NEWS AND OPINION
Congressman Mike Johnson, a Republican from Benton, Louisiana, has been sworn in as House Speaker today. Johnson stated from the Speaker’s chair, “I want to tell all my colleagues here what I told the Republicans in that room last night that I don’t believe there are any coincidences in a matter like this. I believe that scripture, the Bible, is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority. He raised up each of you. All of us. And I believe that God has allowed and ordained each and every one of us to be here at this specific moment. This is my belief. I believe that each one of us has a huge responsibility today to use the gifts God has given us to serve the extraordinary people of this great nation, and they deserve it.”
Mike Johnson and I met when he was a practicing attorney in Shreveport through our mutual association with the Alliance Defending Freedom. He has a long track record of faithfulness as a Christian and as an advocate for Christian and conservative policies. Years later Johnson went on to run and win a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. In 2016, he ran and won a seat in the U.S. Fourth Congressional District.
Shortly after becoming a Congressman, Johnson initiated a bipartisan effort to bring civility into Congressional deliberations and affairs. He compiled these principles into a document called a “Commitment to Civility” which received signatures from members of both parties. At the time of my interview of Johnson in 2017, I was admittedly skeptical that such efforts would bear fruit. I now suspect that God blessed his faithfulness in being civil to find favor from his colleagues in choosing him today to become Speaker- fruit indeed!
Speaker Johnson’s election is the most promising development in national government since the Supreme Court overturned Roe in 2022. Before today, when was the last time the person holding the office of House Speaker spoke sincere and God honoring words of faith? I have no recollection of any in my lifetime.
Through prayers, national repentance and God’s blessing, perhaps this is another light at the end what has been for several years a dark period in America. Who knows what He may do? God.
My interview with Congressman Johnson in 2017 for Covenant Spotlight is reproduced below.
