When Courage Meets Cruelty
We live in a world where hatred is wielded as a political tool, leaders exploit fear for personal gain, and those tasked with reflecting the image of Christ too often choose silence (or cowardice). The other day, Bishop Budde chose courage and invited Donald Trump into acts of decency. Since then, her prophetic challenge in the form of a call for mercy on behalf of the undocumented, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others targeted by sweeping hate policies has been met with the expected hatred and cowardly retaliatory death threats. The response she has received reflects the depth of polarization in this country and the frightening reality of a faith community that has often chosen power over principle. I shudder (literally) when I think that religious leaders have once again chosen either to err on the side of ignorance and hatred, or cowardice and power-grab.
What kind of preacher/pastor/priest/decent human being would truly support the actions of the Trump administration? It takes a different kind. Bishop Budde’s words are the tip of the courageous act of truth-telling iceberg. Far too many preachers are paralyzed by the fear of budget deficits and dwindling attendance. So, they tell "nice" stories as sermons, avoid "controversial" topics, offer a fluffy motivational speech, and prioritize comfort over conviction. However! The Gospel is inherently disruptive. Jesus did not come to affirm the status quo; He came to turn the tables, literally and figuratively. He certainly did not die because he wanted to bring romance to the cross; He was crucified because he challenged the oppressive structures of Pax Romana, exposing the greed, hypocrisy, and violence of the empire. People wanted to kill him after his very first sermon, remember? (Luke 4:16-30). What made the people so angry at Jesus?
To preach justice is to risk the wrath of Herods like Donald Trump, whose wheelings and dealings have nothing to do with morality or governance and everything to do with greed and a lust for power. The policies that will systematically dismantle protections for the most vulnerable are acts of cruelty that thrive on fear-mongering, stereotyping, and the deliberate dehumanization of entire groups of people.
What is deeply disheartening is the role some immigrants themselves play in perpetuating these narratives. I have heard immigrants, perhaps emboldened by their 'legal' status or perceived safety, disparage the undocumented as though they are somehow lesser. Such thinking does not understand the larger implications of gatekeeping, and holding court with the authors of hate-filled rhetoric. People who think like that betray those who share their struggles, and who also allow themselves to be used as tools to uphold the very systems that will turn against them when it is convenient. How to cauterize ignorance? 🤔 Is it even possible? An immigrant is an immigrant no matter what documents we hold.
Let me be clear: immigrants are not, by and large, criminals. Yes, there are unpleasant people in every group - including Americans, but to paint immigrants as a criminal class is an insidious lie used to stoke fear and justify oppression. Human beings are human beings—complex, multifaceted, and deserving of dignity. By the way, immigrants are not just here to pick your fruit, clean your houses, or take low-wage jobs no one else wants either. While many are forced into such work by economic necessity, that does not define our worth. Immigrants are teachers, engineers, artists, entrepreneurs, and the gamut of the human experience. Every human being should have access to a good life, free from stereotypes and systemic barriers.
So, for those who follow Christ, this is not only a political issue. It is the Gospel (which by the way is political as 👀). The Jesus we claim to serve had no patience for systems of exclusion and no tolerance for the hoarding of power and privilege. He taught us to see the humanity in everyone. He reminded us that every person, regardless of their status or station, bears the image of God. Yet, so many Christians are content to demonize entire groups of people, parroting fear-driven lies rather than embodying the radical love and mercy of Christ. Stop kissing Herod's ring.
If we truly believe in the kingdom of God, then we must confront the Herods of our time. even when it costs us. And we must challenge ourselves to think critically about how we live out the Gospel in a world that desperately needs it. It irks me when I hear Christians or people claiming to be allies, dump about how hard they work at avoiding the hard work of standing their backsides up for decency, too concerned about their own necks. People who are suffering because of these policies don't have the luxury of 'avoiding'. I wonder: when Christians think of 'good news to the poor...', how much of that are you willing to risk expressing publicly? What exactly do you see Jesus doing about oppression? I am so sick of the low-ball Christianity that will risk nothing. No wonder so many see the church as a fraud.
To those who dismiss calls for justice as “self-righteous” or “divisive,” you're the same old type of religion that hung Jesus on a cross, bad-mouthed Dr. MLK and will throw a rock then hide your hands every time. Hypocrites! Babylon! If Bishop Budde's courage teaches us anything, it is that silence is not an option. We must refuse to let fear or hatred dictate our response in the face of wickedness. You all know that the Trump administration's policies are cruel. Have the courage to admit it and act for righteousness. How the hell can you not care? A bas la haine! because everybody is at risk.
#BishopBudde #Truthtofools #TruthtoPower #TheBibleandLife #Courage #HumanRights #RadicalHospitality #LoveGodLovePeople #Unbound
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