Why are thousands of Christians, obscure ones like me, and well-known household names too, swamping the internet with their views and commentary on what is going on in America right now?
Well ... partly because much of the American church is complicit.
And much of the church of Jesus Christ is desperate to un-couple their wagon from a train wreck.
This is going to be a long, long, long, long post.
I encourage two things as we all journey through this:
1. Draw close to the heart of God. Nestle under his feathers. Listen to his heartbeat.
2. No matter how you're feeling ... imagine what it is like to be a person of colour in America right now. Summon all your powers of empathy, and think of them. More than you think of 'us'.
OK, now here comes the blizzard of commentary. Buckle up.
20 December, 2020
From the Australian Prophetic Council:
6 January:
From The Gospel Coalition:
7 January:
From Relevant Magazine:
From the leader of the UK's Evangelical Alliance:
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Evangelical group blaming the J6 violence on "Antifa". They later denied that they made this claim.
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8 January
Truth over power: It is past time for the church to speak plainly about the election
The ongoing protest of the
election is not about a search for truth; it is an attempt to shape
truth to suit the desires of the powerful.
In The Name of Jesus? - A Statement by Dean Nathan LeRud
Excerpt:
"Christian Nationalism is a perversion, an infection, and an illegitimate hijacking of the Christian faith, the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, and the life, ministry and ongoing witness of Jesus Christ in the world.
Some of those individuals harmed by toxic Christianity are the very ones who invaded the Capitol Building on Wednesday. But all of us have been damaged by these pernicious teachings – perpetrators and victims of violence alike. And I want to go on record: people of faith—whether that’s faith in God, faith in Jesus Christ, or simply faith in American Democracy—should be alarmed, unsettled, angry, and vigilant in the months (and probably years) to come as this newest version of American heresy raises its head and gains traction. Our resistance cannot be passive, it must be active - and compassionate."
A statement from Denver Seminary President Mark Young regarding recent events
"Four years ago, after Donald Trump was elected, I backed away from Facebook because it felt so painful to see people I had respected (especially my fellow Christians) support his lies, his bigotry, his racism, and the chaotic mess I believed our country would become under his leadership.
Yesterday before the mob, before the insurrection: white (mostly men) allowed to stomp into our Capitol building untouched (just months--mind you--after peaceful protesters had been tear gassed and fired at with rubber bullets so the president could hold up a Bible), I noticed prayers some Trump-supporting folks were praying earlier in the day, hoping that TRUTH would be revealed yesterday. One prayer in particular asked that the depth of corruption and deceit in our country would be revealed.
Well. Truth was revealed yesterday. Our president has been lying to all of us. He "loves" the insurrectionists. They are "special" to him. He promised to march with them all the way to the Capitol, but instead he watched on TV because he does not believe in following through on promises that demand any kind of personal sacrifice. And though he demanded "law and justice" for my brothers and sisters protesting the rights of the black Americans who daily fear the own safety in a country not built for them, he said nary a word about law and order while his followers trashed our sacred institutions.
He has brought danger, chaos, and instability to our country. He has endangered our democracy. And, Republican friends, especially my Christian brothers and sisters, I implore you to remember the tenets of our Christian faith. We say when we're wrong. We repent. We follow Jesus in the direction of truth, justice, and love.
The reign of Donald Trump is over. I don't know where we go from here, but I believe with all my heart that healing begins with repentance."
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A Christian patriarchy group boasting about their attendance at the J6 rally (although they did not participate in the violence)
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Many of those who mobbed the Capitol on Wednesday claimed to be enacting God’s will.
Excerpt:
"The
name of God was everywhere during Wednesday’s insurrection against the
American government. The mob carried signs and flag declaring Jesus
saves! and God, Guns & Guts Made America, Let’s Keep All Three. Some
were participants in the Jericho March, a gathering of Christians to
“pray, march, fast, and rally for election integrity.” After calling on
God to “save the republic” during rallies at state capitols and in D.C.
over the past two months, the marchers returned to Washington with
flourish. On the National Mall, one man waved the flag of Israel above a
sign begging passersby to Say Yes to Jesus. “Shout if you love Jesus!”
someone yelled, and the crowd cheered. “Shout if you love Trump!” The
crowd cheered louder. The group’s name is drawn from the biblical story
of Jericho, “a city of false gods and corruption,” the march’s website
says. Just as God instructed Joshua to march around Jericho seven times
with priests blowing trumpets, Christians gathered in D.C., blowing
shofars, the ram’s horn typically used in Jewish worship, to banish the
“darkness of election fraud” and ensure that “the walls of corruption
crumble.”
9 January: Pastor John Pavlovitz
Article by Michael Gerson. “The coming weeks will see a gradually
arriving reckoning. Political leaders who sought access and influence
over the past four years through a political alliance with
insurrectionists and domestic terrorists are responsible for unleashing
(them) ... And it is true, above all, of Trump evangelicals who sought
to recover lost social influence through the cynical embrace of corrupt
power.”
Trump's evangelicals were complicit in the desecration of our democracy
10 January:
It’s time to combat the right’s enabling lies.
11 January:
A
potent mix of grievance and religious fervor has turbocharged the
support among Trump loyalists, many of whom describe themselves as
participants in a kind of holy war.
After Jeremiah Johnson posted his apology, he has been receiving death threats from Christians!
"Over the last 72 hours, I have received multiple death threats and thousands upon thousands of emails from Christians saying the nastiest and most vulgar things I have ever heard toward my family and ministry.
I have been labeled a coward, sellout, a traitor to the Holy Spirit, and cussed out at least 500 times. We have lost ministry partners every hour and counting.
After publicly repenting on January 7th, I fully expected to be called a false prophet etc in some circles but I could have never dreamed in my wildest imagination that so much satanic attack and witchcraft would come from charismatic/prophetic people. I have been flabbergasted at the barrage of continued conspiracy theories being sent every minute our way and the pure hatred being unleashed.
To my great heartache, I’m convinced parts of the prophetic/charismatic movement are far SICKER than I could have ever dreamed of. I truthfully never realized how absolutely triggered and ballistic thousands and thousands of saints get about Donald Trump. It’s terrifying! It’s full of idolatry!
If I helped to prop up this idealogy concerning him, I will need to repent again and stir up even more hell.
On a personal level, I am just beyond relieved that President Trump was only an assignment for a season and never a mandate. Revival is never dependent upon who sits in the White House but rather who sits on the Throne in Heaven. I will continue to preach the Cross and the power of the resurrection. I will continue to help prepare the Bride to meet our Bridegroom.
As we head into 2021, expect me to be more committed to the gospel and making disciples than ever before. By God’s grace I will walk in a greater measure of humility and repentance than ever before. I will learn from my mistakes and seek correction from Godly leaders always.
I’m going to read the Sermon on the Mount now."
-Jeremiah Johnson
The Elijah List deleted all of Kari Browning's prophetic words from their archives after she refused to go along with Trumpism.
12 January:
From Empower for Life
"I tearfully watched leaders that once spoke into my life and have done so much good in the body of Christ begin to bully and mock anyone who pushed back against their political ideals."
"The prophetic leaders who dug in their heels defending their false prophecy concerning the election are partially responsible for what happened at the Capitol. And they need to repent. Some of them have, but not to the degree that I feel is necessary.
You see, there are still Christians saying “Oh no, don’t count Trump out just yet. HE WILL remain our president. He will, mark my words.” This is an exact quote. I’ve asked several of them if they understand what they’re holding onto hope for. Do you understand what it would take for Trump to stay in office? Something akin to a second civil war. Is that of God? Are we fighting holy wars now?"
Christians, we need to understand that this is not a shock. This has been coming, and the signs were there ... not just for years, but for decades.
“When
Christians believe pledging allegiance to a national leader can save
their vision of the world, that is no longer Christianity; that is
nationalism. And cloaked idolatry.
"When
one’s flag-waving Christianity could not possibly translate to Rwanda,
Haiti, the Philippines or Aruba, it’s no longer Christianity; that is
nationalism. And antithetical to the Kingdom of God.
When
one’s Christianity more readily links arms with supremacists more than
with believers of different nationalities — or with believers who
supported different political positions — that’s not Christianity; that
is nationalism. And it’s self-harm against the body of Christ.
When
one’s focus is more on national power than biblical piety, we aren’t
walking Christ’s Way, but have twisted country and Christ in a sick,
syncretistic way.
Evangelicalism
infected with nationalism isn’t Christianity, but a syncretism of
demonic white supremacism. Faith that is more hungry for power than
caring for the hungry isn’t a faith that follows Christ. Faith that is
intoxicated with power has never drank Christ’s cup.”
~ Ann Voskamp
I am not sure when the following was written:
Now
that a new day dawns (again) I have something I have been waiting to
say to some of my Christian brothers and sisters who regrettably may
have lost their way and The Way by a Distorted Imperialistic Religious
worldview blended to a flawed and publicly ungodly leader.
_______________________________________
The
American Jesus or Jesus America is the imposter Jesus that has subtly
supplanted the Real Jesus in the last fifty to a hundred years or so in
this nation.
The
American Jesus is worshipped by a strangely deformed Christian
Americanism bordering on a subtle form of nationhood idolatry—where it
blends a half-Gospel of lust for power with a national agenda lusting
for the same. It incorrectly thinks the two kingdoms are the same. It is
the ideal of Jesus as a Patriot concerned with American values and
American politics and American agendas—so much so that it often eclipses
Kingdom values, Jesus’ politics and God’s agenda.
The
American Jesus can also be found masquerading as a modern day
Therapeutic-Entertainer where He is followed for better feelings, ego
rubs, impressive whizz bang amusements, or great quotes and one liners
to post on Instagram or Twitter--thus producing an adolescent
faith--immature and in need of a constant sensory auditory load.
The
American Jesus is entitled, privileged, loves power & control,
enjoys violence, harbors racism and loves recreational entertainment and
wealth.
The
American Jesus is quite inconsistent with its values at times—it
appeals to the convenient and applaudable values of the Real Jesus—but
it mostly ignores the simple lifestyle and utterly humble relationship
values of the Real Jesus.
The
American Jesus has preferred values when it comes to national politics,
while overlooking and even ignoring many of the Real Jesus’ values when
it comes to actually living out the Gospel.
The
American Jesus lives by the myth that America is some form of a new
Israel of God and is the light and hope of the world. But the Real Jesus
hung absolutely no flags on His cross.
The
American Imposter Jesus is overly concerned about making America great
again, while spending less love and energy with the Real Jesus who is
concerned with making the true Gospel heard and lived again.
The
American Imposter Jesus wants us to believe that if one can achieve the
American Dream then this is the fulfillment of a heathy faith. While
the Real Jesus wants us to achieve the purposes of the Gospel with the
willing loss of our egos and all things for the sake of one’s soul and
the sake of others.
The
American Imposter Jesus leads us to live for a fallen kingdom that has
at its foundation the blood of slaves. While the Real Jesus leads us to
live and look for God’s Kingdom that has at its foundation the blood of
His Son.
We
all need to be careful that we aren’t fortified in the wrong things
that are taught in a gross Imperialistic Churchianity of the American
Jesus and thinking this is the Gospel. It is not.
There is a real need to re-explore what is actually taught in Christ’s Christianity and how it is to be lived.
If you profess the Name of Christ, then get back to following the Real Jesus Christ, not Imposter Jesus America.
The
answer is not Donald Trump, nor any political leader, nor is the answer
America. If you truly profess the Name of Christ--then get back to the
understanding that Jesus is the answer.
Tell
your pastor to stop endorsing and magnifying the worm of worms in God's
church and return to magnifying alone the King of Kings and Lord of
Lords.
The
American Imposter Jesus wants us to believe that we are going to change
the nation and world by getting others to the ballot-booth. The Real
Jesus leads and teaches us that if we want to see the change that
matters most then we must lead folks to Jesus and to the baptism pool.
Jesus is the Way of life.
Jesus is not a religious formula or a system of belief nor a tag on a temporal political persuasion.
Jesus is a living Person who teaches us a way to follow.
Jesus is the Way of Life.
If we claim to follow Jesus, who are we following today, truly?
A
dogma? a denominational caricature? a creed? an ideology? an earthly
politic? an anthill kingdom? a
National dream? a worldly leader?
Jesus is the Way of Life for those who profess to belong to Him.
We are living in angry, polarized and confused times.
True
followers of the Real Jesus need to move toward a renewed practice of
reading and living out Jesus’ teachings allowing it to transform the
morphed and too often selective or inadequate ideas of what it means to
follow Him because we have blended it with the blinding, lusting
cataract of a potent and soon to be judged Constantinianism.
The
Christianity of this American Culture is a failure because it is filled
with earth's ambition, spectacle, pride, violence, racism, earthly
politics and entertainment. These are all things counter to Christ's
teachings.
The
Christianity of this American Culture is more earthly political and
worldly saturated than godly faithful and heavenly minded and it has
been weighed down with achievement oriented thinking for competition,
performance and survival all for the sake of its own self-fulfillment
than with living out the "lowly of heart," humble politics of the Real
Jesus who told us His Kingdom is not of this world.
The American Jesus carries an American Agenda. The Real Jesus calls us to carry the Cross.
Let’s consider getting back to the Christianity of Christ and begin confronting the Imposter Jesus of America.
(Michael Joseph Woodward, “Finding Jesus Christ, Confronting Jesus America,” 2020)
The following comments are my own:
I
posted this on my business page ... then a fellow Christian, one of my
customers, let me know that I shouldn't post political stuff on my
business platforms, and that my views are "crap" and "bullshit". This
was an AUSTRALIAN woman!
"I
generally try to avoid politics here, but that's a bit impossible at
the moment. I am sure you're exhausted and overwhelmed too. I am sure
that like me, you feel like 'what's even the point of expressing an
opinion - everyone is all opinioned-out.'
If
this is you - I empathize. Feel free to scroll right past. Especially
if you're weary, vulnerable, pregnant, maxed out caring for littlies -
you don't have to take on the burdens of the world. In caring for your
little family - you are doing the most radical peace-making possible.
But, for what it might be worth ... here are my reflections on recent events:
The Cross and the Gallows
If you’ve known me for more than a few years, you will know:
- I grew up in Christian fundamentalism
- I was a Christian missionary in Asia for 17 years
- I love Jesus with all my heart and soul
- I treasure the Bible
- I believe legalism is a counterfeit for a real relationship with a living God
-
I believe fundamentalism is a type of brain damage and a trauma
response, a symptom of oxytocin deprivation and resulting empathy
deficit
- I have been tracking the fundamentalist ‘culture war’ in USA for several decades
-
I have identified Christian patriarchy, what they call ‘male headship’
doctrine, as the fundamental deception that has conditioned many
evangelicals to accept all manner of other errors
-
I believe that the systemic errors of racism and sexism have primed the
American church to be susceptible to other serious political deceptions
As a white person, and a Christian, who is married to an American … I can’t say silent right now.
I always wanted to be wrong.
I
am so, so sad and I know, that whatever your personal politics and
world view, if you care about USA, you’ll be feeling grieved too.
And I feel for you, even if your perspective on these things is quite different to my own.
But they raised a lynching gallows … in the place where they raised a cross.
And as a child who was brought up on tales of ‘The Cross and the Switchblade’ and ‘The Hiding Place’ … how can I stay silent?
A cross. A gallows. A 6MWE t-shirt. A Confederate Flag.
And then, in a whip-lash flip of logic … they blame it all on “Antifa” and BLM.
Because
Christians - the ones who are meant to be people of Truth … have been
duped by a delusion that as far as I’m concerned, comes from the pit of
hell: Qanon. Good-hearted Christian people of conscience are
regurgitating content from their religious and political leaders that
originated with Qanon.
It’s not truth. It’s lies. The guys behind Qanon are a pornographer and a corrupt banker.
Their disinformation psy-op has been weaponized by Russian trolls with a destabilization agenda.
This is not just an attack on America, or on democracy, or on Christianity.
It’s an attack on truth itself.
For anyone trying to find a way out, a way through, a way to make sense of it all - here are some resources that may be helpful.
The Social Dilemma - on Netflix
