America’s largest United Methodist church sends its pastor into politics
Adam Hamilton, founder and senior pastor of the 25,000-member Church of the Resurrection, is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in deeply Republican Kansas. AP reports today that Hamilton intends to continue preaching 12–18 times a year if elected, following the unusual model of Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock.
His theology is already campaign ammunition: opponents are highlighting a 2022 sermon in which Hamilton suggested salvation may be possible for non-Christians. Hmmm, interesting, that.
So, can someone simultaneously be a shepherd of Christ’s church and a partisan politician? Yeah, I think so. After all politics and religion have a lot in common, right?
And when opponents challenge a pastor’s theology during an election, Christians shouldn’t automatically dismiss that as dirty politics. If a man publicly teaches what Jesus said about salvation, we’re allowed to open the Bible and check.
Political affiliation doesn’t determine theological truth…except when it does.
Pastors are using AI—but don’t want it deciding what the Bible means
New Barna research reported today finds an interesting divide among Protestant pastors. Only 5% completely reject using AI to help interpret difficult passages, but just 10% think AI should determine which interpretation of a disputed Scripture is correct. Pastors appear increasingly willing to use AI as a research assistant while resisting the idea of treating it as a theological authority.
And this isn’t hypothetical. AI products now advertise sermon preparation, Bible studies, automatic Scripture detection, devotional writing and even sermon-series creation specifically to churches.
So What?
A concordance is a tool. Google is a tool. AI can be a tool. And it’s okay to use tools to help you understand the Bible.
The danger isn’t asking AI, “What did this Greek word mean in the first century?” The danger is asking it, “Tell me what I’m supposed to believe,” and never opening the Bible yourself.
Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman is receiving attention for a new book arguing that Christian nationalism represents a growing threat to American democracy. Huffman—the only openly nonbelieving member of Congress—argues that certain Christian political movements are attempting to merge religious authority with government power.
That argument arrives amid a broader movement in several states to introduce Ten Commandments displays, Bible-related curricula and expanded religious activity in public institutions.
Christians shouldn’t automatically panic whenever somebody says “Christian nationalism.” Nor should we pretend the danger of turning Christianity into a political tribe doesn’t exist.
Jesus said:
“My kingdom is not of this world.” — John 18:36 (KJV)
The kingdom Jesus spoke of will not come from political movements in this age. That’s worth remembering whenever politicians—left or right—try wrapping themselves in Jesus.
And while God’s everlasting Kingdom on earth is not here yet, it’s coming.
The United States has announced an “economic D-Day” against Iran—because apparently ordinary sanctions needed a movie-trailer title.
The plan threatens countries and companies that continue doing business with Iran. Washington wants to choke off Iranian revenue from shipping, aviation, technology, gold and digital assets. Iran says cooperation with the campaign could be treated as an “act of war.”
That sounds explosive. But the truth is, the threatened penalties against Iran’s trading partners have not yet been imposed. Countries are being given time to comply, and no firm enforcement schedule was announced.
This matters because words can move armies, markets and frightened people. Governments speak as though one more sanction, missile or summit will finally force history to cooperate.
Here’s a good reminder that God works with and in presidents, kings, and other temporary bigshots to achieve His grand plan, not ours.
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord… he turneth it whithersoever he will.” — Proverbs 21:1 (KJV)
Biblical prophecy doesn’t require us to label every confrontation “Armageddon.” It teaches that nations rise, threaten and scheme—but none of them controls the ending.
So What?
Watch Iran, Hormuz and the global response carefully. Just don’t confuse Washington’s press conference—or Tehran’s threats—with God’s final timetable.
Read Psalm 2, pray for peace and innocent civilians, then refuse to share any “prophecy update” you haven’t fact-checked.
China just told Washington, essentially, “No thanks.”
As the Trump administration prepares what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the “toughest sanctions in history” against Iran, the U.S. urged China to “get with the program.” Beijing refused, arguing that sanctions and military pressure will only escalate the conflict. China also happens to be Iran’s largest oil customer, although its Iranian oil imports have recently fallen sharply. (Fox News)
Cue the prophecy charts.
Whenever China, Iran and the Middle East appear in the same headline, somebody inevitably reaches for Revelation—especially the mysterious “kings of the east” in Revelation 16:12.
Could China eventually play some role in end-times events? I suppose it could. Does Revelation say, “China”? Nope.
What Scripture does describe is a world increasingly characterized by competing kingdoms, international conflict and rulers jockeying for power before Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ultimately establishes His kingdom.
Jesus warned:
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled.” — Matthew 24:6 (KJV)
Notice that last part. Don’t panic.
China backing away from American pressure on Iran is geopolitically significant. But Christians shouldn’t force today’s newspaper headlines into Biblical prophecy.
So What?
Watch carefully. Pray seriously. Read Scripture closely. And hold your predictions loosely—but your faith and hope in Jesus Christ tightly.
Read Revelation 16:12–16 yourself. Notice what the passage actually says—and, just as importantly, what it doesn’t.
While we argue about politics, celebrities, and whatever nonsense is trending today, another Christian community in Nigeria is burying its dead.
Gunmen attacked the Bin Mper community in Nigeria’s Plateau State this week, killing at least 25 people. International Christian Concern reports that 24 of the victims were Christians.
This isn’t new. Christian communities in central Nigeria have endured years of attacks, killings, burned villages, and displacement. The reasons behind the violence are complicated—land, ethnicity, politics, religion—but one fact shouldn’t get lost in all that: Christians are being killed, and most of us barely hear about it.
Do you just sit in a pew on Sunday, or do you stand on the Truth every day?
Do you ask hard questions of the pooh-bahs of Churchianity, or do you just accept the doctrinal traditions they are spoon-feeding their congregations?
Questions like these:
Does God send kids who don’t “accept Jesus” to eternal torture in a flaming hell?
If Grandma is alive and strumming a harp in heaven right now, why should we mourn her death?
Why does God allow so much pain, death, and suffering in the world?
If God has already decided everything that’s going to happen, why should I pray for my friend to recover from a disease?
Where does the Bible clearly and explicitly teach that God is three-in-one and one-in-three?
Why did Jesus have to die in order for me to be saved, and what am I being “saved” from?
Those questions, and many others, should be asked over and over again until the pooh-bahs of Churchianity can answer them with something other than “It’s a mystery we can’t comprehend, brothers and sisters…”
Remember, Jesus reserved some of His strongest words not for pagans or politicians, but for religious leaders.
What is Bible Rebel? Fresh content posted daily (except Sundays) for seekers hungry for truth and relevance outside the stodgy, lifeless confines of Churchianity and the dark, empty hopelessness of atheism and nihilism.
While everybody was busy arguing about whatever went viral yesterday, two stories involving Christians went mostly unnoticed.
In Sudan, a Christian pastor was reportedly executed along with six others after being detained by an armed faction in the Nuba Mountains. The Rev. Adil Idris Jangoul of the Sudanese Episcopal Church was taken from his church residence in July; his body was later found with six members of the Otoro ethnic group. Sudan’s civil war involves a messy mixture of political, tribal, ethnic and resource conflicts—but recent reports indicate that church leaders and Christian communities are particularly vulnerable. — International Christian Concern, Aug. 11; Open Doors, Aug. 12 (Persecution.org)
Meanwhile, a Nigerian court has handed a Christian convert an important religious-freedom victory. The ruling prohibits Kano State and its Hisbah religious police from pursuing a young woman for converting from Islam to Christianity. The ruling itself came earlier, but the case was publicized internationally this week by ADF International. — ADF International, Aug. 11 (Alliance Defending Freedom International)
Here in America, we sometimes call it persecution when somebody mocks us for quoting the Bible and professing our faith. Elsewhere, living for our risen and returning Lord can mean losing your freedom—or your life.
Maybe those stories deserve a little more of our prayerful attention.
And remember the words of Jesus:
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” — John 15:18 (KJV)
Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary on August 4, 2026, says he opposes antisemitism, yet he repeatedly chooses to campaign with Hasan Piker, whose record goes well beyond ordinary criticism of Israel.
So why does El-Sayed keep campaigning with him?
Piker isn’t controversial because he once criticized Benjamin Netanyahu or questioned Israeli policy. Plenty of people do that.
We’re talking about a guy who has called Orthodox Jews “inbred,” called Zionism a “mental illness,” generated controversy over his comments about Hamas and October 7—and once famously declared:
“America deserved 9/11, dude.”
Piker later called his 9/11 wording “inappropriate” and said it was intended as satire and criticism of American foreign policy. I call BS. He only backtracked on his outrageous comment after it received massive public attention and condemnation. Trying to weasel out of an outrageous statement doesn’t magically erase it. In fact, it raises questions about the ugly and insidious thinking behind the original statement.
And this week—after winning Michigan’s Democratic Senate nomination—El-Sayed was again asked whether he would continue working with Piker. He didn’t give a straight answer, even as he continued celebrating with Piker.
El-Sayed has every right to criticize Israel. He has every right to oppose U.S. military aid to Israel. And criticism of Israel is not automatically antisemitism. But anti-Zionism can sometimes become a subtle and convenient hiding place for bigotry.
El-Sayed also has a choice about whom he puts beside him on a campaign stage, and if he continues to cozy up to Piker, that should be disqualifying to anyone with a lick of common sense and decency.
Jesus put it pretty simply:
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” — Matthew 7:20 (KJV)
If a Republican Senate candidate repeatedly campaigned alongside someone with an ugly history of remarks about Jews, Muslims, or Black Americans, would the media reasonably ask why?
Of course they would, and of course they have. So why should the standard change here?
Antisemitism is wrong. Anti-Muslim hatred is wrong. Racism is wrong. And deliberately looking the other way because somebody can deliver votes is wrong too.
Your friends don’t automatically define you—but choosing to repeatedly give someone your stage tells us something about your judgment and may tell us something about the biases you’re willing to tolerate.
Because sometimes the biggest red flag isn’t what a politician says—it’s whom he’s unwilling to walk away from.
Here are three of the most significant current headlines from the Middle East.
Remember Matthew 24:6-7
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Israel launches strikes in southern Lebanon after evacuation warning The Israeli military carried out targeted strikes in southern Lebanon after issuing evacuation orders for the village of Mansouri, saying Hezbollah had violated the existing ceasefire. The strikes came as Israeli and Lebanese officials resumed U.S.-mediated talks in Rome aimed at advancing an agreement involving Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah’s disarmament. (Reuters)
Iran and Oman move closer to reopening the Strait of Hormuz Iran and Oman announced progress on an agreement to reopen shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes. Negotiations remain tied to broader U.S.-Iran discussions, while regional tensions continue to affect global energy markets. (The Guardian)
Israel-Lebanon negotiations continue despite renewed fighting Israeli forces remain deployed in parts of southern Lebanon while negotiators prepare for another round of talks in Rome under a U.S.-brokered framework. The discussions seek to reduce border tensions and establish longer-term security arrangements even as sporadic military action continues. (AP News)
