Join The Fight

How To Fight Trumpism’s Invasion of Christianity

“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Christian Resistance is not an organized, nationwide movement. Rather, hundreds of grassroots efforts have sprung up among believers who left the Evangelical Church. We are Jesus-loving, Gospel-following Christians who refuse to support any church or political party that defies the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ as they are revealed in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

On this page you will find links and information about organizations I have become familiar with and feel comfortable recommending.

My number one choice for exploring this new frontier is Brian Allain’s groundbreaking anthology How To Heal Our Divides. Thirty-two storytellers share their visions, their efforts, and their ministries in loving Jesus’ kids. Never have I found a resource that offers this much information for Ex-vangelicals seeking to reconnect with service to God.

One of the organizations featured in Allain’s book, and one that I am involved with personally is Red Letter Christians . This online community was founded by Dr. Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne. “Staying true to the combination of combining Jesus and justice, RLC mobilizes individuals into a movement of believers who live out Jesus’ counter-cultural teachings.”  Find them at Red Letter Christians.org.

Compassionate Christianity is an online community with resources far too extensive to list here. Their tagline reads, “Inclusive, welcoming, and affirming thought leadership and resources, reflecting the compassion Jesus modeled for us.” No ads, no subscriptions, no donations- just an open window into to the world I aspire to be a part of. I am very impressed, and wholeheartedly endorse this site.

The Reclaiming Jesus Movement began on Ash Wednesday, 2018, when Jim Wallis and twenty-two other church leaders gathered in response to the policies and actions of the Trump Administration. In the days that followed,  they hammered out The Reclaiming Jesus Declaration, an eight-page “fresh confession of faith” as opposed to a political strategy. With clear, concise answers, this treatise sheds light the dichotomy between the President’s policies and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Evolving Faith is an online community that you just have to visit to understand. Last year I participated in their 2020 virtual conference. Founded by authors Sarah Bessey and the late Rachel Held Evans, EF consists of thousands of souls searching for God’s truth. I’m afraid that any attempt at further explanation on my part would not do them justice, so I urge you to visit their website at EvolvingFaith.com. Jeff Chu signed on as co-leader a couple of years ago, and his insight as a gay man,  journalist, seminarian, speaker,  podcaster, and host extraordinaire complements Sarah’s brilliance as a preacher, speaker, author, and amazing woman of God. Though they are not hosting a 2021 conference due to the pandemic, you will be able to access free podcasts from their 2019 conference on their website. Several of their books are available in our bookstore.

Speaking of which, my  Recommended Reading pages list books I am using on my own journey of resistance. We are still facing the growing darkness of white supremacy, fascism, secret militias, and false conspiracy theories. Though these realities have slipped out of sight since the inauguration, we would be foolish to ignore their existence.  I believe that our best weapons are prayer, education, and then activism, in that order.

Facebook and Other Groups

I’m going out on a limb here, recommending some FB groups where I’m finding like-minded individuals. Please use your own best judgment and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as to whether or not these communities merit your involvement. We here at The Christian Resistance and Coconut Mountain Communications LLC accept no liability or responsibility for what others post on their Facebook pages, or any actions they take collectively or as individuals. Our sole purpose is to provide resources for those seeking a light in this present darkness.

FaithfulAmerica.org is “a grassroots organization that is the largest online community of grassroots Christians putting faith into action for social justice.” This is their claim, so as always, use your own discretion. I participated in one of their petitions, trying to get Franklin Graham and his cohorts to work towards a peaceful transfer of presidential power.

FollowingJesus.org is the web home of Kurt Struckmeyer: artist, author, and theologian. I have not read his books yet, but from reading his website, it appears that his theology is based on the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. From what I can see, this is a writer who offers a perspective deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Vote Common Good  “is inspiring, energizing, and mobilizing people of faith to make the common good their voting criteria. And, we train and support Democratic candidates to connect with Evangelical and Catholic voters.” As always, I urge readers to fully explore the organization and prayerfully use your own discretion when considering whether or not to become involved.

Activism on a Personal Level

Never in a million years did I think I would take a stand and protest an established political movement. In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined it would be my own people- the Religious Right. But I’ve read the Bible, I’ve studied the Gospels, and I know Jesus. The threat of Trumpism still looms over our faith institutions and our country. I encourage everyone to prayerfully consider how, where, and when to stand up to this present evil.

©2020 Rachel Ophoff, Coconut Mountain Communications LLC. All Rights Reserved.