God's Providential Hand in Columbus, Ohio

God's Providential Hand in Columbus, Ohio
By Flip Benham

Could any of us have possible known the political and spiritual significance of the state of Ohio in this year's Presidential election? No way! Yet, God Himself guided us to the capital of the state of Ohio to conduct our national event this summer and be a precursor to the November elections. The theology of the church house burst into biography in the streets of Columbus and the picture was painted. It was a living parable for all of Ohio to see that moral issues would be the ones determining this election and Christians would be the ones bringing the battle to the gates.

Below is a short history of how God brought us to Ohio by His providential hand and what He is saying to America:

It was in August of 2003 when God brought many of us to contend for the faith in Montgomery, Alabama, as we joined Chief Justice Roy Moore in the battle over the Ten Commandments Monument. It was here that we met a group of men from the Columbus, Ohio area who called themselves “Minutemen.” They were, all of them, men who were ready to stand for Christ at any minute, anywhere! Our hearts were knit together during those exciting weeks.

They joined us in Washington, D.C., where we conducted an Ecclesiastical Court at the Supreme Court in October of 2003. We declared that the Supreme Court of the United States of America was in contempt of the Court of Almighty God and we burned six abominable Supreme Court decisions right on the front steps. Several of us would have been placed in federal prison for 60 days had it not been for the Minutemen from Ohio who courageously intervened and surrounded us.

It was then that I knew God was calling us to hold our National Event in Ohio. We had been asking God for clear direction concerning our National Event, and on that day at the Supreme Court, we got it! God made it clear that these were the kind of men who would storm the gates of hell until they gave way in the Name of Jesus! Yes, these were the kind of men through whom He could show Himself strong.

Little did any of us know the huge political ramifications the state of Ohio would play in the upcoming presidential election. We never gave it a second thought. Though we were planning our way, God was directing our steps. He knew where He wanted us.

Mary Ellen Urmin tried her very best to find us a church that would host us in Columbus. Some made commitments, only later to change their minds. God had something better planned for us. We always say that “the theology in the church house needs to be made biography in the streets.” That is exactly what God had in mind! He wanted us to take this Gospel battle to the streets and keep it in the streets. Mary Ellen got us permits to meet at City Hall every night for our rallies. What an incredible opportunity! We held an open-air Gospel proclamation for an entire week in the capital city of Ohio – the pivotal state (the linchpin) of this year's presidential election.

Not only that, Jesus used His avowed enemies (the pro-abortion crew, the homosexual activists, and Muslims) to help us paint this incredible picture. That's right! Every night they came to our rallies spewing their vile stuff and every night they received the powerful love of God through His Word and our deeds. We loved them, and they just couldn't get over that. I remember well our last night in Columbus. Many of the pro-aborts and homosexuals asked us to join them to have pictures taken. They hugged us as we said our good-byes. Can you imagine? Jesus uses even His enemies to bring Him praise.

So there it was for the entire world to see this past summer. We lived out in the streets of Columbus a picture of the cultural war going on for the heart of our nation. This was an incredible picture being drawn of the battle between two conflicting worldviews – the seed of the serpent vs. the seed of the woman . Long before the world would see it played out in our Presidential election, God gave us the privilege of living this battle out in the streets of Columbus.

The National Event demonstrated clearly the fundamental differences that were going to be seen on November 2, 2004 between the red states (those who voted for Bush) and the blue states (those who voted for Kerry). But this issue was most vividly portrayed when one sees the break down between the red counties and the blue counties – America is all red! This election wasn't about the war in Iraq , nor was it about the economy. It was all about who is Lord and whose laws reign.

We dealt with abortion – there is an insurmountable chasm that exists between the red counties and blue counties here. We dealt with the horrible and enslaving sin of homosexuality – there is an insurmountable chasm that exists between the red counties and the blue counties here. We confronted the murderous lie of Islam head-on with the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ. Believe it or not, there is even an insurmountable chasm that exists between the red counties and the blue counties here. Why?

All three of these issues are moral issues. They are physical manifestations of the spiritual battle that is raging in the heavens (the seed of the serpent vs. the seed of the woman). They clearly mark our cultural divide. All require us to choose whose side we are on. There is no possibility of compromise or finding “common ground.” It is either Jesus or the devil, life or death, liberty or slavery.

By land (we walked over 1800 miles to get to Columbus); by air (we had five consecutive days of an airplane flying over the city of Columbus with Gospel messages); and by sea (the ever present reminder of Columbus' ship the Santa Maria on the Scioto River next to City Hall) we came to Columbus to paint a picture (a living parable) of the real battle that is going on for the heart of our nation.

Yes, God directed us to Ohio so that He could make a statement! He made that statement! Now it is up to you and me to shout it from the housetops.

“But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-28.

Mary Ellen Urmin said it this way: “…He (God) also reminded me of where the most powerful place is – not in the mass of thousands, but in the stance of but a few. It is with those willing to stand separately for truth. Those unashamed to take the message to the public square, where it is needed by the most and done by the least. I am a proclaimer in the streets and that is where the battle is being won.”