Originally from the Office of Legislative Affairs
of the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination:
Christian Coalition Holds Road to Victory Rally
No Focus on Sunday Laws - But Lots to Worrying Rhetoric
On October 11 and 12, the Christian Coalition held its "Road to Victory" rally at the Washington Convention
Center. The rally included a parade of powerful politicians, including a video greeting from President
Bush in which he referred to the Christian Coalition as his "good friends" and spoke of the values he shares with
them.
Congressman Dick Armey, majority leader in the House of Representatives, stated "I would not have been elected
to Congress in '84 if the Christian Coalition hadn't taken a chance on me [and George Bush]would not be the President
of the United States" if the Christian Coalition hadn't supported him. The House Majority Whip, Tom DeLay, Senator
Orrin Hatch, Senator Sam Brownback, Senator James Inhofe, Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Congressman Ernest Istook, Congressman Walter Jones, and a number of other national
leaders took part in the rally.
There were themes that speakers came back to time and time again. Some of the themes were only tangentially
related to religious freedom. These included the need for laws that respect human life, the need to act against
pornography and gambling, and the importance of supporting Israel ("those that bless Israel are blessed, those that
curse Israel are cursed"). There was also a lot of talk about appointing judges that support the Christian Coalition's agenda, and of the desire of participants to see the Republican party gain a majority in the U.S. Senate.
Many of the speakers railed against the separation of church and state. Joyce Meyer, a popular television
preacher whose burgeoning ministry co-sponsored the event, summed up the sentiment stating "separation of church and state is a deception of Satan..." She went on to note that the conference was "bringing the spiritual and political
together." She also condemned sectarianism, noting that "we need to unite [in order to] get a lot done in Washington. There are more of us than there are more of them." She promised listeners that "we are going to have a worldwide revival..."
Senator Inhofe promised the cheering crowd that "we are winning" and noted that the Christian Coalition is
fighting in the "holiest of wars... We are a clear majority."
Congressman Jones, who was the primary force behind the recently defeated "House of Worship Political Speech
Act," stated that he would reintroduce that Act in January, and vowed "we will get it passed." The Act aims to get politics involved in churches and churches involved in politics.
In conclusion, the rally was a celebration of a union of church and state, the promise of a world-wide religious
revival, and an impressive flexing of political muscle fueled by religious fervor. It was hard to sit through many of the speeches without hearing the echoes of prophecy.