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Janis Kliphardt (Emery)
Today - Sunday - is the Christian sabbath.
Christian leaders have called out the heresy of Trumpism and demand a rebuke to 'America First'. They have a sense of urgency about "a dangerous crisis of moral and political leadership at the highest levels of our government" ... "They believe the soul of the nation and the integrity of faith are now at stake."
Their hope is to challenge Christians to reach political conclusions only after pondering "WWJD" (what would Jesus do?).
Christian leaders made a Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis:
Because we believe "each human being is made in God's image and likeness," Christians have a duty to repudiate "the resurgence of white nationalism and racism in our nation on many fronts, including the highest levels of political leadership."
Because we believe "we are one body in Christ, there is to be no oppression based on race, gender, identity, or class ... Christians must stand in opposition to "misogyny and the mistreatment, violent abuse, sexual harassment, and assault of women in our churches and country."
Because "how we treat the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger, the sick, and the prisoner is how we treat Christ," Christians must oppose "attacks on immigrants and refugees and cutting services and programs for the poor while cutting taxes for the rich."
Because "truth is morally central to our personal and public lives," Christians must stand against the "practice and pattern of lying that is invading our political and civil life."
Because "Christ's way of leadership is servanthood, not domination," Christians must "reject any moves toward autocratic political leadership and authoritarian rule."
Because "Jesus told us to go into all nations, churches and nations are part of an international community whose interests always surpass national boundaries. 'AMERICA FIRST' is theological heresy for Christians."
Donald Trump won a substantial majority of the vote among white Christians. The testing time we face as a nation presents a particular challenge to Christian churches. “The government’s role is to serve the common good by protecting justice and peace. When that role is undermined by political leadership, we must examine that politics. What we believe leads us to what we must reject and confront."
Thursday, May 24th, an ebullient congregation segued from a service of celebration into a silent candlelight procession through downtown D.C. and ended at Lafayette Square, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. Pedestrians and al fresco diners joined in along the way and walked with the procession. Once at the candlelight vigil destination, there was more prayer and singing and the leaders walked in a tight circle (a’ la a picket line), each carrying a washboard-size poster with one of the six core affirmations and its resulting conclusion included in the Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis. The affirmations (each with its resulting conclusion) were read aloud as the crowd pressed in on all sides. The vigil included evangelicals, mainline Protestant, Catholic, and African-American churches. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners, joked that the favorite question in advance of the event was “do we need to bring our own candles?” His response: “No. The Gospel shines like a light in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. It’s a dark time, but we have enough candles for all of you.”
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