It appears that the NAR received their marching orders from their political masters to defend the ICE raids. Today is Sammy Rodriguez's turn...

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Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. - Romans 13:1-4 (ESV)

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Pastor Sam Rodriguez is in a tough spot. As the Hispanic MAGA preacher of prominence he has to continually walk a thin line because the two sides he has chosen are often at war against each other. He certainly does not want to infuriate anyone in MAGA and the NAR apostate church because that is where his bread is buttered. You see, faux-pastors like Sammy and Shane Idleman have hitched their wagons to the Trump train because it is a gravy train. It is lucrative. It is the same reason all the billionaires have bowed the knee and kissed the ring of the Lord of Mar-A-Lago. The problem for Sammy is Trump does not really care much for black and brown people. He tends to exploit them. The heart of the disconnect now is that people like Sammy need to pretend that what people see on the television every night is somehow not what they are seeing. Don't believe your lying eyes. We cannot escape it either as Trump has ordered ICE to film all of their raids and arrests because he wants to sell the suffering as a made for TV drama. So, let us reason once more together through the latest article from Samuel Rodriguez and Charisma News, linked above.

"Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, a prominent voice in the Hispanic Christian community and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, recently spoke with CBN about the Trump administration's directive allowing ICE agents to target traditionally protected spaces, including churches, schools and hospitals. This decision has sparked significant debate, especially within faith communities that are deeply concerned about its potential impact on illegal immigrants. Rodriguez's perspective offers a nuanced balance between supporting justice and advocating for compassion, rooted in biblical principles. Rodriguez made it clear that the administration's focus is not on deporting individuals who have lived law-abiding lives for decades. "They're coming after the pedophiles, they're coming after the gangbangers, they're coming after the cartel, the coyotes, the human traffickers. That's who they're coming after," he said. For Rodriguez, this targeted approach aligns with the biblical mandate for justice, as seen in Romans 13:3-4, which reminds us that authorities are meant to be "a terror" to wrongdoers, not those who do right." - Samuel Rodriguez

Because Sammy has drank the MAGA Kool-Aid, he buys everything his idol tells him, as did 45% of the Hispanic community that voted for Trump. The problem is, wait for it, Trump was lying when he said he was just coming after the violent criminals. He knew and Sammy knows that if they used buzz words like pedophiles and gangbangers, it would be a lot easier to sell it. How many illegal immigrant pedophiles do you think are honestly in this country? A handful? After that, who were the other 20 million people he was saying he would deport? Who did you think they were Sammy? I made the Romans verses the key verses today above, including the context Sam left out. That's because verse one demands to submit to the governing authorities but Rodriguez only abides by this if it is a Republican in authority, exposing his biblical hypocrisy. The larger problem though is pretending to care about the government being the terror for wrongdoers after his idol released 1500 rioters from January 6^th, including hundreds of violent offenders who assaulted police officers. The truth Sammy either does not want to face or doesn't want to admit, is that Trump is not just coming after the coyotes and cartel members. Let's just look at this past Sunday when ICE arrested 1,179 people. Of those, just 613 were criminal arrests. The rest, or 48% of them, were either non violent offenders or never committed any offense at all. Except that is not how Trump and his administration view it. Last night on CNN, master MAGA buffoon Scott Jennings said the quiet part out loud. He said that once someone crossed the border illegally, they became criminal and they all should be deported. Does not matter if you have lived here your whole life. Does not matter if you raised a family here. Does not matter of you have kids who have only known this country as home. Doesn't matter if you have worked responsibly and worship here at a local church, just like the one Sammy Rodriguez pastors. See ya later. Enjoy your flight back to a country you may have not seen in decades. That is not a biblical mandate for justice you ghoul. What that represents is when the government becomes the terror instead of protecting people from the terror. When the government becomes the wrongdoers. As I wrote yesterday, our responsibility to Christ at that point is to exhibit and advocate for love and mercy. Sammy however has chosen Team Trump.

However, Rodriguez expressed deep empathy for the individuals who might feel collateral fear. "I want to make sure they don't cross the line," he said of the administration's actions, emphasizing that churches should remain places of sanctuary for law-abiding individuals. One of the most significant concerns Rodriguez shared is the potential impact on Hispanic congregations. He highlighted reports from pastors who said their church attendance dropped by "15-20%" due to fear. "There is a concern that these areas now will be targeted," he acknowledged. Yet, he also addressed the importance of countering misinformation with truth, as Ephesians 4:25 urges us to "put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor."

There is this amusing mislabeling that occurs with pharmaceuticals. The term side effect, are actually nothing of the sort. They are the actual effects of the drug; they just were not the ones the creators were hoping for. By calling them side effects they are trying to lessen the blow about how bad they might be. This same principle is on display here when Sammy refers to the abject fear Trump is trying to stoke as "collateral fear." No, it is the direct fear of the polices and the fear is the purpose, not the side effect. Just like the ICE agents who matter of factly said that many of their arrests will end up being "collateral arrests." What? What the hell is a collateral arrest? I am sure it was not "collateral to the person arrested, or God forbid deported. This kind of blase', Marie Antoinette, let them eat cake mentality is not biblical, or even remotely compassionate, merciful or loving. You want to make sure they do not cross the line? What line is that, Sammy? How many innocent people need to be collateral damage before you say wait a minute? Did they cross the line when they tried to detain a war veteran and then told him his ID was somehow fraudulent? You do realize that by saying churches are sanctuaries for law abiding citizens, you leave wide open the possibility for these ICE raids in your church because in their minds and the mind of your idol, once they crossed the border they are not law abiding by definition. I am surprised the drop off is only 20%. Don't you worry Sammy - it is going to be much higher than that. Ephesians 4:25 is a great verse but the man Sammy idolizes lied over 30,000 times in his first term, claimed Haitians were eating pets in Ohio and promised he was only coming after violent criminals. It is one week and in and up to 48% of those arrested had no record at all or not violent offenses. So, calm your pearl clutching about the sanctity of the truth when you support a man who lies as easy as he breathes.

Rodriguez's support for removing sanctuary policies stems from his belief in the moral responsibility to hold criminals accountable. "Can you believe that there are states and mayors who have rapists and pedophiles in their prisons, undocumented, and they refuse to give ICE direct access or information? To me, I find that to be morally reprehensible and illogical," he stated. At the same time, Rodriguez reminded listeners that the administration must tread carefully to avoid harming innocent families. "I do not believe this administration will in any way form or shape work to jeopardize churches and communities that undergirded his election," he said, referencing the significant Latino support for President Trump.

Uh-huh. You believe in the moral responsibility of holding criminals accountable. Unless they are your criminals, right Sammy? I mean the guy who jammed a stun gun into the neck of a police officer on January 6^th, he doesn't count right? Because your guy just pardoned him. Or the hundreds of others who committed violent acts against the police that day. They do not count either, right? Or how about your idol himself. You obviously do not care that even though he was a convicted rapist with 34 other felonies that he would be God's choice as president of the United States. I do not care what your pathetic opinion is of why the prosecutions were made - he was convicted by the only people who sat and examined all of the evidence - juries of his peers. Oh, so you have such a deep seeded conviction to see criminals held to account if they are brown and from another country but not if they are the man who put the idol in your idolatry? Got it. It is morally reprehensible for municipalities and states to not give information of people who are already in prison? Seems like they have already faced justice. Maybe those states do not like the federal over reach? Either way, what in the world does that have to do with the cause of the gospel? You remember the gospel, right Sammy? What is morally reprehensible is for someone pretending to be a pastor acting as if they are so outraged at democratic policies while granting so much grace to Republican practices that are resulting in a 20% drop in church attendance as congregants are flown out of the country on war planes. How can you say with a straight face that you do not think this administration will jeopardize churches when you just said they are already doing it! 20% are already missing! You think Donald Trump cares one whit about your congregants Sammy? Are you delusional? Make sure you record your local news so you can catch your sheep being shepherded out of this country by Dr. Phil.

Pastor Rodriguez's insights remind us of the delicate balance between enforcing the law and using discernment for the days we live in. By rooting these actions in biblical principles, he hopes to protect the law-abiding while ensuring justice for those who exploit and harm others. His prayerful hope is that accurate information and measured policies will prevent unnecessary fear and maintain the sanctity of churches as places of worship and reverence.

Just like yesterday when we reviewed Shane Idleman, Sammy Rodrigues is confusing the carnal and profane with the holy and righteous. Discernment has to do with the church and the life of a Christians. Enforcing the law belongs to the state. Our job is to approach people with the love and mercy that has been shown to us. If people break laws, violent or otherwise, the mechanism for addressing that already exists. It is called the law. It doesn't matter if you were here legally or illegally. The law is the law and it should be applied evenly without fear or favor. Discernment of what is evil however is simple. If you see the government filming the arrests and forcing those arrested to be interviewed by a fake TV doctor, then maybe you are not dealing with good intentions. Rodriguez can pay as much lip service as he wants to preventing unnecessary fear but that ship has sailed already. The fear is here along with the collateral damage. It is only week one by the way. The fear will get worse. The arrests will hit much closer to home. People you have known for decades will be removed. People whose kids play with your kids. People who you share your pews with or serve in ministry together. Reasonable people can have reasonable political debates about immigration and how to best solve the problems we face as a country. As a Christan however, and a Christian pastor at that, this slavish idolatry and blind fealty to one man as he removes 20% of your sheep in week one? Yeah, there is only one word for that Sammy.

Reprehensible.

Reverend Anthony Wade - January 28, 2025

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.