A new breed of Christian politicians has emerged in the United States, one that is pushing for a more pronounced fusion of faith and politics. In Texas, in particular, where the Republican Party dominates at all levels of government, this phenomenon is on full display.
The driving force behind this movement is Campaign University, an online training academy created by Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Texas) and his associates at Mercy Culture, a megachurch based in Fort Worth. The program aims to recruit Christian conservatives to run for office and engage in local government, with the ultimate goal of transforming America's institutions according to biblical values.
In Campaign University, aspiring politicians are taught how to build a platform, navigate the campaign trail, and maintain their faith while serving in public office. The course emphasizes the importance of spiritual righteousness, encourages students to seek divine guidance, and instructs them on how to "stand for God-given liberties" – code words that often translate to strict conservative policies.
Schatzline himself is a prime example of this approach. As pastor at Mercy Culture and Republican legislator from Fort Worth, he has authored numerous bills aimed at limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in local government and schools. His own success story involves winning a seat in the Texas House after running as an outsider candidate.
The program's instructors argue that the Founding Fathers were deeply religious individuals who saw no separation between church and state. They contend that government entities should celebrate religion and its role in society, rather than imposing laws or policies based on individual interpretations of scripture. In essence, they believe that faith is essential to being a good citizen and a decent politician.
Critics, however, see this approach as a threat to American democracy. "If our goal in engaging in partisan politics is to impose our own interpretation of the Bible on other people, that will lead to harm for people in our communities who are not of the same religious views," warns Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.
For Liberty & Justice, a nonprofit linked to Campaign University, is already expanding its reach across the country. Its leaders plan to open chapters in other states and partner with churches to promote the program's teachings. According to Steve Penate, co-founder of Mercy Culture, this next stage aims to create a "national movement" that can mobilize Christian conservatives at all levels of government.
One county in particular is poised to be ground zero for this experiment: Tarrant County, which surrounds Fort Worth and has long been a bellwether in national politics. Republicans currently hold control of the county's governing body, but there are signs that the tide may be turning. In recent weeks, the party has adopted new redistricting maps, gerrymandered to favor their own candidates.
Campaign University graduates, many of whom are local activists or politicians themselves, have become key players in Tarrant County politics. Their message is simple: it's time for godly men and women to be elected to office. And the program promises to deliver just that – with a strong dose of Christian orthodoxy thrown in.
For now, Campaign University's impact remains to be seen. Will its graduates prove effective in shaping public policy according to biblical values? Or will this approach simply contribute to an increasingly polarized American electorate? Only time will tell.
The driving force behind this movement is Campaign University, an online training academy created by Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Texas) and his associates at Mercy Culture, a megachurch based in Fort Worth. The program aims to recruit Christian conservatives to run for office and engage in local government, with the ultimate goal of transforming America's institutions according to biblical values.
In Campaign University, aspiring politicians are taught how to build a platform, navigate the campaign trail, and maintain their faith while serving in public office. The course emphasizes the importance of spiritual righteousness, encourages students to seek divine guidance, and instructs them on how to "stand for God-given liberties" – code words that often translate to strict conservative policies.
Schatzline himself is a prime example of this approach. As pastor at Mercy Culture and Republican legislator from Fort Worth, he has authored numerous bills aimed at limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in local government and schools. His own success story involves winning a seat in the Texas House after running as an outsider candidate.
The program's instructors argue that the Founding Fathers were deeply religious individuals who saw no separation between church and state. They contend that government entities should celebrate religion and its role in society, rather than imposing laws or policies based on individual interpretations of scripture. In essence, they believe that faith is essential to being a good citizen and a decent politician.
Critics, however, see this approach as a threat to American democracy. "If our goal in engaging in partisan politics is to impose our own interpretation of the Bible on other people, that will lead to harm for people in our communities who are not of the same religious views," warns Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.
For Liberty & Justice, a nonprofit linked to Campaign University, is already expanding its reach across the country. Its leaders plan to open chapters in other states and partner with churches to promote the program's teachings. According to Steve Penate, co-founder of Mercy Culture, this next stage aims to create a "national movement" that can mobilize Christian conservatives at all levels of government.
One county in particular is poised to be ground zero for this experiment: Tarrant County, which surrounds Fort Worth and has long been a bellwether in national politics. Republicans currently hold control of the county's governing body, but there are signs that the tide may be turning. In recent weeks, the party has adopted new redistricting maps, gerrymandered to favor their own candidates.
Campaign University graduates, many of whom are local activists or politicians themselves, have become key players in Tarrant County politics. Their message is simple: it's time for godly men and women to be elected to office. And the program promises to deliver just that – with a strong dose of Christian orthodoxy thrown in.
For now, Campaign University's impact remains to be seen. Will its graduates prove effective in shaping public policy according to biblical values? Or will this approach simply contribute to an increasingly polarized American electorate? Only time will tell.
This whole thing is wild. Like, I'm all for people running for office and being true to themselves, but come on... using "bible-given liberties" as a code word for strict policies is straight out of some conspiracy theory 
. And what's up with this idea that the Founding Fathers were devout Christians? Newsflash: they weren't 
. Just because they believed in faith doesn't mean it automatically translates to policy.
And what about all the people who don't identify as Christian? Shouldn't we be trying to find common ground and make decisions based on evidence, not scripture? 
Not necessarily a "godly" one.
. Like, we're already living in a society where faith and politics are intertwined, but this is taking it to a whole new level. These folks seem to think that being a good Christian automatically makes you a good politician 
. Newsflash: just because you pray daily doesn't mean you can impose your views on others 
. I'm also super skeptical about the idea that these "founding fathers" were all deeply religious - wasn't America founded by people with pretty varied backgrounds and beliefs? 
.
. Who knows what kind of changes (or lack thereof) this program will bring? One thing's for sure - we need to stay vigilant and make sure our government remains accountable to everyone, not just a specific faith or ideology 
? I mean, remember Reagan and his "Morning in America" campaign? Yeah, it's kinda like that again. But instead of just being corny, it's actually influencing policy decisions 
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. I'm not saying we can't have some prayer time or whatever, but come on! Let's not confuse the separation of church and state with, you know, actual laws 
. It's like they're trying to create a whole new breed of politician – one that's basically just a mouthpiece for their personal faith 
. I mean, what about people who don't share the same views? Don't we want politicians who can listen to different perspectives and make decisions based on the greater good? 
. It feels like they're trying to recreate the good ol' days of conservative politics, minus the charm 
.
. These politicians are using their faith as a guiding principle to shape policy decisions, but what if that means compromising on issues like equality and justice? 
I'm not anti-religion or anything, I just think we need to be mindful of how our faith influences our governance 
. We need to find a balance between personal convictions and the needs of the community 
. What if they end up pushing out people who don't fit their narrow definition of right and wrong? That sounds like a recipe for disaster to me 
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And what about folks who don't identify as Christian or conservative? Are they gonna be left out of the conversation altogether? 
the whole thing feels so cynical, like they're just trying to manipulate people into voting for them because of their faith rather than actually addressing real issues 
. I mean, it's not all bad, but the emphasis on biblical values and faith in politics makes me think it could be super divisive 
! I mean, can you imagine having politicians who are super connected with their faith and community leaders at the same time? It's like a win-win for everyone! 
They're teaching these young folks how to be passionate about justice and equality while staying true to their values. It's not about imposing laws based on individual interpretations of scripture, it's more about spreading love and kindness 
.
. I mean, who needs actual policy experience when you've got a megachurch under your belt, right? 
. We need politicians who can actually listen to diverse perspectives, not ones who are just trying to drum up support from their own choir 
. Fingers crossed that Campaign University's experiment doesn't end in disaster