COEUR d’ALENE — Congressmen Jim Jordan and Russ Fulcher on Friday said the divide in America is great and called on people to line up with the right side.

But in doing so, they would face adversity. 

“If you’re getting involved today, you’re taking risks,” said Jordan, a Republican representative from Ohio. 

Fulcher, a Republican senator from Idaho, said America has enjoyed great successes and endured many trials, including wars.

“I will submit to you right now; we’re going through another Civil War of sorts,” he said. 

The two spoke at Candlelight Christian Fellowship church Friday night. About 400 people paid $50 each for tickets to the Fulcher fundraiser. 

Security was tight, with guards at front and side doors and inside the auditorium. Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris led the Pledge of Allegiance. Many wore caps with red, white and blue, and some stated support for former President Donald Trump. 

Fulcher, in a five-minute talk, said there's a growing battle between two opposing worldviews: Christian and secular.  

“We’re seeing that conflict,” he said.  

He said about half of those in Congress believe in the general tenets of the country, which he said was founded on Christian principles. 

“The other half look at it totally different,” Fulcher said, explaining they want a more socialist society, with government in control, distributing wealth and offering programs for those in need. 

"That’s a simplification, but that’s generally it,” he said.   

Fulcher said God is faithful and has raised up leaders like Jim Jordan for the circumstances they face today. 

“The fact that you're here and willing to help is absolutely huge,” Fulcher said.  

Jordan spoke for about 20 minutes. He called America, “the greatest nation ever” and said the objective of Republicans was to “protect the promise this country has always afforded its citizens."

He said the administration of President Joe Biden has been stifling rights of assembly, free speech and free press.   

“The most important liberty we have, more important than anything else, is our right to talk,” he said. 

“That's truly what this election in the end is about: protecting those liberties, those fundamental rights we have,” Jordan said. 

To make his point about the magnitude of the country's division, he quoted Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. 

"The dividing line in America is no longer between right and left — it's between normal or crazy," she said in her rebuttal to Biden's State of the Union address. 

Jordan listed several things he said were "crazy" that happened under Biden's watch; to not have a border and let millions of people illegally cross into the country; to let men compete against women in sports; and to let a Chinese spy balloon fly across the country and then shoot it down.

“Not all Democrats are crazy, but the one that now controls their party is," he said.

Jordan said that in the four years since Biden took office, the U.S.-Mexico border went from secure to no border at all; safe streets turned into places of record crime; $2 gas became $4; and stable prices turned into record inflation. 

He said Trump projected strength as commander in chief and when he was in office, Israel and Ukraine were not attacked. 

“The old line is true, weakness invites aggression,” Jordan said. 

He said the general election in 89 days is critical as to which way the country will go.

Jordan cited a favorite Bible verse, 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

He called on the crowd to “keep the faith with the things that make our country the best. If we do that we’ll be just fine.” 

“Thank you for doing what Americans do. Get in the game,” he said.  

    Congressmen Russ Fulcher, Idaho, and Jim Jordan, Ohio, field a question following their talks at Candlelight Christian Fellowship on Friday.
  

    A man wearing a red, white and blue cap listens to Congressman Jim Jordan speak at Candlelight Christian Fellowship on Friday.