“For many Christians today, particularly young adults, the handful of Bible verses related to same sex intimacy seem more like the 100 plus verses on slavery than they do the teachings of Jesus and his great commandments to love God and neighbor…I believe that in the years ahead an increasing number of Christians, not only progressives, but also conservatives, will read the Bible’s passages regarding homosexuality as all Christians today read the Bible’s passages on slavery. And the sermons preached from America’s pulpits decrying the rights of homosexuals today will sound to future generations much like the pro-slavery sermons sound to us today.”
These are the words of Reverend Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, the largest Methodist church in the United States. He hopes to become the first Democrat to be elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas in nearly a century. Currently, Hamilton is considered the frontrunner in the upcoming Democratic primary in August 2026.
It’s a sad state of affairs when those responsible for shepherding the Church skew the Word of God in order to support their own agenda. Instead of leading their congregations to green pastures of biblical truth, they are sending them straight to the wolves of deception. “Progressive Christianity” is the new buzz word coming from the mouths of minsters and influencers who want to meld faith, liberalism, and government policy together.
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Reverend Adam Hamilton is campaigning for a position in Congress, but there are others like him who are vying for a place of influence in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, these candidates who claim to be representatives of righteousness, are bringing their Leftist, unbiblical lies with them.
So, just who are these pastors and self-professing Christian influencers hitting the congressional circuit, and what deceptions are they peddling to the American people? IFA has already covered the outrageous lies of Representative James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian who is the Texas Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. His pro-abortion stance, as well as his assertion that “God is non-binary,” is disturbing, to say the least.
As the mid-term elections draw closer, it’s important that intercessors know who is running and what they believe, especially those who are using faith as an integral part of their campaign.
When a Pastor Twists the Word
As previously introduced, Rev. Adam Hamilton serves up his own brand of Christianity that’s more aligned with his own feelings, rather than Scripture. In his sermons, books, and interviews he insists that Christians can support same-sex marriage because homosexuality is not incompatible with biblical teachings. Furthermore, he gave a resounding yes and amen to removing denominational bans that prohibited the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals,” in the United Methodist Church. His contention was that one’s sexual orientation does not disqualify them from ministry.
While this is shocking to those who read and understand the Bible, for Rev. Hamilton, it’s all about loving your neighbor and “being kind.” In his book and sermon series, When Christians Get it Wrong, he argues that Romans 1:26-27, a passage that clearly condemns homosexual behavior, is interpreted incorrectly. Instead, he believes the verses describe lustful, excessive behavior associated with idolatry, rather than what he terms monogamous, faithful, same-sex unions.
Rev. Hamilton argues that over time Christians have changed their interpretations on other biblical issues such as slavery and the roles of women in society. Moreover, he suggests that the Bible contains errors and contradictions. Thus, changing one’s view of Scripture because of cultural norms, scientific discoveries, historical limitations, and outdated rules is acceptable to him.
The truth is that Rev. Hamilton is the one whose theology is full of errors and sadly he’s not just feeding these lies to his flock, but also to the American public at large. Homosexuality is indeed a sin and affirming it flies in the face of what Jesus came to earth to do. Christ didn’t die so we could become slaves to sin, but rather so we could be freed from it through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us.
Rev. Hamilton crosses a line in the sand when he suggests that “kindness” and love for your neighbor means bending to the cultural norms and practices of the day. A better apt title for his book should be When a Pastor Gets It Wrong.
Lutheran Minister Aligns with Far-Left Agendas
Another “progressive” candidate running for Congress is ordained Lutheran minister Sarah Trone Garriott. She was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2020, but now has her sights set on the U.S. House of Representatives in Iowa’s 3rdCongressional District. She ran uncontested in the Democratic primary and secured the nomination in June 2026.
As a member of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America), a denomination which recognizes same-sex marriage, Rev. Trone Garriott has supported LGBTQ rights while serving in the Iowa State Senate. She has opposed bills which restrict gender-affirming care, and voted against requiring that school bathrooms be based on biological sex. Additionally, she opposed keeping gender identity instruction out of K-6 classrooms while supporting sex education as early as kindergarten.
Rev. Trone Garriott embraces the lie that the Christian command to love one’s neighbor means affirming alternative lifestyles. In October 2021, she gave a sermon in a park to the Downtown Disciples, an organization that describes itself as “Open and Affirming” to the LGBTQIA+ community. The group also believes that the “Christian call is to fight structures of oppression.”
A recent article in Breitbart explained, “Trone Garriott’s appearance with the group is consistent with her record of left-wing comments and votes. She has said Christians who oppose transgender surgeries for minors are racist, defended Wiccan prayer at the Iowa statehouse by arguing that Jesus engaged with pagans, called private Christian schools ‘segregation academies’ that can create ‘white enclaves,’ and complained that Iowa’s leaders are ‘mostly white, mostly Christian, and mostly older men.’”
While Rev. Trone Garriott believes she’s using her religious platform to serve American citizens in a positive way, the alarming reality is that her alignment with sinful practices and liberal ideals is twisting the truth and warping the meaning of Scriptures in order to fit her version of faith. While she advocates for the “marginalized” LGBTQ community, she neglects those who actually need protections such as minors who are being brainwashed and sexualized. Unfortunately, she’s more concerned with the “white patriarchy” than following what the Bible actually says.
Openly Gay Candidate Hopes to Serve in Congress
The other candidates were concerning enough, but the next contender for congressional office is an openly gay Florida State Senator named Shevrin Jones. If he wins the Democratic primary in August, he has a very high chance of being elected to the House of Representatives in November. While Jones isn’t a pastor, he identifies himself as a Christian who is committed to his faith. Being the son of a minister, Jones insists that his “foundation is the church.”
Recently Jones received endorsements from at least a dozen clergymen in his bid for Congress. “We’ve watched this man show up again and again and lead us with purpose,” stressed Pastor Robert Jackson. “Church, the future isn’t built by spectators, it’s built by servants, by citizens, by people who are willing to put their voice behind their values.”
But just what are those values? Jones openly stated, “My identity as a LGBTQ+ state senator makes me a better American because it allows me to show up as my full self and it allows me to be empathetic. I truly believe that being a LGBTQ+ American and being a LGBTQ+ state senator allows me the opportunity to fight on many fronts, because I know what it feels like to be discriminated against, to be treated badly, to be ostracized…Pride is protest, and we must continue to fight for those things that are for the betterment of all people.”
While Jones uses faith and Christianity to bolster his campaign, the truth is that his lifestyle is not in alignment with biblical principles. The fact that dozens of clergymen support values which boast of “pride” and sin is a clear indication that apostasy has taken root in many churches.
In a world where lies run rampant, it’s not surprising that even ministers and faith-based influencers are deceiving the public. Many actually believe their own lies and see no issue with using Christianity to propagate their version of biblical truth. This is why we must pray.
Lord Jesus, there are candidates running for office who, whether knowingly, or unknowingly, are spreading falsehoods when it comes to Your Word. Firstly, we pray that they would repent and turn to the truth. We also pray that those who misrepresent Christianity would not secure spots in Congress. We pray that the upcoming primaries, as well as the mid-term elections, will be won by warriors for biblical truth, and those who pursue righteousness over “progressive” politics.
What do you think about ministers and faith-based influencers who skew biblical truth? How can we pray about this issue?
Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and former teacher who studies the signs of the times, as well as the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride.
