A political rally is NOT a worship service

At a mid-week Church Service held at Magnolia Springs Baptist Church of Theodore, Alabama, a protest began with shouting during a political speech being given by Senate candidate Roy Moore.  Protests during speeches are nothing new, they're happening increasingly often and increasingly violently whether the speaker represents the political Left or Right, but the important thing to note is that the protest happened during what was described by Rev. David Gonnella as a worship service.  The pastor said, "I would remind everyone again that this is a worship service.  And by the way it is illegal to disturb a worship service.  The next one to disturb the service will be turned over to the police."  At least four uniformed police officers were in the sanctuary for the service, when the protest broke out they removed the protester and a few minutes later a comedian posing as a Moore supporter.

The Alabama Senate special election says a lot about politics in America, not much of it good, but it says something far more disturbing and dangerous about the Church.  How can a worship service be a political rally, just who/what is being worshiped by the local church when a politician is campaigning for him/herself?  Perhaps money and power are being worshiped, but to say that God is being worshiped at any such service, whether at a liberal or conservative church, whether the politician is a Democrat, Republican, or independent, is to risk (if not outright commit) blasphemy against God.

God is not an American, God is not a Republican or a Democrat, and in case you've been under a mistaken impression, God isn't white either.  God is the creator of the universe and the redeemer of humanity, we do God a great disservice when we lower the respect, admiration, and worship that we owe to Almighty God by bringing our own battles for money and power into the house of the Lord.  Politics is not pure, it cannot be, but the time and place where we worship God must be.  That worship has no room for ego, pride, jealousy, greed, or the pursuit of power.  When we the people of God, who are the Church, gather together to worship our Savior, our priority must be the elevation of God and the proclamation of his Holy Word as those who are the disciples of Jesus Christ fellowship together and the Lost are invited to hear the Gospel and repent.  Where in Scripture is the Church called to advocate for any political cause?  Where is the command to mix the worship of God with the business of man?

To put a man or a woman behind the pulpit, when God's people are gathered in worship, who has his/her own advancement as the goal of what is being said, is a slap in the face of God.  That this practice has a long history in America is no excuse.  Politics is an unholy marriage with the Church, the Bride of Christ is having her reputation dragged through the mud.

You can ignore the first part of the video if you like, it is the introduction to and commentary on this clip by James White, the relevant portion begins at the 6:58 mark and lasts until 8:40.  The voice in the background is actually that of a comedian, but you can hear the words of the pastor as quoted above for yourself (beginning at 7:49 where he begins his comments by insulting the protester from the pulpit).