For more than 40 years, Pastor Loran Livingston has enjoyed “the opportunity to help people see just how much Jesus loves them” at Central Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Livingston recognized that “the challenges of the day are complex” in a recent sermon addressing politics, what is spiritual, and what is “civic privilege.”
“I don’t have a spiritual responsibility to vote. I have a civic privilege,” said Livingston.
Pastor Loran Livingston
As part of his sermon, “How Far Behind Are You Following?,” Livingston addressed multiple areas of life that are affected when people “don’t read and pray.” He argued the fundamental practices of reading the Bible and praying directly affect a believer’s mindset and interaction with the world—including in the area of politics.
“Some of you bring politics into the church. You think politics is spiritual stuff,” Livingston said. “Don’t be talking to me about my spiritual responsibility to vote. I don’t have a spiritual responsibility to vote. I have a civic privilege.”
Livingston continued to promote a separation of church and state throughout his sermon.
“When you don’t read and pray, you say, ‘Wow, there’s a Bible out now that includes the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Isn’t that wonderful?'” the pastor said. In answer to his own question, Livingston replied, “No. No, it’s disgusting. It’s blasphemous. It’s a ploy.”
Recently, former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump began promoting the “God Bless the USA Bible.” The King James Version of the Bible includes copies of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Pledge of Allegiance. Lee Greenwood’s handwritten chorus of “God Bless the U.S.A.” is also included.
“The gospel is not an American gospel,” Livingston argued. “It is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Livingston was appalled that anyone would endorse and purchase such a Bible that prints texts containing the words “of the people, by the people, and for the people” alongside Scripture, which states, “of him, by him, through him, and from him.”
“If you glory in that kind of thing, you don’t have a prayer life. If you glory in that kind of mess, political mess, you do not know what the Word of God says,” shouted Livingston.
The preacher then focused the group’s attention on heaven and explained that it is our real home—not the earth.
Clips of this sermon have been shared across social media platforms with millions of views—and opposing comments. One quickly commented, “He ain’t wrong.”
Another referred to Mark 12:17 when he posted, “This is EXACTLY right. Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
“Hypocritical. He completely ignores the purpose of the Church on earth. Things got this bad because of this mindset. He said to love GOD and love people but stopped short of saying in every aspect of societal influence,” said someone else. “The Church’s refusal to involve themselves is why the enemy ran rampant. The responsibility for much of the destruction, and death in the world falls right on the Church.”
“Its silence has been compliance,” the commenter continued. “We have been too ready to leave Earth that we forget to do anything on it to love people, and help people.”
