(OPINION) California Pastor Jack Hibbs told a crowd of Christian conservative activists over the weekend that the “silent” Church is to blame for the United States being a “post-Christian nation.”
Hibbs, the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, spoke at the Family Research Council’s Pray Vote Stand Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel last Friday. The annual event gathered hundreds of Christian conservative leaders and pastors who heard from many of the leading 2024 Republican presidential candidates.
The pastor said gatherings like the summit are essential because the Church “has been marginalized” and “set aside” in the United States. The 64-year-old stressed that now “more than ever [the Christian] faith needs to take a stand.” “We need to do this Church family like never before,” Hibbs said.
“The Church has been viewed as something irrelevant. And listen, let’s be honest. Much of that accusation against us is true. Somehow, the Church has gotten out of the lane of being the salt and light that God has called us to be.”
Hibbs noted that he is “constantly labeled” as a “Christian nationalist.” “I don’t accept labels. I don’t accept intimidation. I don’t accept bullying,” he said. “Did God bring this nation into existence? To deny that is to deny God’s work and to deny God’s history. The nation of this country of ours is history.”
“Do you want to be upset with me? I believe Jesus could come back tonight. I’m waiting for Him to return. But, if He doesn’t return, I’ve got grandkids. And I’ve got to leave this nation in the right hands,” Hibbs continued.
“[You might say]: ‘But, pastor, that’s political.’ Let’s talk about that. Should pastors be into politics? Yes, especially if they’re going to run for office. I know a lot of pastors that have run for office. Many of them have been elected. God bless them. But, let’s remember something,” Hibbs added.
“God established His sacred institutions. Israel is one of them. The Church is one of them. Marriage is one of them. The family, right? And listen to this: according to your Bible, God established the government. Did you know that? He didn’t invent politics. That’s what man invented. When man doesn’t want God involved in government, he turns it around, throws God out and makes it political.”
Giving an example of someone he believes is an elected leader who is operating without God’s guidance and direction, Hibbs mentioned California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has been in office since 2019.
“California is under attack. … The freeways are falling apart. We’ve got fentanyl and homelessness everywhere. And the state used to be one of the most iconic places on earth. But, [it has been] under a constant Democrat leadership of godlessness, hyper-driven on abortion,” he said.
Throughout the 33 years Hibbs has been in pastoral leadership at his church, he said he has received pushback and criticism about his preaching on the idea of the importance of God playing a role in politically charged topics.
“‘You can’t talk about marriage because that’s a political issue.’ Really? I thought that was in my Bible. ‘You can’t talk about abortion because that’s a political issue.’ Really? I thought that was in my Bible. ‘You can’t talk about gender. It’s a political issue.’ Really? I thought that was in my Bible. Do you kind of get the hint of what I’m talking about here,” Hibbs said.
