The Bench Conversation: A Teaching on Kingdom Ways

WAKE UP! Your House is on Fire

The assassination of Charlie Kirk wasn't just political violence—it was the inevitable fruit of a tree planted in hell and watered with Christian rhetoric.

While you've been sleeping, wolves in shepherd's clothing have hijacked the Gospel, turning it into a political weapon. They've convinced millions of believers that Jesus's Kingdom can be built with Satan's tools. They're selling tickets to watch the world burn while calling it "revival."

This isn't another political opinion piece. This is a five-alarm spiritual emergency.

I'm Craig Rogers—64 years old with a wee bit of experience failing and failing miserably. All my failures involve arguments and or debates. After Charlie's tragic and senseless death, brokenhearted, I began to search for answers. I searched the only source that counts, the bible.

I searched Scripture from Genesis to Revelation with a fierce burning question: Did Jesus EVER debate, or did He only teach? I knew the answer already, but the reality of the answer sucker punched me in the gut.

What I discovered will shatter everything you think you know about Christian engagement in these last days.

The brutal truth? Jesus never debated. Not once. Not ever.

While Christian Nationalism burns down the church with political rhetoric, while prophecy pimps get rich selling cruise tickets to Armageddon, while believers choose political parties over the Prince of Peace—Jesus's actual words and ways have been buried under an avalanche of "Christian" activism that looks nothing like Christ.

This conversation happened on a bench beneath an olive tree. Jesus was my teacher, Paul assisted, and I was the apprentice asking the hard questions about why the modern church has abandoned everything Jesus actually taught and did.

What you're about to read will either set you free or make you furious. Some of you will want to kill me for sharing the truth.

If you're comfortable with Christianity-flavored politics, if you love your Christian nationalism more than Christ's Kingdom, if you're making money off prophecy or building earthly movements in Jesus's name—stop reading now. This message isn't for you.

But if you're exhausted from the fighting, sick of the merchandise, hungry for the real Jesus who never debated but always taught, who cleansed temples instead of building political movements, who washed feet instead of seeking first place—then pull up a chair.

The house is burning. The hour is late.

And Jesus is calling His people to come out of Babylon before it's too late.

This isn't just another blog post. This is a rescue mission.

My Recent Conversation with Jesus

The old wooden bench sat beneath an ancient olive tree, its weathered surface worn smooth by countless conversations. Craig Rogers adjusted his faded Oakland Raiders cap and stroked his long beard, the weight of recent events heavy on his heart. To his left sat Jesus, His presence both completely natural and utterly extraordinary. To his right, the Apostle Paul, his eyes bright with the wisdom of one who had encountered the risen Christ on the Damascus road.

Craig: Master, I've been studying Your words, searching Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, and I'm troubled. After what happened to Charlie Kirk—the assassination that shook the Christian Nationalist movement—I see something that doesn't align with Your teachings. I've been watching these leaders: Jack Hibbs, Amir Tsarfati, General Flynn, Clay Clark, the Trump sons, Charlie Kirk with Turning Point USA. They engage in divisive rhetoric and political ideology, but when I examine Your ministry, I can't find a single instance where You debated. You only taught. Am I seeing this correctly?

Jesus: His voice gentle but authoritative My son, you have searched diligently, and your eyes have been opened to truth. From the moment I began My ministry until I ascended to the Father, I never once engaged in what men call debate. When the Pharisees challenged Me about paying taxes to Caesar, did I argue the merits of Roman taxation?

Paul: leaning forward No, Lord. You asked for a coin, pointed to Caesar's image, and declared: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." A teaching moment, not a debate.

Jesus: Precisely. When they questioned My authority to cleanse the temple, I didn't defend My actions through argument. I responded with a question about John the Baptist's authority, exposing their unwillingness to engage honestly with truth.

Craig: But Master, these modern Christian leaders—they spend hours debating politics, conspiracy theories, election fraud, vaccine mandates. They use their platforms to engage in exactly the kind of back-and-forth argumentation that You avoided. Are they following You, or following someone else?

Jesus: His eyes sad but clear My sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me. Tell Me, Craig, when Peter drew his sword to defend Me, what did I say?
Craig: You told him to put away his sword, that those who live by the sword will die by the sword.

Jesus: And yet these leaders you mention—they draw swords of rhetoric, engage in warfare of words, seek to defeat their enemies through argument and political maneuvering. After My resurrection, when Peter encountered Me on the shore, did I commission him to reform the Roman government or to debate Pharisaical policy?

Paul: shaking his head No, Lord. You asked him three times if he loved You, and three times You commanded him to feed Your sheep and tend Your flock. The commission was pastoral, not political.

Craig: voice rising with frustration So why, Master, are these Christian leaders acting like political operatives instead of shepherds? Why are they building movements around earthly kingdoms instead of Your eternal Kingdom?

Jesus: gently Craig, what did I tell Pilate about My Kingdom?

Craig: You said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight."

Jesus: And yet what do you observe these leaders doing?

Craig: realization dawning They're fighting. They're fighting political battles, cultural wars, ideological conflicts. They're acting like servants of an earthly kingdom, not Your Kingdom.

Paul: nodding vigorously When I appeared before governors and kings—Festus, Agrippa, Felix—did I use those platforms to debate Roman policy or advocate for political reform?

Craig: No, you used every opportunity to preach Christ crucified and risen.

Paul: Exactly! I told believers to be subject to governing authorities, to pray for those in authority, but never to engage in political activism or rhetoric. When I wrote to Timothy, I warned about those who would turn the Gospel into gain, who would use godliness as a means of profit.

Craig: anger flashing That's exactly what I'm seeing! These prophecy teachers—they're using current events, wars, rumors of wars, to sell books, grow their platforms, even take people on cruise ships! They're monetizing the very signs You gave us of Your return!

Jesus: His voice carrying both sorrow and authority Did I not warn about those who would come in My name, saying "Lo, here is Christ" or "Lo, there"? Did I not say that many would come claiming to speak for Me, but would lead many astray?

Paul: The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some, in their eagerness for it, have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. These teachers you speak of—they have made merchandise of the Gospel.

Craig: But Master, how do I discern? Some of these men seem sincere. They quote Scripture, they claim to love You...

Jesus: leaning forward intently By their fruits you shall know them. Do grapes grow on thornbushes, or figs on thistles? A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

Paul: Look at the fruit, Craig. Are they making disciples who love Jesus and live like Him? Or are they making disciples of a political movement, followers of personalities, devotees of earthly causes?

Craig: The fruit... pausing to think The fruit is division, anger, conspiracy theories, political idolatry, nationalism wrapped in Christian language. They're making disciples, but not disciples of You, Master.

Jesus: You speak truly. Now tell Me, what did I command you to make disciples of?

Craig: All nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that You commanded.

Jesus: And what did I command about government, about political engagement, about earthly kingdoms?

Craig: searching his memory You... You avoided it entirely. You withdrew when they wanted to make You king by force. You told Pilate Your Kingdom wasn't of this world. You refused to arbitrate earthly disputes. You focused entirely on the Father's business.

Paul: When I had the opportunity to appeal to Caesar, I used it not to reform the empire, but to preach the Gospel. The early church grew explosively under hostile governments without engaging in political rhetoric or seeking political solutions.

Craig: So these Christian Nationalist movements—they're fundamentally wrong in their approach?

Jesus: His voice carrying infinite sadness They seek to build My Kingdom with the tools of the kingdoms of this world. They think to advance righteousness through political power, to establish godliness through human legislation, to create heaven on earth through earthly means.

Paul: But Craig, remember what I wrote: our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds.

Craig: suddenly understanding They're fighting the wrong battle with the wrong weapons!

Jesus: Precisely. They fight political opponents instead of spiritual principalities. They seek to defeat human enemies instead of winning human souls. They trust in chariots and horses instead of the name of the Lord their God.

Craig: Master, I studied the U.S. Constitution compared to Your government, and they're completely incompatible. The Constitution is built on debate, separation of powers, checks and balances—all assuming fallen human nature and the need to limit power. But Your Kingdom operates on completely different principles.

Jesus: What authority did I claim when I departed?

Craig: All authority in heaven and on earth was given to You.

Jesus: And how does authority flow in My Kingdom?

Paul: From the Father to the Son, from Christ to appointed leaders, then to the people. It flows downward, not upward from popular consent.

Craig: While the Constitution says "We the People" are the source of authority—completely backwards from Your Kingdom.

Jesus: My Kingdom has no need of legislative debate because My law is perfect and unchanging. No need of executive enforcement because willing hearts obey. No need of judicial systems because pure hearts need no external judgment.

Craig: excitement building And that's why You didn't engage with the political systems of Your day! Not because You were being strategic or culturally sensitive, but because Your Kingdom operates on entirely different principles that make earthly political systems irrelevant!

Paul: Now you're seeing clearly. When I wrote about governing authorities, I didn't call believers to reform them or engage with them politically. I called them to submit, pray, and live peaceably while proclaiming a different Kingdom entirely.

Craig: But Master, if Your return is imminent—if the rapture could happen any day—why are Christians spending billions on political campaigns instead of evangelism? Why are they building earthly institutions instead of making disciples?

Jesus: His eyes piercing What did I tell you about the signs of My coming?

Craig: That when we see these things beginning to happen, we should look up, for our redemption draws near.

Jesus: Look up—not look around to fix the systems that are passing away. Did I not say that heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away?

Paul: Craig, think about this: we who have the mind of Christ, who will have glorified bodies, who will lack nothing in the eternal Kingdom—why would we need AI, technology, governments, law enforcement, banks, hospitals, schools?

Craig: realization hitting like lightning We wouldn't! With the mind of Christ, we'd have the wisdom that created the universe. With glorified bodies, we'd need no hospitals. With perfect hearts, we'd need no police or courts. With You as our provider, we'd need no banks or economic systems.

Jesus: So why do My followers spend their time trying to improve systems that will cease to exist, instead of calling people out of those systems into My eternal Kingdom?

Craig: voice breaking Because we don't really believe, do we? If we truly believed in Your imminent return and eternal Kingdom, we wouldn't be trying to renovate the Titanic—we'd be getting people to the lifeboats.

Paul: The early church under Roman persecution didn't form political action committees or lobby for Christian-friendly legislation. They preached Christ crucified, made disciples, and lived as strangers and pilgrims looking for the city whose builder and maker is God.

Craig: So what you're telling me is that Christian nationalism might be the greatest distraction Satan has devised—getting us to focus on reforming temporary systems instead of proclaiming the eternal Kingdom?

Jesus: My son, you speak wisdom. When Satan tempted Me with all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, what did I call it?

Craig: A temptation. You said we should worship God only and serve Him alone.

Jesus: And yet many who claim My name now actively seek and celebrate earthly political power and influence, the very thing I rejected as satanic temptation.

Paul: They have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and have worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

Craig: head in his hands Master, I'm grieved. I see so many believers deceived, following leaders who have mixed Your Gospel with political ideology, creating what You warned about—another gospel.

Jesus: placing a hand on Craig's shoulder But you have not been deceived. You have searched the Scriptures, and they have made you wise. You have tested the spirits and found them wanting.

Paul: Craig, remember what I wrote: in the last days, difficult times will come. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive. They will have the appearance of godliness but deny its power. Among them are those who creep into households and capture weak people burdened with sins.

Craig: That describes these movements perfectly. They prey on people's fears, their frustrations with society, their desire for earthly solutions to spiritual problems.

Jesus: But what did I command you to do when you see these deceptions?

Craig: To expose them? To confront the false teachers?

Jesus: shaking His head gently What was My method when confronted with error?

Craig: thinking carefully You taught truth. You didn't spend time debating error—You proclaimed truth so clearly that the contrast was obvious.

Paul: Exactly! I told Timothy to preach the word, to be ready in season and out of season, to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching. The focus is on proclaiming truth, not on defeating error through argument.

Craig: So instead of getting drawn into debates with Christian Nationalists, I should simply teach what You actually taught and did?

Jesus: My sheep hear My voice. Speak My words, demonstrate My character, follow My example, and those who belong to Me will recognize the difference.

Craig: Master, there's something else troubling me. These prophecy teachers—men like Amir Tsarfati and others—they're using the escalation of wars, the signs of Your return, as marketing tools. They're literally profiting from prophecy. How do I address this?

Jesus: What did I do when I found people making merchandise in My Father's house?

Craig: You drove them out with a whip, saying they had made it a den of thieves instead of a house of prayer.

Jesus: And what are these teachers doing with prophecy—My Father's revelation of the last days?

Craig: They're turning it into merchandise, using it to build their platforms and fill their bank accounts.

Paul: They are peddlers of God's word, unlike so many. Remember, I told the Corinthians that I refused to accept payment for preaching the Gospel, because I wanted to offer it free of charge.

Craig: But these men take people on luxury cruises, charge thousands for conferences, sell books and videos—all while claiming to teach about Your soon return!

Jesus: If they truly believed in My imminent return, would they be building earthly enterprises? Would they be storing up treasures on earth instead of in heaven?

Paul: Their actions reveal their hearts. They serve their own appetites, not our Lord Christ. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Craig: So how do I help people see through this deception?

Jesus: What did I tell you about false prophets?

Craig: That we'd know them by their fruits.

Jesus: Look at their fruits, Craig. Are they living like pilgrims and strangers who believe I'm coming soon? Or like people building permanent earthly enterprises?

Paul: Do they live simply, giving generously, storing up treasures in heaven? Or do they live in luxury, constantly asking for money, building earthly kingdoms?

Craig: The contrast is stark when you put it that way. A true prophet expecting Christ's imminent return would live radically differently.

Jesus: And their message—does it point people to Me, or to themselves? Does it create urgency for souls to be saved, or excitement for earthly events?

Craig: growing indignant They get people excited about wars and rumors of wars, about political developments, about being "watchmen on the wall"—but they don't seem to create the same urgency for evangelism.

Paul: They have missed the point entirely. The signs are meant to create urgency for the harvest, not entertainment for the saints.

Jesus: When I spoke of the signs of My coming, what was My purpose?

Craig: To warn people to be ready, to watch and pray, to be found faithful when You return.

Jesus: And yet these teachers use the signs to build audiences, not to prepare souls.

Craig: Master, I feel like I need to write about this. People need to see the difference between Your actual teachings and what these movements are promoting. But I'm afraid—afraid of being labeled divisive, afraid of causing conflict among believers.

Jesus: What did I say about fearing those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul?

Craig: That we should rather fear God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Jesus: And what did I promise to those who acknowledge Me before men?

Craig: That You would acknowledge them before Your Father in heaven.

Paul: Craig, I faced similar fears. When I opposed Peter to his face in Antioch because he was clearly in the wrong, do you think it was comfortable? But the truth of the Gospel was at stake.

Craig: You're right. The Gospel is being corrupted by political ideology and commercialized by false teachers. Someone needs to speak the truth, even if it's uncomfortable.

Jesus: What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul? And what does it profit My church if it gains political power but loses its prophetic voice?

Paul: The church is called to be salt and light, to preserve truth and illuminate darkness. When it becomes indistinguishable from the world in its methods and goals, it has lost its saltiness.

Craig: So the answer isn't to engage in political debate or to build competing Christian movements, but to simply live and teach Your actual ways?

Jesus: My Kingdom is not of this world. My followers don't fight like the world fights, don't build like the world builds, don't think like the world thinks.

Paul: We are ambassadors for Christ, representatives of a foreign Kingdom. Our job is not to improve this world's systems but to call people out of this world into God's Kingdom.

Craig: Master, when I think about having the mind of Christ, about glorified bodies, about the eternal state You're preparing—it makes all these earthly concerns seem so small and temporary.

Jesus: What does it mean to have My mind?

Craig: To think as You think, to see as You see, to value what You value.

Jesus: And what do I value most?

Craig: Souls. People. Your relationship with the Father. The advancement of Your Kingdom.

Paul: When you have the mind of Christ, you'll see that political victories are meaningless compared to one soul saved. You'll understand that temporal power is worthless compared to eternal significance.

Craig: And if we truly have Your mind, Master, then in our glorified state, we won't need any of the things these movements are trying
to build or preserve.

Jesus: Tell Me, what will there be no more of in My eternal Kingdom?

Craig: quoting Revelation No more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain. No more curse. No more night.

Jesus: No more politics, no more human governments, no more economic systems, no more educational institutions—because when I am all
in all, these temporary solutions to sin's problems will no longer be needed.

Paul: So why are My followers trying to perfect systems that will be completely obsolete? Why are they polishing brass on a sinking
ship instead of launching lifeboats?

Craig: standing up, pacing This is what I need to write about. This is the message that needs to be heard. Christians are being deceived into fighting temporal battles instead of focusing on eternal realities.

Jesus: But remember, My son—your warfare is not against flesh and blood. You're not writing to defeat opponents, but to call them home.

Paul: Speak the truth in love. Be gentle with those who oppose themselves, knowing that perhaps God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

Craig: How do I do that, though? How do I expose the deception without becoming what I'm criticizing?

Jesus: What was My method when I encountered the money changers in the temple?

Craig: You drove them out, but... pausing You didn't debate with them or engage in lengthy arguments. You acted with authority and moved on.

Jesus: And when I encountered the rich young ruler who was deceived about eternal life?

Craig: You loved him, told him the truth, and let him choose. You didn't chase after him or argue with him when he walked away.

Paul: Sometimes love requires us to speak uncomfortable truths. When I wrote to the Galatians about their deception, I was direct: "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?" But it was corrective love, not destructive anger.

Craig: So I write with the authority of truth, but not the spirit of debate. I teach Your actual ways, not to win arguments but to call people back to You.

Jesus: Exactly. And remember—you plant and water, but God gives the increase. You are responsible for faithfulness, not for results.

Craig: Master, there's one more thing weighing on me. The assassination of Charlie Kirk—it feels like the violent fruit of all this political engagement. When movements become militant, when rhetoric becomes extreme, eventually someone acts on it.

Jesus: Did I not warn that those who live by the sword will die by the sword?

Paul: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. When believers take up the sword—whether literal or rhetorical—they step outside of Christ's Kingdom methodology.

Craig: And that violence—it proves that these movements aren't really following You, doesn't it? Because Your followers don't fight that way.

Jesus: If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight. The fact that they are fighting proves they're serving a different kingdom.

Paul: Remember what I wrote to Timothy: the Lord's servant must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, patient when wronged, correcting opponents with gentleness.

Craig: So when I see Christian leaders engaging in verbal warfare, when I see movements that produce actual violence, I'm seeing evidence that they've departed from Your ways.

Jesus: A tree is known by its fruit. Good trees don't produce bad fruit.

Craig: sitting back down, removing his Raiders cap and running his hands through his hair Master, this is overwhelming. The deception is so widespread, so deeply entrenched. How do I even begin to address it?

Jesus: How do you eat an elephant?

Craig: smiling slightly One bite at a time?

Jesus: Begin where I began—with truth simply spoken. Don't try to convert the masses. Make disciples one at a time.

Paul: Remember, it's not about building a counter-movement. Movements are of the flesh. It's about individual hearts being transformed
by truth.

Craig: So I write not to start a revolution, but to plant seeds of truth in individual hearts?

Jesus: The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed—the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows, it becomes the largest of garden plants.

Paul: Small beginnings, Craig. Truth spoken to one heart, then another, then another. This is how the early church spread—not through political movements, but through transformed lives.

Craig: Master, I want to make sure I understand what You're calling me to write. You want me to:

Show from Scripture that You never debated, only taught

Expose how Christian Nationalism contradicts Your Kingdom principles

Reveal how prophecy teachers are commercializing Your return

Demonstrate that earthly political engagement contradicts eternal Kingdom focus

Call believers back to Your actual methods and priorities

Is that right?

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