Featured News Report

Washington Lobbyist Scandal
Exposing End Time Church
Flaws

By Bill Wilson, KIN Senior Analyst

WASH—KIN—Jan 9—The widespread corruption scandal in Washington, D.C. may reach deep into the landscape of politically active Christian ministries and churches, who by their zeal to right society of its wrongs abandoned the tenets of their faith by accepting tainted money and rationalizing corrupt practices as a means to justify advancing a values-based agenda.

Last week’s guilty pleas by Washington, D.C. super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff sent ripples throughout the nation’s capitol. Both Democrats and Republicans, who were touched by the Abramoff money-for-favors web of corruption and intrigue, began giving back money they had received, and denouncing the embattled lobbyist. At the heart of the controversy is beleaguered ex-House Majority Leader Tom Delay from Texas. Delay, who appears to be tightly linked with masterminding and working this influence peddling scheme in Washington, was left with little option but to notify Republicans over the weekend that he did not intend to return to his leadership position.

What makes this of particular import to Christians is that Delay and those associated with him say they are believers in Christ. It is true they have worked hard in the Christian community to support Christian-values-based causes. Yet the web of scandal surrounding them, as hyped by the liberal media and opportunistic Democrats, is hardly becoming to any Christian walk. Scores of millions of dollars exchanged hands to help “values-oriented” candidates get elected, influence votes from both Republicans and Democrats, and to buy access to powerbrokers. Much of the money in question came from Indian gambling casinos. Some of the money was from interests that supported forced abortion and prostitution.

Worse yet, several values-based ministries and Christian organizations received and used this money to support conservative causes, either in terms of educating the public or by directly supporting political endeavors. Some, in their zeal to right all the moral wrongs of society, likely knew the money was tainted by the very evil they were fighting—but took it anyway. Others are in flat-out denial that they were hoodwinked by politicians and lobbyists who invoke the language of Christianity so strongly. Others were never told the money was dirty and they were “used” to launder it by educating people about conservative causes which, in turn, caused them to vote for conservative candidates.

For example, one pastor, Chris Geeslin, headed up one of the values-oriented nonprofit organizations woven into the Abramoff web-- U.S Family Network. An elder of his former church, Ed Buckham, who has been considered one of the most powerful lobbyists in Washington, D.C. and has close ties to Delay, was involved with U.S. Family Network led by Pastor Geeslin. The organization received money from various sources and legally used it to advance values-based causes by educating constituencies about conservative issues.

Unbeknownst to Pastor Geeslin, the money that was fueling some of U.S. Family Network’s Christian-values-based educational campaign was money from Indian gambling interests and from organizations that supported forced abortion and prostitution in offshore locations. Once Geeslin figured it out, he refused to participate further. Informed independent sources say that eventually, Geeslin was booted from his own church. The sources say that Buckham, and another church elder, Warren Robold, who is now under indictment in the lobbying scandal--both backed by considerable personal wealth and influence--convinced the church board to replace Geeslin with another pastor. Pastor Geeslin stands testament to the ruthless nature of the scandal.

Other ministries have supported Delay throughout the scandal because of his dedication to “Christianity.” The end time significance of this “purging” that has yet to be exposed fully to the public is that Christian leaders left their first love to engage the political fight against the forces threatening family values and traditional Christian tenets. Perhaps their intentions were good at heart, but somewhere along the way, they crossed over into believing their mission was God’s mission. Instead of using their platform for speaking God’s truth into these issues of political import, they became embroiled in the fight itself.

Some of the “Christians” pulling the strings in this web of corruption wrongly believe that God has empowered them with influence and money, and that whatever means they use to promote conservative causes justify the ends. Keep in mind that a huge percentage of the Washington, D.C. power base, irrespective of political party, participated in this corruption. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which wile some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” It is important that love for money and zeal for correcting societies problems do not replace a Christian’s “first love”—Jesus Christ and His righteousness.

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