Search

Is America ‘Beyond Redemption’ and Due for God’s Judgment? Speaker Mike Johnson Thinks So

Our new House Speaker is a religious extremist who believes the diversity of our nation is a bad thing that offends God – and a man who insists that his definition of faith should rule over all of us.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks at the lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree alongside his wife, Kelly Johnson, November 28, 2023. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

This blog has recently chronicled efforts by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and his supporters to scrub the web of extreme statements Johnson made. The idea is to present Johnson, who was unknown to most Americans before he became speaker, as a non-threatening moderate.

That’s the message the average American is getting. Members of the Republican Party’s Christian Nationalist base are getting a much different message, one that reflects the real Mike Johnson.

Dec. 3 email signed by Johnson under the auspices of the National Republican Congressional Committee asserts that “America is hanging on by a thread” and “may be beyond redemption.”

A call for ‘more God’

The appeal for funds, which includes a photo of Johnson and his wife, repeatedly asks recipients, “DOES AMERICA NEED MORE GOD?”

It goes on to bemoan the fact that “1 in 4 high school students identifies as something other than straight,” asserts that “God is mocked openly in the public square” and adds, “And you don’t even want to see the filth that passes for popular culture these days.”

READ: Resisting Christian Nationalism’s Ominous Next Stage

The message asserts, “Let’s face it – we live in a depraved culture. I didn’t want to believe it at first, but I fear God may allow our nation to enter into a time of judgment for our collective sins. The only question is, is He going to give us one more chance to restore our foundations and return to Him?”

Here’s the conclusion: “America needs to recognize that we have much to repent for if we want to avoid the judgment we so clearly deserve, but that starts with returning America to God’s good graces once again.”

House speaker or TV preacher?

This sounds like the rantings of a TV preacher, not a public figure who is second line to become president of the United States. These are the words of someone who fails to understand – or simply doesn’t care – that America in 2023 is a multi-faith, multi-philosophy society where we strive to live together in peace.

America, this is your new speaker – a religious extremist who believes the diversity of our nation is a bad thing that offends God – and a man who insists that his definition of faith should rule over all of us.

How do we know that? He just told us.

This article was originally published at Americans United for Separation of Church and State and is reprinted here with permission.

Independent media is essential, especially in an election year. It strengthens our democracy and holds our leaders accountable.

We keep voters informed through our in-depth coverage, and make it easy for our readers to be prepared to cast their vote.  

And it wouldn’t be possible without you.

Picture of Rob Boston

Rob Boston

Rob Boston is Senior Adviser at Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Editor of Church & State, AU’s monthly membership magazine. Rob, who has worked at Americans United since 1987, is the author of four books: Close Encounters with the Religious Right: Journeys into the Twilight Zone of Religion and Politics (Prometheus Books, 2000); The Most Dangerous Man in America? Pat Robertson and the Rise of the Christian Coalition (Prometheus Books, 1996); Why the Religious Right Is Wrong About Separation of Church and State (Prometheus Books, 1993; second edition, 2003) and, most recently, Taking Liberties: Why Religious Freedom Doesn’t Give You The Right To Tell Other People What To Do (Prometheus Books, 2014).

Top 5

Follow Us

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

* indicates required

Our news. your inbox.

Once a week, we will send a digest of all our stories to your inbox.