Sermon Video: Immoral Christians blaspheme God's name - Romans 2:17-24

The original audience to which Paul refers are 1st century observant Jews, people who knew and approved of God's Law (his Word), yet as we find out in vs. 21, failed to keep it.  Rather than consider ourselves off the hook, the parallel to 21st century Christians is striking.  We too have God's Word, we too outwardly approve of his commands, and yet far too many Christians (or self-proclaimed Christians) are living as if righteousness if optional.  The hypocrisy of knowing and even proclaiming the Truth, but not living it, is both detrimental to each individual, but also a stain upon the Church's reputation, our collective Gospel witness to the Lost, and as Paul reminds us while quoting Isaiah, blasphemy against the name of God.

Long story short, those who claim to follow Jesus needs to live like him, period.  There is no greater danger to the Church (in America or anywhere) than people who claim the name of Christ but wallow in sin.  Thus encouraging fellow Christians (whether they be genuine but struggling, or fake in need of redemption) to live morally upright lives is one of highest priorities of the people who constitute Christ's Church.

Mark Meadows, Ginni Thomas, and the blasphemy of thinking God is on your side.

 

It was recently revealed that the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was deeply involved in trying to prevent the inauguration of President Joe Biden.  The politics of that decision will ripple through 2024 and beyond, but one exchange (of those thus far made public) between Ginni Thomas and then White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, should concern all Christian Americans who do not believe that God is an American or Jesus is a Republican.  In other words, if you are willing to see the distinction between Church and State, between Church and America, and between Church and the Republican Party; it is frightening one of the most influential people in the ear of the formerly most powerful man in the world apparently did not.  Here is the quote:

"This is a fight of good versus evil. Evil always looks like the victor until the King of Kings triumphs. Do not grow weary in well doing. The fight continues. I have staked my career on it. Well at least my time in DC on it." 

{First on CNN: January 6 committee has text messages between Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows}

There are heretical problems with this quote on several levels for Mark Meadows who has publicly, on numerous occasions, declared himself to be a Christian (and has made his public proclamation of being a Christian a central part of his appeal to voters, thus increasing the scrutiny his faith has earned).

1. American political discourse is not 'good versus evil'.

While it may not be blasphemy to declare one's political enemies to be 'evil' (it is certainly false testimony, another sin), it is blasphemy to declare one's own side to be 'good' in the sense that Meadows uses the word.  This is apocalyptic, binary choice, type language.  Meadows is declaring the Republican party to be Righteous and the Democrat party to be Wicked, in a sheep and the goats, wheat and the tares, type language familiar to those who have read the Gospels.  This type of political rhetoric is common, I've heard all my life from people I've known personally, sadly often in church growing up, that 'they' (typically meaning Democrats, liberals, etc.) were 'evil', with the insinuation made, at times explicitly, that 'they' are in league with Satan.  If 'they' are on Satan's team, then surely 'we' are on God's team, right?  Here's the thing, there are things about the Republican Party, its policies and leaders (now and in the past) that are biblical, moral, and just, AND there are things about the Republican party, its policies and leaders (now and in the past) that are unbiblical, immoral, and unjust.  The exact same thing is true of the Democrat Party, and the exact same thing is true of all the parties in all the countries in the world, always has been, always will be.  Why?  Because they're human creations, led by fallible and fallen human beings, and tempted by the "root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10), that is money.  

It doesn't matter what issue Meadows, or anyone else is talking about, the battle between political parties in America is NOT 'good versus evil', it is blasphemy to say so because anyone who does is associating the things of mankind with the will of God, and tarnishing the reputation of God through guilt by association.  God is not the exclusive property of any one party or philosophy, period. The Church belongs wholly to Christ, when it fulfills its calling by living righteously, by overflowing with the Fruit of the Spirit, it can rightly claim to be fighting a battle of 'good versus evil'.  The Church often fails to live up to this calling, it wasn't given to America, nor was it given to the Republican Party, and neither this nation, nor that political party, are God's representatives on earth, neither are living by faith through the Spirit.  The blurring of the line between Christian faith and politics, between Church and political party, has always led to this sad conclusion: blasphemy.  Mark Meadows is far from the first, he wont' be the last.

Stop for a moment and consider the affect of this rhetoric on a democracy.  Is it any wonder that we're seeing more and more political violence in America when those who are supposed to be responsible leaders are stoking the fires of religious zeal against fellow Americans?  If we are 'good' and they are 'evil' the emotional distance one needs to walk to justify killing 'them' is terrifyingly short.

2. The allusion to Jesus' eventual triumph over all things is misapplied, at best.

It is absolutely true that Evil seems to triumph in this world, and it is absolutely true that Jesus Christ will triumph in every way possible when he returns (Philippians 2:9-11).  When one makes that allusion, in the context of the 2020 election, it is not the eventual triumph of Jesus that comes to the fore, but the grossly misunderstood Christian Republicanism that assumes that the will of God MUST be that 'our team' wins elections, that 'our team' triumphs in this generation.  There is gross arrogance in the assumption that the anyone could understand the will of God for any nation, or in the assumption that God's will and our own hopes/purposes are in alignment, especially when the topic at hand is the power, wealth, and fame of politics.  The King of Kings will triumph, that outcome is assured, but it has ZERO to do with any American election.

3. "Do not grow weary in well doing" is Scripture abused, painfully.

Galatians 6:9  New International Version

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I would give Mark Meadows credit for knowing this verse of Scripture (he appears to be quoting the KJV) if he wasn't using it in a way that would have made the Apostle Paul throw up.  Once again we have the false equating of 'good' with Republican party priorities, in this case the retention (against the law) of Donald Trump as President.  How can this possibly be 'good' in the sense that Paul intended it?  Here is the actual context of Paul's statement:

Galatians 6:7-10  New International Version

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

God cannot be mocked!!  A few sentences before the quote that Meadows uses for political purposes is a warning against mocking God!  And immediately after the quote is the command to do 'good to all people', especially fellow Christians.  Joe Biden is a Christian, attending Mass regularly.  Disagree with his politics all you want, but this command from the Apostle Paul applies, and is binding between Mark Meadows and Joe Biden, yet Meadows is using this out-of-context portion of God's Word to urge Ginni Thomas to continue working against the 'evil' Joe Biden.  It is a sad commentary on the Church in America that so many self-professing Christians treat each other like foes to be destroyed and not brothers and sisters to be loved, as God commands them to do.  God will not be mocked, those who use scripture to prop up partisan goals will stand in judgment before God and answer for it {And don't think I don't hold myself to that standard, every minister of the Gospel will be held to account for misuses of God's Word for personal goals}.

Conclusion:

The text message from Mark Meadows to Ginni Thomas reveals a deeply flawed theology of equating the Republican Party with the Church, the priorities of the Republican Party with the will of God, and the choices/leaders of the Republican Party with 'good'.  This is a subset of 'Christian' Nationalism, and is as blasphemous for Mark Meadows to utter as it was for the Pharisees to assume they held a monopoly on understanding the Law of Moses, the Pharisees were blinded by self-righteousness and hatred of their enemies, history is repeating itself here.

"Jesus is Lord!" + "Let's Go Brandon!" = Blasphemy

To the husband and wife (I assume that was the relationship) standing on the street corner in front of the McDonald's in Perrysburg Ohio this last Saturday waving these two signs, "Jesus is Lord!" and "Let's Go Brandon!" know this: that combination is blasphemous.  What is worse, by encouraging others to honk, wave, and laugh at your sexual vulgarity combined with the name of Jesus, you were leading them into sin as well.  That's a problem.

Exodus 20:7  New International Version

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name

Ezekiel 36:22-23  New International Version

22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

Romans 2:21-24  New International Version

21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

God takes his name and reputation seriously.

Some context: The seemingly innocuous phrase, "Let's Go Brandon!" is of recent origin and may remain mysterious to many, but it is a clear and purposeful sexual vulgarity aimed at the President of the United States. {Meaning of "Let's go Brandon!"}  In other words, using the phrase is a supposedly cute way of saying F- Joe Biden without having to use those words.  Set aside for a moment how toxic to our political culture the embrace of such a euphemism is, because that ship has largely sailed in the last decade {An unhealthy overemphasis on politics or A vulgar anti-Trump sign and an attempt to kidnap the governor of Michigan - Biblical wisdom for an uncivil society: "'I have the right to do anything' you say - but not everything is beneficial." 1 Corinthians 10:23-24.  As you can see, I was against vulgarity directed at the previous President as well}.

What concerns me more poignantly than American cultural decline (and it should you as well) is the way in which significant segments of the American Church is being dragged down with it.  Instead of acting as Salt and Light in our culture, as transforming agents, too many Christians are conforming to the culture.  This is just another example of Christians behaving badly because they value politics above piety.

Romans 12:2  New International Version

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Which brigs me to the conversation I had with this man and woman.  I was driving back from Michigan (having cheered on my nephew Saturday morning at the MI cross-country state finals) and was asked by my beautiful wife to stop in Perrysburg at Hobby Lobby to get a 1 inch paper punch there for her.  I saw the couple with their signs when I went into the store, and decided to walk over and talk to them on my way out.  My words were simple, and I believe polite, "As an ordained Baptist minister, please hear me when I say that "Jesus is Lord" and "Let's Go Brandon" don't go together.  Don't put the name of Jesus alongside a sexual vulgarity."  The response was telling.  The wife yelled harshly at me, "Get a job!", which was funny given how randomly aggressive it was.  The husband tried a different approach and one that explains a lot, "We're both heading to the same place", I assume he meant heaven, "you go your way and I'll go mine."  Except the path to heaven doesn't work that way, not remotely.

Matthew 7:13  New International Version

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

I don't doubt that this gentleman thinks he is following Jesus by his actions, and had he only been holding up signs encouraging faith in Jesus, he would have been {whether or not street evangelism is an effective tool, and what kind of street evangelism, is a separate discussion}.  But that wasn't what he was doing.  Instead, he was conflating a particular political viewpoint with faith in Jesus.  Saying, in essence, "If you don't hate Joe Biden like I do, you're not with Jesus", or perhaps more damning for him, "Hating Joe Biden is the Christian thing to do."  Whether these two were aware of it or not, that's the message they were sharing, and getting good laughs out of it too. {Beware of the Political Church: John MacArthur declares, "any real true believer" can only vote one way.}

Why then is this blasphemy?  Very simple, the name of God is sacred, as is his reputation.  We may readily recognize that using "God", "Jesus", "Jesus Christ", or even "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph" if you're Irish, as substitutes for swear words is inappropriate, a form of blasphemy, but so too is claiming that God is something he is not, did something he did not, or says something he did not.  And God doesn't hate people.  Hate is not a path to Heaven.  To claim  otherwise, even by implication, is blasphemy.

Our ancestors in the faith blasphemed God when they justified slavery and later discrimination, often claiming that it was the will of God in the process {doubling down on their sin}.  In our generation, the way in which God is more likely to be blasphemed is by draping an American flag around the Cross and proclaiming that the only one way to be a good Christian is to agree with the current political viewpoint.  Not only does this hamper evangelism, turning away those who don't want Jesus + America + one particular viewpoint in American politics, it also warps the very self-proclaimed Christians who think they are doing God's work.

Hate is not the path to heaven, condemning our 'enemies' in Christ's name isn't it either.  Caesar Augustus was a horrible human being, a brutal man with the blood of tens of thousands upon his hands.  Yet Jesus never said rained down upon him insults and vulgarities.  The Sanhedrin were hopelessly corrupt, and Jesus (along with John the Baptist) did indeed denounce them forcefully, but not with mocking or joy, and certainly not with filthy language.  In short, Jesus NEVER acted toward those who opposed him {and brutally murdered him by the way} the way people claiming to follow him are acting toward fellow Americans with whom they disagree.

Matthew 7:16-18  New International Version

16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

What then is the fruit that God requires of his people?  

Galatians 5:22-23  New International Version

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 This is the path, the only path.  Pray for those who have been led astray to believe that God would be pleased by any other.

The blasphemous "One Nation Under God" painting by Jon McNaughton

 

"One Nation Under God" is a painting by contemporary artist Jon McNaughton, his own interpretation of the piece, and why he chose the figures in it that he did is explained on his website: McNaughton fine art company.  And while McNaughton's view of American history and contemporary culture is a decidedly partisan one, that isn't the reason why his painting is blasphemous, but rather his insistence, as the painting makes abundantly clear, that the U.S. Constitution was given to the Founding Fathers by God.  While the U.S. Constitution, and very necessary subsequent Bill of Rights, are collectively the most profound political documents since the Magna Carta, and are indeed a significant step forward in the realms of human governance and freedom, to call them God-inspired, or divinely given in some fashion is to take an imperfect document created by fallible men, and coat it with a false veneer of holiness.  It is as if McNaughton is saying that the concept of limited federalism is God's preferred form of governance.  Except that God has never said any such thing, for although democracy was known in the ancient world as a cautionary tale about mob-rule (given the way in which the Athenian Empire collapsed), the only forms of government mentioned in the Bible at all are tribalism, theocracies, monarchies, and empires.  As such, the Bible neither recommends nor condemns democracies or republics.  Inspired by Christian thinkers and/or the Bible is NOT the same thing as given by God.  The Church was founded by Jesus and established by the Holy Spirit, no human nation, including the United States of America, can make a similar claim {Future fulfillment of Abrahmic promies in a Messianic Kingdom notwithstanding}.

"The fact that Christ holds the Constitution is very significant. I believe it was a divinely inspired document." - Jon McNaughton

Aside from this false impression that the U.S. Consitution has some sort of seal of approval from God is the blatant and horrendous association of Jesus Christ with the Constitution's declaration that Black Americans are only 3/5 of a person (for census purposes: The 3/5th Compromise) with no rights whatsoever, a status shared to a lesser exent in our nation's founding documents by women and Indians.  To associate Jesus Christ with the racial and sexist views of the past is to portray the Gospel as the White Man's Gospel, once again a blasphemous thought that flies in the face of the declaration by the Apostle Paul that, "there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28).

As important a step forward as the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights have proven to be, they remain an example of human sin-nature, of the embrace of a political compromise at the expense of the fundamental human rights that the Declaration of Independence declared, but failed to deliver.  It would take more than 600,000 deaths in the U.S. Civil War one hundred years later to rectify that error, and another century to begin to unravel the further injustices heaped upon the newly freed slaves.  The point is simply this: there is both praise and criticism that justly belongs to the Founding Fathers and the documents they produced, to pretend that Jesus Christ would hold up their work as a shining example is nothing short of blasphemous.

Christian Nationalism has been gaining steam in America, seeking to fuse duty to God with duty to country and make patriotism a Christian virtue.  Unfortunately, this idea has been tried before, with disastrous results, and to the extent that the Church in America follows this path, it will once again sow the seeds of its own failure and shame.

For historical context, read the amazing speech by American hero Frederick Douglass, delivered before the Civil War: "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro"

"Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? and am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?...But such is not the state of the case. I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common.ÑThe rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day? If so, there is a parallel to your conduct. And let me warn you that it is dangerous to copy the example of a nation whose crimes, towering up to heaven, were thrown down by the breath of the Almighty, burying that nation in irrevocable ruin! I can to-day take up the plaintive lament of a peeled and woe-smitten people!

'By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yea! we wept when we remembered Zion.'

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy -- a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour." - Frederick Douglass, born in America, 1817, a slave.

Rejecting Idolatry: No, Mike Pence, we will not, "Fix our eyes on Old Glory"

White Nationalism and White Supremacy are an abomination to the Church

The Myth of a Christian Nation - by Gregory Boyd: a summary and response

An unhealthy overemphasis on politics

A Moral Hierarchy: A refutation of William Barr's, "Other than slavery, which was a different kind of restraint, this is the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history."

The value of perspective: The American Church is a minority

The apparent blasphemy of My Pillow founder Michael Lindell regarding a COVID-19 'cure'.

 It is no small thing to commit blasphemy against God.  It seems like doing so on national television would be doubly foolish.  Yet that is what My Pillow founder Michael Lindell just did, whether he is aware of it or not.  Before looking at why Lindell's statements are a violation of the 3rd Commandment, let me get this disclaimer out of the way.  Michael Lindell believes very strongly that Donald Trump is the best President in the history of the United States.  I could care less what his political views are.  Up until this point, I hadn't given him much thought at all, until his interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper where he invoked the name of Jesus Christ, and proclaimed to be doing the Will of God in his stumping for Oleandrin as a miracle cure for COVID-19.  While this pandemic has produced many quake 'cures' and false hopes, this one stands out precisely because the man pushing it is doing so in Christ's name.

It is blasphemy, a violation of the 3rd Commandment {Exodus 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."}, to use the name of God for any of the following purposes (examples from a larger list), it is my contention watching Lindell's interview, that he has done all four.  Also, Michael Lindell claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ, I'll take him at his word, and consider him a brother in Christ who has lost his way (at least in this regard).
Michael Lindell's interview on CNN with Anderson Cooper
4 facts about oleandrin, an unproven coronavirus treatment reportedly pitched to Trump - by Nicole Pesce of MarketWatch
1. Personal financial gain
Michael Lindell has an ownership stake in a company which just so happens to process Oleandrin.  If enough people believe his claims that it both prevents COVID-19 infection AND cures it, he will make a whole lot of money.
When Prosperity Gospel preachers, or just gold old-fashioned TV evangelists utilize the Gospel and people's devotion to God to enrich themselves, they're committing blasphemy too.  If a businessman does it, he/she is equally guilty of that sin, in the false-preacher's case there are additional points of immoral behavior as they have taken a position of leadership in the Church.
2. To take advantage of the weak, vulnerable, or innocent
During a global pandemic, those most likely to listen to 'snake oil salesmen' are those most vulnerable to the disease in question.  No doubt Oleandrin tales are already spreading around social media under headlines like, "The cure the government doesn't want you to know about.."  Lindell's advocacy will appeal to conspiracy theorists, to desperate people with health conditions who fear the virus, and whose only fault will be listening to him, in part because he invokes the name of Jesus to make his appeal.
3. When your actions will likely harm others
It is highly likely that people will take extracts of this highly toxic plant, at doses that may cause them real harm, because they believe that it will be a 'miracle cure'.  A secondary harm will come from those who take it, are not harmed by it directly, but then who ignore all social distancing precautions because Lindell promised them that they could no longer catch or spread the disease once they begin taking Oleandrin.  {In the interview, Lindell proclaimed himself to be 'immune' to the virus because of Oleandrin.}  The end result will be an increased spread of COVID-19, more false information in the public consciousness, and greater resistance to protective measures.  Lastly, some who catch COVID-19 will be convinced to ignore medical treatment, or fail to quarantine themselves because they're taking Oleandrin.  All of these scenarios are highly likely, and an unknown number of people will be harmed by Lindell's 'cure', once again, in Jesus' name.
4. To avoid scrutiny, as a substitute for Truth, facts, or evidence.
Throughout the interview, Anderson Cooper pressed Michael Lindell to site any reputable study, any evidence at all that Oleandrin could do any of the things that he was claiming, or at the least proof that it wouldn't be harmful to those who take it.  Rather than offer up substance, Lindell on multiple occasions resorted to proclaiming that he was doing what he was doing because God had given him the platform to do so.  In other words, rather than truth, facts, or evidence, Lindell offered up God's reputation as a substitute.  There's just one problem, God's reputation isn't a crutch for you to use to get out of a jam, it isn't a substitute for truth, or a 'no facts necessary' excuse.
Had Michael Lindell left God out of his conversation, I would ignore him, but he didn't, he chose (whether purposefully or not) to use the name of Jesus and the Will of God as surety for his claims.  For all four reasons listed above, that is sadly a classic case of blasphemy.

{Update: FDA rejects oleandrin, an unproven coronavirus therapeutic pushed by MyPillow CEO, as a dietary supplement ingredient - by Jen Christensen and Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN, 9/4/20}

NO politician will ever be, "like the Second Coming" to claim such is blasphemous

Let me be clear at the outset, this warning pertains to ANY politician or their supporters who have the audacity to make a comparison to Jesus Christ, in particular those who claim themselves to be Christians.  In 1966, John Lennon of The Beatles said, "We're more popular than Jesus" the reaction was predictably massive, but what if someone claimed far more than being more popular than Jesus, that a politician was loved, "like he is the Second Coming of God"?  Conspiracy theorist and radio host Wayne Allyn Root recently said just that, and the politician he was referring to responded with, "Thank you...Wow!"

I’m an evangelist and a Trump voter. But Trump as the ‘second coming of God’ is blasphemous. - Jay Lowder, the Washington Post {A link to an opinion piece from 8/22 that also addresses political issues; take it for what you will, my own voting record and political preferences are not discussed here, nor will they be; this is a religious issue, where politics are trampling upon holy ground, and as such it needs to be addressed.}

While it has not been uncommon for political and religious leaders to be labeled The Anti-Christ by their critics (For example: Martin Luther's denouncement of Pope Leo X, or speculation about Napoleon when he was seemingly unstoppable conquering Europe), it is less common for any significant political or religious leaders (discounting small cult leaders like David Koresh with relatively tiny followings) to compare themselves, or be compared by others, to The Chosen One, The Messiah, or The Second Coming.  Why?  Two simple reasons: (1) fear of provoking God's wrath when any flawed human being places himself/herself, or is placed, upon equal footing with the holy and righteous sinless Son of God, (2) and humility.
In the Gospels, some of those who opposed Jesus did so precisely because he made claims such as, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30) or "before Abraham was I AM" (John 8:58, the I AM emphasis is mine to reflect how his audience heard the statement, as a claim of equality with the LORD).  How did Jesus overcome this hesitancy?  Through signs, wonders, profound teaching, a spotless life, and most importantly, the vindication of being raised from the dead.
Is there a Biblical example of someone claiming divine status who was unworthy of it?  Actually there are two prominent examples, and it didn't go well for either one.  Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, perhaps the mightiest ruler on earth, but he became full of himself as evidenced by his command that his subjects bow in worship of a golden statue of himself.  Later, the prophet Daniel warned him of his hubris, after which,
Daniel 4:28-33
28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
The second example is in the book of Acts where Herod Agrippa I (grandson of Herod the Great) receives praise from sycophants hoping to earn his favor but in his vanity willingly accepts it,
Acts 12:21-23 New International Version (NIV)
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
While it is not our business to expect or pronounce any tragedy as divine judgment (for God alone knows his own mind), it is still a form of idolatry (and therefore beyond the pale) for any Christian to elevate ANY leader beyond the status of a mere servant in the House of the Lord, and it is a gross sin for any self-proclaimed Christian, having come to Christ as a hopeless sinner in need of God's grace and mercy (or at least by claiming to be a Christian, letting people believe you have done so), to allow himself/herself to be held up as any sort of Chosen One, as if God had any need of a 2nd Messiah.
When Christ returns, as he promised to do when he ascended into Heaven, it will not be open to debate, the signs will not be ambiguous, as Jesus himself warned his disciples,
Matthew 24:23-27 New International Version (NIV)
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
On a related topic: How is it that we, as Christians, can be so misguided as to believe that the answer to our nation's problems lie chiefly in the political realm?  Is humanity beset by poor choices or by sinful rebellion against God?  Does our system need to be tweaked to create a moral society, or do we need a complete transformation that only the Spirit can provide by saving the Lost?  Did Christ leave behind a Church to do his will through acts of service, or a kingdom (empire, nation) to accomplish his will through coercion and might?  Do we have a government problem, or a sin problem?  I'm all for better governance, more equitable and just laws, and ethical factors mattering in the decision making process; and I have no doubt we are a long way from what an ideal government would look like, but that panacea is not where our hope lies, it is a mirage that will remain always beyond the horizon.  We, all of us, have a spiritual need that requires a spiritual solution.  We have been given that one solution, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who died in our place and offers us salvation by faith.  We have already been given our hope, because he was, and is, the Chosen One, the Messiah, and he will be the Second Coming of God; he and no other, period.  To put anyone else, even by comparison, into that category, is an act of blasphemy.