In a bizarre revelation at the National Association of Christian Lawmakers (NACL) awards fete, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, the newly appointed House Speaker, claimed that his ascent to power was divinely ordained. According to Rolling Stone, Johnson spoke candidly about his purported direct channel to God, asserting that the Almighty had handpicked him for the prestigious role.
Addressing the gathering, Johnson, a Southern Baptist, attempted to downplay the spiritual aspect, saying, “Look, I’m a Southern Baptist, I don’t wanna get too spooky on you.” However, his subsequent remarks delved into the mystical, with him recounting how the Lord allegedly spoke to him, directing him to prepare for his “Red Sea moment.”
What is particularly striking is Johnson’s assumption that his audience was an intimate, media-free setting. Rolling Stone’s Tim Dickinson pointed out that the speech was recorded and streamed on the NACL Facebook page, a fact that seemed to escape Johnson.
Perhaps realizing this, he confided, “I’ll tell you a secret, since media is not here.”
Johnson went on to describe nights of divine awakenings, asserting, “The Lord began to wake me up, through this three-week process, in the middle of the night to speak to me.” He revealed that he initially thought the Lord was choosing a new Moses but later determined that he was destined to be his brother, Aaron, in this modern-day biblical battle.
As the GOP leadership struggled with the vacant speaker position, Johnson claimed divine guidance to wait patiently. Despite the competition from prominent figures like Rep. Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan, he insisted, “The Lord kept telling me to, ‘Wait, wait, wait.'”
Johnson’s narrative reached its climax when he recalled the moment of divine revelation, claiming, “And then at the end … the Lord said, ‘Now step forward.'”
Such a divine intervention story might be seen as nothing more than an individual’s personal belief, were it not for the fact that Johnson now holds a position just a few heartbeats away from the presidency. The intersection of religion and politics has always been a contentious one, with the separation of church and state considered a fundamental principle of democratic governance.
Johnson was voted in as House Speaker on Oct. 24.
During his acceptance speech as House Speaker, Johnson doubled down on his religious convictions, asserting, “I believe that scripture, the Bible is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority.”
His belief in God’s orchestration of political leadership raises questions about the role of personal faith in shaping public policy. While religious beliefs are a personal matter, the challenge lies in navigating a diverse political landscape where individuals adhere to various religious and non-religious worldviews.
