Bill Watson’s Manifesto: I Am NOT Wrong – I Will NOT Repent!

In response to the criticism that his messaging has been too political, Bill Watson is doubling down! On his “News Alert” blog, Bill asserted that the mission of the Church “is probably one of the most debated and controversial subjects among Christians today.” Really? I thought that Jesus was pretty clear in the commission he gave to his disciples. He said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV) Did Jesus stutter? Did he say one word about discoursing on politics or current events? Just to be clear, the answer to both questions is NO!

How does Bill get around the Great Commission? Bill reasons that “when you begin to recognize the ‘social culture’ is changing and going in opposition to what ‘Christ’s teachings and observances are;’ why wouldn’t you determine His Church should sound the alarm and point out that the direction the culture is going in, is wrong?” He also points out that Jesus told his disciples that the good news about God’s Kingdom would be proclaimed around the world as a witness to the nations before Christ’s return (Matthew 24:14, KJV) Watson went on to proclaim: “Crying aloud and showing my people their sins by speaking to the issues is not abandoning the preaching of the gospel–-that is the gospel (Isa. 58:1)!!” Bill’s logic: It just makes sense to include all of this witnessing and warning into the Gospel message!

And these folks have the gall to accuse me of reasoning my way around Scripture! First, understand that the people of the United States are NOT God’s people – On the whole, they are NOT Israelites! Second, more modern translations of the New Testament render his Matthew 24:14 prooftext as: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (ESV) and “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” (NLT) As for “crying aloud and showing my people their sins” (Isaiah 58:1), please note that this was God’s commission to the prophet Isaiah, NOT to the New Testament Church! Third, the gospel or good news is about Jesus making it possible for us to emerge from the bad news of today by freeing us from sin and death (Luke 4:18, Galatians 1:3-10, Ephesians 1:13, Hebrews 10:10-14, etc.). Fourth, we must not forget “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12, ESV)

Watson went on to write: “For the Church to assiduously recoil and draw–back from this calling and avoid forewarning the people, to keep them aware of the subtle and insidious demonic agenda working on their conscience, is a ‘cowardice withdrawal’ that God does not favor!” Wait, haven’t we already established that Christ didn’t instruct his disciples to be newscasters and watchmen?

Bill quoted from the tenth chapter of Hebrews as if it were a call for the Church to be courageous about offering its analysis of, and warnings about, current events and policies. Let’s read the passage in context for ourselves! After reminding his/her readers about the good things that God has in store for them, we read: “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, ‘Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” (Hebrews 10:35-39, ESV) Sorry, Mr. Watson, the author of Hebrews was talking about our faith in Christ and what he accomplished for us – NOT about the Church having the courage to talk politics!

Bill believes that Christian preachers should be aware of the political concerns and circumstances of the society they are addressing, and “if that requires us to address certain cultural policies of a political nature, well then; so be it!” So, ministers are supposed to enter the political fray, because that’s what’s on folks’ minds? Something about that reasoning just doesn’t seem right to me. Aren’t we supposed to be pulling them out of the affairs of this world and reorienting them in the direction of God’s Kingdom?

 Watson clearly believes that the Church’s message should include partisan commentary on the political issues and policies of the day. He wants ministers to be warning folks about losing their rights as citizens of a nation, and voting to support those who would outlaw abortion, homosexuality, and those nasty illegal immigrants pouring over the southern border of the United States! For Bill, it’s not about praying for God’s Kingdom to come to this earth and for his will to be performed here to the same degree that it currently is in heaven. NO, Bill wants his listeners to use their political power to make America great again – to restore the United States to its former righteousness! It is my hope that everyone who reads this will see the problem with that line of reasoning – even if Bill can’t or won’t see it!