ERLC Screws Over Tithing Christians To Lobby For Gun Control That Has Nothing To Do With Its Mission

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s recent gun-control bill has sparked controversy, with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) coming out in support of the proposal. In a video posted on Twitter, the ERLC praised the bill for upholding constitutional rights and ensuring due process. They also argued that it shouldn’t be considered a red-flag law because it differs from other states’ laws in several ways. However, critics have pointed out that President Joe Biden has endorsed the bill and called it a red-flag law, raising concerns about partisanship. The ERLC has also been lobbying for the bill, with ERLC President Brent Leatherwood writing a letter urging legislators to pass it. This has sparked outrage among some Southern Baptists, who feel that the ERLC is acting against their interests. With red flags all around, it remains to be seen how this controversy will play out.David Harsanyi has called out Bill Lee’s proposed red flag law as an “unconstitutional travesty.” Lee’s law would force individuals accused of a precrime to prove their innocence before the government decides if they can keep their guns. This means that cops can show up at their homes, search it, and demand the accused hand over their property without any evidence that they have committed or planned to commit a crime. Lee also promotes guns being confiscated from people accused of having a psychiatric disorder, alcohol dependence, or drug dependence, none of which implicate someone as a would-be mass murderer. The ERLC’s lobbying for gun control is problematic because it goes against their mission to engage the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ and speak to issues in the public square for the protection of religious liberty and human flourishing. Even worse, the ERLC is using the tithe money of faithful Christians to lobby for gun-control schemes that have nothing to do with their stated mission and could conceivably be used to deprive even church members of their God-given rights. It’s time to stand up for our rights and protect ourselves from those who seek to take them away.The ERLC’s recent push for red-flag laws is a betrayal of its own funders and a shameful abuse of tithe-financed “religious liberty.” While the ERLC may point to past resolutions on gun violence, these laws deny human dignity and punish innocents. Lobbying for them is not solidarity with victims, but rather solidarity with opportunistic politicians looking to capitalize on tragedy with “do-somethingism.” This move is just the latest in the ERLC’s downward trajectory away from gospel fidelity and towards left-wing activism. This was evident under former President Russell Moore, who led the commission for nearly a decade before being ousted due to concerns from pastors about his support for a mosque, advocacy for unfettered immigration, and anti-Trump animus. The new president, Leatherwood, appears to be continuing this trajectory, despite claims that he speaks for the majority of Southern Baptists. It’s time for the ERLC to refocus on the Great Commission work of Southern Baptists and leave the politicization of law enforcement to others.The ERLC, under its current leadership, seems to be turning a blind eye to state efforts to affirm biological sexes and protect children from harmful transgender medical interventions. This is an issue that Southern Baptists are united on, yet the ERLC remains quiet. It’s almost as if the ERLC has forgotten its true purpose, which is to spread the gospel and promote religious liberty and human flourishing in the halls of power. Instead, they seem to be more focused on providing information resources to churches for moral witness in their communities, while looking down on those who value their guns, borders, and freedom.

Let’s be clear, Biden is right about Lee’s proposal being a red-flag law. There’s nothing in the gospel of Jesus Christ that mandates support for such laws. And there’s certainly nothing that authorizes denominational ideologues to use money that was faithfully offered for gospel advancement for partisan lobbying.

But enough about that. Let’s talk about Kylee Griswold, the editorial director of The Federalist. She’s a force to be reckoned with, having previously worked as a copy editor for the Washington Examiner magazine and as an editor and producer at National Geographic. With a B.S. in Communication Arts/Speech and an A.S. in Criminal Justice, she writes on a variety of topics including feminism, gender issues, religion, and the media. Follow her on Twitter @kyleezempel.

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