Government Should Be ‘Bowing the Knee to the Church’ - U.S. Senator Tim Scott

It is anticipated that Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina will likely make an official announcement later this month declaring his candidacy for the presidency. As part of his early campaign efforts, Scott visited Iowa in April, as Iowa holds the traditional first-in-the-nation presidential caucus, scheduled for February 2024, and is significant for Republicans.

During his visit to Iowa, Scott reportedly took part in a gathering called "Faith Wins" at the Rising Sun Church of Christ in Pleasant Hill. Faith Wins is an organization focused on mobilizing conservative Christian voters. It was founded by Chad Connelly, a former faith outreach director for the Republican National Committee. The organization invites David Barton, a pseudo-historian known for promoting Christian nationalism, to speak at churches across the country. Barton has gained notoriety for spreading inaccurate information about the founding of the United States, among other reasons

After Senator Tim Scott finished delivering a sermon, he was joined on stage by Steve Rowland, the senior minister at Rising Sun Church. Rowland read out a selection of questions that had been submitted by the audience.

During the question-and-answer session, one of the questions posed by Rowland addressed the concern that Christianity is being marginalized in American society, particularly in the media and government, with other negative influences taking its place. Rowland asked how this situation could be changed.

In response, Scott emphasized the ‘importance’ of recognizing the rights granted by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which allow individuals to freely practice their faith. He stated that according to the Constitution, the government should be “bowing the knee to the church.” whilst highlighting the significance of religious freedom.

“As Christ is being shoved out in America through media and government and being replaced by evil, even evil gods, how do we change that?” Rowland questioned. “Number one, we have to recognize that the Constitution of the United States affords each and every one of you your First Amendment rights to exercise your faith wherever you go,”

This represents the latest in a long line of certain Republicans both misinterpreting and disengenuously touching upon freedom of religion, and of other republicans staunchly refusing to critique it.