War On Christians?

This year will be challenging for all of us while politics dominates the news, and followers of both candidates take pot shots at each other, even at Christ the King.  It’s all very understandable because many of our identities are linked to the candidate of our choice and the media we watch such as FOX News versus MSNBC.  

We are entitled to support our preferred candidate whose policies are most attractive to us.  However, there is one “policy” that is very divisive and destructive, in my opinion.  It is covered in the following article written by Sarah Posner, MSNBC Columnist: "Trump just promised an authoritarian ‘task force’ to impose Christian ideology: The former president is still feeding the Christian right’s persecution complex."

Yes, I prefer MSNBC.  Even so, this planned imposition of Christian ideology on all Americans based on a supposed “war” on Christians is alarming.  Moreover, Evangelical support for such a response to this “war” is explained in the Tim Alberta book “The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism.”  Raised Evangelical, Alberta unveils the thinking behind Evangelical fear.  

Here is a small portion of Posner’s article. (begin) In a Dec. 19 speech in Iowa, for example, Trump pledged, “As soon as I get back in the Oval Office, I’ll also immediately end the war on Christians. I don’t know if you feel it. You have a war. There’s a war.” Speaking just after the Colorado Supreme Court disqualified him from appearing on the state’s GOP primary ballot, Trump tied this “war” to his own legal woes. “Under crooked Joe Biden, Christians and Americans of faith are being persecuted and government has been weaponized against religion like never before. And also presidents like never before,” he added. “I always say Al Capone was treated better than I was treated.”

Trump has promoted the theme of Christian persecution in the past, but is elevating it again as these legal issues mount. His clear purpose is to deflect attention from his own criminal liabilities by insinuating that the same Biden administration he falsely claims is unfairly targeting him for prosecution is similarly persecuting religious Americans.

Ramping up his authoritarian rhetoric, Trump pledged in the Iowa speech to institutionalize an authoritarian crackdown of the same sort he falsely accuses the Biden administration of implementing. “Upon taking office, I will create a new federal task force on fighting anti-Christian bias to be led by a fully reformed Department of Justice that’s fair and equitable,” he promised. “Its mission will be to investigate all forms of illegal discrimination, harassment and persecution against Christians in America.” (end)

Stoking fear among Christians, especially among Christian far right Evangelicals, is dangerous and wrong.  Some of us may believe there is some current anti-Christian bias in the government.  Support for and defense of other faiths is not anti-Christian bias.  Treating all people equally, such as those who are LGBTQ oriented, is not anti-Christian.  Very unfortunately some of us believe it is.  Personally, I believe persecution of LGBTQ individuals is anti-Christ behavior.  Moreover, any “war” to be waged should be against hypocrisy, stoking fear, and promoting lies all in the interests of loving and not fearing our neighbors.

Deacon David Pierce