Hundreds of Christian leaders organize to oppose ‘cruel and oppressive government’
Statement takes not-so-subtle jab at Speaker Mike Johnson’s interpretation of Bible
Since President Donald Trump began his second term, many mainline Protestant pastors and denominational leaders have spoken out and even delivered sermons against President Donald’s immigration policies and his efforts that have strengthened presidential power. But not until now have they formally organized in an effort to encourage Christians nationwide to stand up for their vulnerable neighbors and use their influence to strengthen democracy.
“There are moments that call for repentance and resistance, courage and conviction, faith and fortitude,” about 400 organizers said in a statement that they published on Ash Wednesday. “This is one of those moments.” They labeled the statement ”A Call to Christians.”
The statement liberally quoted from the Bible and said that the Christian faith has been “corrupted by the heretical ideology of white Christian nationalism” and that the broader Christian church “has often failed to equip its members to model Jesus’s teachings and fulfill its prophetic calling as a humanitarian, compassionate, and moral compass for society.”
Although they don’t necessarily officially represent their denominations, the leaders who signed the statement included leading figures in the United Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the United Church of Christ, the American Baptist Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Episcopal Church and individual large congregations. Also included are various parachurch organizations such as Sojourners and the Interfaith Alliance.
The statement signatories aren’t limited mainline Protestants. They include a few Roman Catholics as well as two pastors from the Church of the Nazarene, an evangelical denomination.
Notably absent are any leaders from two of the largest U.S. denominations, the Southern Baptist Convention and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The fledgling organization is providing pastors and other local Christian leaders with a variety of resources to assist them in meetings the group’s goals. Among them are a liturgy that focuses on justice issues, a songbook drawing from various social-justice movements, and a Bible study focusing on immigration issues. The group also is promoting activities that have been organized by Christian activists throughout the country.
The group’s statement calls the current situation “particularly dire” as the “government-sponsored cruelty and violence we are witnessing stands in total opposition to the teachings of Jesus.” The statement is based largely on Biblical themes, especially ones from the four gospels. Here is one excerpt:
As Christians, we must never preach nationalism as discipleship, confuse American and Christian identity with whiteness, or mistake allegiance to modern-day Caesars for faithfulness to Christ. We must never surrender our prophetic voice by aligning with powers and principalities rather than with the One who calls us to be purveyors of justice and righteousness.
Now is the time to boldly embrace fidelity to the message of Jesus: to defend the image of God in every person; to love our neighbors — no exception; to reject retribution; extend grace, mercy, and compassion; reflect the radical counterculture of the Beatitudes and live out the call of Matthew 25 with special care for persons who are poor, vulnerable and marginalized.
The statement also takes issue with a statement made recently by House Speaker Mike Johnson, in which he said that the Biblical calls to welcome foreigners apply to individual believers, not to the government. The statement said, without mentioning Johnson by name:
Jesus gives His final test of discipleship in Matthew 25:31-46, making clear that the measure of our faith is revealed in how we treat those who are hungry, thirsty, sick, strangers, or imprisoned. To say, as some do, that this passage is only about taking care of fellow Christians is an incorrect theological interpretation. It is for the nations, ethnoi1, for all peoples. This passage names people who are, even now, being directly and deliberately targeted and harmed by those in political power. To serve and defend the most vulnerable is to serve and defend Christ Himself. [Emphasis in original]
This is a Greek word that was used in the New Testament to refer to groups of people, often for non-Jews.