He wants the faithful to stand up.
Christian evangelist Shane Pruitt is encouraging fellow believers to avoid becoming “jerks for Jesus” or “cowards for Christ,” stressing the importance of standing firm on biblical truths, even if it requires engaging in political discussions. In a recent Facebook video, Pruitt expressed concern that the Church has been silenced on key issues for too long due to outside pressure, especially from a world eager to dominate those conversations.
Pruitt pointed out that the world often tells the Church, “You can’t speak on that, it’s a political issue,” trying to dismiss biblical truths as mere political opinions. He countered this by reminding Christians that issues such as the beginning of life, the definition of marriage, and the understanding of sex and gender are deeply rooted in Scripture and precede political debates. “These are biblical truths, not political statements,” he affirmed.
The National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board, Pruitt emphasized that the secular world is encroaching on the Church’s domain, not the other way around. He urged Christians to speak boldly where the Bible speaks, while remaining respectful. “Nowhere in Scripture does it justify being a jerk for Jesus, but it also doesn’t excuse cowardice for Christ,” he said. “We often talk about needing a heart for ministry, but sometimes we also need a spine.”
Pruitt’s remarks came just days before the 2024 presidential election, touching on issues like abortion and LGBT rights, which are pivotal in the campaign. While he did not directly reference the election, his comments align with current political debates, especially on matters like religious freedom.
The Johnson Amendment, a law from 1954, has often deterred churches from engaging in politics due to the risk of losing their tax-exempt status if they endorse political candidates. Secular organizations like the Freedom From Religion Foundation frequently cite the amendment when filing complaints about churches engaging in political speech.
Former President Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican nominee, made the repeal of the Johnson Amendment a part of his platform in 2016, and as president, he issued an executive order instructing the IRS to ease enforcement of the law. A recent survey by Lifeway Research found that 29% of respondents thought it was acceptable for pastors to endorse political candidates, a significant rise from 13% in 2008.
Earlier this year, a group of religious broadcasters and churches filed a lawsuit against the IRS, accusing the agency of unfairly applying the Johnson Amendment, which they claim infringes upon religious freedoms and violates the U.S. Constitution.