Episode 245: Is Christianity Being Hijacked for Political Power?

In the weeks after the 2026 midterms, Paul M. Neuberger says he’s seen two things he can’t stomach: politicians invoking Jesus to justify their positions, and Christians treating their preferred leaders like messiahs. His line for the episode is that Jesus “didn’t die on a cross to become the mascot of the Democrats” or “the campaign manager of the Republicans.” 
Paul argues that politics has become a kind of religion for many Americans, with campaign headquarters as churches, commentators as pastors, and politicians as saviors. He says this can happen to anyone, including him, and he includes himself in the critique. His main point is that faith should inform politics, not the other way around, and that a Christian’s politics shouldn’t get to rewrite their faith. 
He also challenges pastors and churches that blur the line between preaching the gospel and campaigning for a party, and he warns against treating Scripture like a buffet where you keep what suits you and skip the rest. As in other episodes, he turns the lens on himself, talking about how the election results affected him, what he thinks he failed to do, and what a recent family loss reminded him about how short life is. 
Please note: Paul speaks from a Christian conservative perspective, and the political views in this episode are his. 
In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• Why Paul says winning an election doesn’t validate anyone’s theology, and losing one doesn’t mean God has abandoned your convictions
• His distinction between using a political platform to express faith and using faith to legitimize a political platform
• The Pew Research figure he cites on Christian identification falling from 78% in 2007 to 62% in 2024
• How he describes “political idolatry”: defending your side’s outrageous statements, condemning the same thing from the other side, and treating Scripture selectively
• Why he says conservative Christians aren’t immune, and how he’s examined his own reaction to the midterm results
• His critique of pastors and churches that act like extensions of political campaigns, and why he thinks a candidate quoting Scripture doesn’t prove they follow it
• His case that the church should still speak on moral and public issues without becoming a campaign arm
• A personal reflection on 2018, the founding of C-Suite for Christ, and a recent loss in his family that put the political arguments in perspective
• A challenge to live like Jesus is actually Lord: love your spouse sacrificially, raise your kids intentionally, conduct business ethically, and share the gospel

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Key Scripture referenced:
Galatians 1:10, Romans 12:2, 2 Timothy 4:3, James 1:22, Matthew 6:24, Matthew 28:19, James 4:14, John 14:6, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 6:33
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This episode is sponsored by DeGroote Financial Group (degrootefinancial.com)
Mixing, editing, and show notes provided by NEXT DAY PODCAST