John Hagee's church is distancing itself from a political event that took place in its facilities and drew nationwide attention for a vulgar-inspired chant against President Joe Biden.
The Reawaken America Tour rally was held at Hagee's Cornerstone Church in San Antonio last week and featured such speakers as Mike Lindell, Michael Flynn and Greg Locke.
On Saturday, a video clip from the rally went viral because it showed a speaker leading the audience in a chant of "Let's Go, Brandon," which has become a replacement for the R-rated "F--- Joe Biden."
"This past week, Cornerstone Church facilities were used by an outside organization," the church said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. "Cornerstone Church is not associated with this organization and does not endorse their views."
The phrase itself went viral following a televised NASCAR race in October, when fans began chanting "F--- Joe Biden," but an NBC reporter misheard it as "Let's Go Brandon." Brandon was the first name of the race winner.
Christian leaders widely rebuked the rally for shouting the phrase.
"The phrase 'Let's Go Brandon,' a euphemism for an obscene anti-Biden rant should be abhorrent to all Americans regardless of their political affiliation," said ethicist Richard Land, president emeritus of Southern Evangelical Seminary. "And for this vulgar chant to be proclaimed in a church is blasphemous."
The phrase “Let’s Go Brandon”, a euphemism for an obscene anti- Biden rant should be abhorrent to all Americans regardless of their political affiliation. And for this vulgar chant to be proclaimed in a church is blasphemous.
— Richard Land (@rdland) November 16, 2021
"The gospel neither needs profane chants nor does it need to be the one mandated religion," said Ed Stetzer, a speaker and author and the editor-in-chief of Outreach Magazine. "Instead, we need God's people joining Jesus on mission, not a bizarre display mixing the faith with such foolishness."
"It's morally inconsistent for Christians to say 'I love Jesus' and 'let's go Brandon,'" said Daniel Dickard, pastor of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C. "Praise and profanity (including any alternative 'PG' expression) should not proceed from the same mouth (Mt 12:34). You can disagree with politicians/their policies and still honor God."
It’s morally inconsistent for Christians to say “I love Jesus” and “let’s go Brandon.” Praise and profanity (including any alternative “PG” expression) should not proceed from the same mouth (Mt 12:34).
— Daniel Dickard (@DanielDickard) November 16, 2021
You can disagree with politicians/their policies and still honor God.
"A Christian cannot repeat the phrase 'Let's go Brandon' because President Biden is our authority (1 Peter 2:17)," said Scott Maze, pastor of North Richland Hills Baptist Church in Texas. "There are civil ways of expressing our disagreement with our President. But no thinking, caring Christian can repeat the words, 'Let's Go Brandon.'"
A Christian cannot repeat the phrase “Let’s go Brandon” because President Biden is our authority (1 Peter 2:17). There are civil ways of expressing our disagreement with our President. But no thinking, caring Christian can repeat the words, “Let’s Go Brandon.”
— Scott Maze (@scottmaze) November 16, 2021
Related:
'Let's Go Brandon' Chant at Megachurch Draws Rebuke: 'This Is Blasphemous'
'Let's Go Brandon' Undermines Everything Conservatives Stand For
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Mario Tama/Staff
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
