America’s CHILLING Parallel with Pre-War Germany | Kirk Cameron on TBN

Politics is a gift to empower God’s people to express His will in the world. Yet, there’s a common misconception, particularly within parts of the American Church, that “we don’t do politics.” This notion isn’t rooted in Scripture; in fact, we’re called to a heroic faith that engages with the world. When some say, “We’re under judgment, there’s nothing I can do,” that’s a voice of defeat, not of God. One of our Founding Fathers said it well: “It doesn’t take a majority to prevail, but rather a tireless, irate minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”

We often hear that talking about religion or politics stirs trouble and should be avoided. But history teaches us a sobering lesson when these topics go unaddressed. The German Church in the 1930s faced similar challenges. Christians then became so focused on “doing church” that they drifted from living out their faith courageously, even when it meant resisting injustice. Many of them clung to passages like Romans 13, believing that being a “good witness” meant obeying the government at all costs. Yet sometimes, standing for righteousness requires opposing corrupt regimes and unjust laws.

The recent book Religionless Christianity sheds light on these patterns, where faith can turn into religious idolatry—focusing more on “doing church” than on embodying God’s calling to resist evil. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a notable voice of the German Church, argued that the Church should serve as the conscience of the state, holding it accountable to God’s standards. Unfortunately, much of the American Church today faces similar challenges, often using Romans 13 as a rationale for passive faith, rather than a call to stand against moral corruption.

Romans 13 doesn’t just call believers to obey governing authorities; it emphasizes that rulers are meant to be servants of God for the good of the people. This passage justifies a stance on just wars, something the American Revolutionaries held dearly, rooted in Biblical principles. Unlike the German Church, Americans are blessed with a government “of the people,” where leaders are accountable to us, not the other way around. If the American Church neglects this responsibility, we risk falling back into the trap of surrendering our God-given freedom.

This is why the American Church cannot repeat the mistakes of the German Church. By God’s grace, we live in a nation where we can actively shape society for good. Let’s rise to that calling with conviction.