Political Firebrand Visits La Mesa Church, Urges Pastors to Reject Ban on Political Speech by Nonprofits

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me first."

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Though he left his chalkboard at home, Beck employed other visual aids to illustrate his points.

UNDER THE BIG TENT, SKYLINE CHURCH - America's Voice for Restoring America spoke here last night, calling for a faith-based uprising against the political status quo. "Jesus Christ was crucified because he was a threat to the established political order!" he declared. "The cross was the symbol of government authority and power! How can you, as Christians, expect any less? It's time to kiss the cross, folks!"

Beck was calling for a wholesale rejection of the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits non-profits from engaging in political activity. Obedience to the amendment, said Beck, was directly contrary to the Gospel promise that "On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles."

"Pastors know the truth," declared Beck. But, he added, "They're afraid. And I asked them, 'What are you afraid of? Do you not have enough confidence in Jesus Christ and the power of the Lord? Do you not have enough faith that whatever happens here is temporary?'"

Beck stressed that he was not promising that God would keep His faithful ones from suffering. Quite the opposite. "Do you not remember Our Lord's admonition that 'Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me'? Or His promise that 'You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me'? Or Paul's reminder that those who labor for the Gospel are 'hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed'?"

By way of proof, Beck noted that he himself had been struck down from the Fox News Network, and that he had not been destroyed.