A preacher from Detroit told Fox News Digital that it is “impossible” for pastors and Christians to be politically “neutral.”
“The gospel message is a political message. The Bible is a political book from Genesis to Revelation. We see that the Bible is a political book,” said Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of 180 Church in Detroit, Michigan.
“It is impossible to be politically neutral,” he added.
Sewell, a Republican, spoke at the last Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July. He signed off President-elect Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election and hosted the then-Republican presidential candidate at his church last summer.
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Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, speaks at a campaign event at 180 Church, Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
He used to be one critic of identity politics.
“It is important to be spiritual because you are political. You can’t be a spiritual person and not be political,” Sewell added.
Sewell responded to one story from the Washington Post which chronicles a Los Angeles pastor’s struggle to unite his church before and after the presidential election.
Rev. Jonathan Hall, 41, a native of Alabamaled the First Christian Church of North Hollywood for two years. First Christian is part of the Disciples of Christ denomination and serves more than 1,000 members. “Convincing the Republicans, Democrats and independents in his pews to stay and pray together is becoming increasingly complicated,” the Post reported.
Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of 180 Church, will speak at the RNC on Thursday (Getty Images)
Several congregants left the church due to their political differences. One of the members cited a film scheduled to be shown at Hall about Christian nationalism being “too one-sided” and “anti-Republican.”
Others left after discovering their colleagues attended Trump’s inauguration.
In response to the Washington Post story, Sewell emphasized the importance of bipartisanship.
“We have to understand that you can’t make progress without being bipartisan. We understand that you have to work with the Democrats and with the Republicans now to make real progress,” said the east side Detroit resident. “So we have to have that discernment.”
Pastor Lorenzo Sewell points as he speaks during the Republican National Convention on Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Sewell told it Fox News digital that there are Democrats in his church.
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“We believe it is very difficult for you to be a Bible-believing Christian and a Democrat. We believe that too. Do I have Democrats in my church? Absolute. We don’t believe that every Democrat is a demon, but we do believe that the Democratic platform is demonic,” he said.
“Conversely, we do not believe that every Republican is a revivalist. We do not worship a donkey or an elephant. We worship the lamb that was slain.”
