our way now – as if entitled …. by an “American idol.”
Biblically speaking, the USA, and all current nations (Gentiles by nature) await JUST dismantling when our true theocratic King (Jesus) comes to reign. I still pray that King Jesus’ perspective NOW have the priority that it should have, at least among those who try to faithfully await his much needed intervention.
—— Links ——
- Get in touch with Kenneth LaPrade at ldc84jpm@yahoo.com
- Listen to Interview 14: Ken LaPrade’s Baptism Journey
- Read articles by LaPrade that he wrote for Glad Tidings
- Books mentioned in this interview:
- The Coming Kingdom: What Is the Kingdom and How Is Kingdom Now Theology Changing the Focus of the Church? by Andy Woods
- Myth of a Christian Nation by Gregory Boyd
- In God We Don’t Trust by David Bercot
- Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
We love the use of one of our favorites Proverbs 17.15.
Also, encouraging people to read on this perspective.
Thanks
I’m encouraged to hear this podcast because it does reflect what I have also concluded is a more godly balance. On one hand we should exercise some degree of responsibility for our government and society, but always keep it as a lower priority than the coming kingdom.
It is unreasonable and unfair to classify immigrants as a group, whether legal or illegal as being violent criminals any more than our own society as a whole. That is not to say we should not protect our borders. But we should have a godly attitude, not a racist mindset when it comes to treating immigrants as inferior beings. All Americans, even the “native Americans” are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from somewhere.
Why does every political podcast on here sound like an ad for the Democratic party? This man is a leftist thru and thru, getting all of his talking points from the left.
Jesus never encouraged the use of the power of government to take from the “rich”against their will and give to others. He talks about obeying the laws of the land, then defends those who, as their first act of entering the country, break the law. Trump’s point was that people not entering the country in a legal manner are much more likely to be a criminal element. Is that really so unreasonable? This guy is talkng about a statement about one type of immigrant (illegal border jumpers) and applying it to all immigration. Just like”all Christians hate gay people.”
Your New York upbringing shines thru Sean.
Ron, there are 4 Supreme Court decisions that support the 10th Amendment, which basically informs all Americans that the Federal Government cannot mandate any state, municipality, or citizen to enforce any law not based in our Constitution, which includes immigration laws. Then there is the “free exercise” clause of the 1st Amendment which affirms all citizens the right to practice their religion unencumbered by the Government. Love your neighbor as yourself is (according to Paul) the fulfillment of the law. Add to this that statistics prove Trump is lying about undocumented persons being rapists etc. The fact is they are the least likely to offend as they fear deportation. Also, Republicans like to avoid Reagan’s support for immigrates as they do the jobs most Americans find demeaning, like farm and dairy work. Have you ever fact checked Trump, or do you simply believe his lies?
I somewhat disagree with your points here Jon. Why you would think this podcast reflects an ad for the Democratic party or is leftist is a little strange, unless you want to label Jesus as a leftist. I highly recommend Pastor Brian Zahnd’s book “A Farewell to Mars.” Jesus said to pay taxes or to “give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s….. Perhaps the government might make taxing of people make certain people (Rich ones) feel like the government is unfair to them, but this isn’t against what Jesus taught. Actually, when the rich man asked how he could get into heaven was told in the end to give all he had away and give it to the poor. That was the one thing the rich man couldn’t do, and thus doesn’t receive the kingdom. How someone enters the country isn’t spoken about in Mathew 24 beginning at vs 31, but Jesus is quite clear what will be expected when he returns. Nowhere does Jesus talk about love of country or anything else, but he does talk about judgement for all nations and who will be set apart and saved and who will be cast out. We are members of His kingdom now, and with that we have citizenship. Our citizenship here pales to insignificance. Paul says to focus on the unseen, not on the seen and the future kingdom, of which those saved are now citizens, should be obedient to the rules of that kingdom. If you are having trouble loving your enemy, you should adjust as that is a command from our savior…not a suggestion. God bless.
Conservatives claim to be the defenders of Christian morality and then put a serial fornicator, adulterer, reviling liar in the White House. While Jesus did not teach the redistribution of wealth, he did say: Luke 6:20-26
20 And turning His gaze on His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23 “Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. 25 “Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets. NASB
Jesus also said:
John 14:15-21
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 “After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also. 20 “In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.” NASB
Paul warned us about those like Trump and the GOP’s love of money:
2 Timothy 3:1-8
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. 6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. NASB
Trump and his followers love to revile those who disagree with his policies and lies.
Paul also wrote:
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler — not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves. NASB
The political Christian right fails to judge its own behavior while at the same time sitting in judgment on those outside the church. This leads me to discern that this group of Christians is in apostasy and are fulfilling this:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
2 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
NASB
Those who support the reviling lovers of money would do well to remember this:
Matthew 7:15-23
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ NASB
Or as Paul wrote:
Ephesians 5:3-14
3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.” NASB
To Robert Stephenson, voters did not put Trump in the White House anymore than they put Obama or W. God is in control of this world as He leads us into the establishment of His kingdom under His Christ, Jesus. Romans 13:1; Dan 2:19-23; Dan 2:37-38
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. NASB
Satan is the god of this world (or age), and as I posted above, God sends a deluding influence to those Christians who reject His truth.
As well as the books previously recommended, I would also endorse the following relatively unbiased source for those who care to look more into roots behind much of the modern rhetoric: One Nation Under God by Kevin M. Kruse. Ken
To Robert Stephenson, so does the bible contradict itself? The scriptures I mentioned state that God establishes governments and authorities, not Satan.
No, the Bible does not contradict itself. Trump’s authority is derived from the US Constitution, which is the governing authority of the United States. What I disagree with is your interpretation of those Scriptures.
Anybody who votes Democrat is encouraging homosexuality, racial division, abortion/infanticide, chaos, violence, godlessness, transgender, anti freedom of religion, atheism, Darwinism and every vile thing that the left produces. It is not against the Gospel to lock your door at night nor protect the border. Sitting by while cultural marxist, open border, wicked ideology destroys the USA, which is a blessing to all who live here and come here legally is NOT loving your neighbor!
Levi, did you listen to the interview? The whole point of it was that Christians should not attack each other based on their political positions. Yet, this is precisely what you have done here. LaPrade’s point is that Christ comes first not your politics. It sounds to me (based on your comment) that Republicans are your true brothers, not Christians. Furthermore, we clearly said that immigrants should not enter the US illegally since that is against the law.
This is a good reminder. And an exhortation to me to quit spending so much time listening to political radio, LOL.
Since I tend to get upset at the actions of certain “bad actors” – not HOLLYWOOD “bad actors” – and the other side are usually no great prize, either!
One verse that comes to mind is one in Proverbs: Most men proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
As I understand it, it’s a way of saying that talk is cheap, whereas ACTUALLY LIVING a godly life is a lot harder to find, and more costly. Well worth it, though to at least TRY.
This morning I gave a copy of bucks to this guy I’ve seen in Manhattan for several months now collecting money for the homeless. Faithfully, and I think he actually CARES about those people. I told, “there are a lot of scam artists out there, and that’s why I hesitate.”