“As much as the christian would like to remain distant from the political struggle, the commandment to love urges us to stand up for our neighbors. Our faith must always know when the dictates of the state may lead us against our conscience.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
If we are reading the Bible in ways that do not yield more love of God and more love of neighbor, the two things Jesus says are most important, then we are reading it incorrectly.
Any version of Christianity that teaches people to ignore suffering here on earth because “heaven is our home” is not the Christianity of Jesus Christ.
Over a dozen times in the Gospels, Jesus is described as being “moved by compassion” toward someone who is struggling and over fifty times he stops to help someone in need.
Franklin Graham said Donald Trump is the greatest Christian president he’s ever known. Even after Trump’s Easter Sunday profanity-laced, unhinged post and today’s threat to “kill an entire civilization,” Graham still stands by the disgraced president.
It’s time for churches to examine their partnerships with organizations led by Graham, including Samaritan’s Purse, an organization I myself have volunteered with in the past.
At this time, an association with Franklin Graham is more of a detriment to growing the kingdom of God than the benefit of partnering with his organizations for missions work. There are many other Christian-based NPOs that churches can partner with to share the love of Christ and to serve others through global and local missions.
I can say with high confidence and Biblical authority that Jesus would not be aligned with Donald Trump. He loves him and died for him, but He certainly would not approve of his actions, and the fact that Franklin Graham believes otherwise leads me to question Graham’s own understanding of the Gospel.
As a pastor sits in an ICE detention center during Holy Week, separated from his family and denied a Bible, we are faced with the same question that Good Friday has always asked: Where do we stand when the vulnerable are being crushed by unjust systems?
Good Friday is not just about what happened to Jesus. It's about what is still happening all around us. And it’s about how we choose to respond.
The way of Jesus is clear.
And it’s the opposite of Trump’s post 👇🏾
Because Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, not warmongers. To love our neighbors and pray for our enemies. To feed the hungry, not bomb schoolchildren. To put down the sword and work against hatred.
Choose.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Every pastor who supports this president should have to read this from the pulpit to their congregation. This is the man Paula White compared to Jesus and said he’s the greatest champion of the Christian faith we’ve ever had in the White House. So read his words aloud.
ICE has refused REAL ID and confiscated passports.
There is no way to prove your citizenship if they've decided you don't have it. There is no accountability when they violate your rights.
MAGA has turned America into a third world country.
Abolish ICE and the PATRIOT Act.
Before you head to the airport:
Print your boarding pass
Turn off Face ID / fingerprint unlock
Delete your social media apps
Airplane mode
Turn your phone off and put it away
All Hell is breaking out at SFO Airport after ICE was sent there by Trump & they randomly detained a mother & her daughter! Witnesses say it was one of the most horrifying things they’ve seen & they gave no reason for their detainment! It’s going to get ugly soon as you can see!
All Hell is breaking out at SFO Airport after ICE was sent there by Trump & they randomly detained a mother & her daughter! Witnesses say it was one of the most horrifying things they’ve seen & they gave no reason for their detainment! It’s going to get ugly soon as you can see!
Of course MAGAs are now mad at HBO and threatening to boycott because, let me check my notes, the show "The Pitt" portrayed a very realistic scene of ICE Nazis kidnapping a patient in the ER and arresting a doctor saying the show demonized ICE agents 🙄