Matt Rush
A web video getting attention in the media shows Republican Land Commissioner candidate Matt Rush taking about restoring America as a Christian Nation and taking the fight to the “enemy.” Those are common statements in evangelical churches, but what exactly did Rush mean by them?
“Many people have asked me, ‘Why should Christians get involved in politics?’ My answer to that’s really simple,” Rush says in the video. “If we want to be a Christian nation again, Christian people have to start standing up, running for office again. Christian people have to start getting involved in the decision-making process of our government…”
Later in the video, Rush says Christians need to “take the fight to the enemy.”
“And so I encourage each and every one of you to get involved, help those of us who are running, or be involved in your community, but we’ve got to start standing up, because we are one nation under God, and we need to make sure that we take that back to our legislative process,” he says.
Here’s the video:
Rush wrote in an e-mail to NMPolitics.net that he didn’t record the video so it could be shown to voters in churches. He said he recorded it at the request of a 23-year-old college student from Belen who volunteers with her church youth group. The volunteer was putting together a presentation on why it’s important for Christians to serve.
The video was shown to teens, most 15 years old, Rush said.
“I love to do anything to help kids, especially if it reaffirms their faith or motivates them to be proud of their faith,” Rush said. “So, when I was asked to help a youth group at a church I jumped at the opportunity.”
‘Not trying to shove a Bible down anyone’s throat’
As to his comment about taking the fight to the “enemy” – Rush said he wasn’t talking about his Democratic opponent in the land commissioner race, Ray Powell, or people who aren’t Christians. He said he was talking about Satan and the evil that children and adults are faced with.
“I’ve never considered ANYONE who disagreed with me an ‘enemy,’” Rush wrote in the e-mail. “THAT’S RIDICULOUS. It’s POLITICS. Just because we don’t agree doesn’t mean that we can’t walk away and still be friends.”
Rush said he prays for Powell’s safety and for the health of Powell’s elderly parents.
“Politics are beliefs and opinions, but peoples’ lives are important,” he said.
Some have interpreted Rush’s statement about a “Christian nation” as an indicator that he wants to force his beliefs on others. Rush said he’s “not ashamed to tell people that I’m a Christian,” but he’s not trying to force his beliefs on anyone.
“I think people who are voting have a right to know my beliefs, but I’m not trying to shove a Bible down anyone’s throat,” he said. “However, I also think that Christians need to get out of their ‘sacred pews’ and get involved. Stop preaching all the time and instead get your hands dirty. Get active, get involved and stop being ashamed for who you are or what you believe… whatever that is.”