We are from every Christian denomination, but primarily the Evangelical branch of the Protestant Church. At some point in our lives, we heard what we believed to be the greatest story ever told- the life and death story of Jesus Christ. Our journeys are as varied as the shapes of clouds blowing across the sky, with one thing in common: a hunger to know the God who loves us. We may have asked Him to come into our hearts as precious children, or in one of our adult missteps along the road of life. Many of us couldn’t believe that a sinless Savior could love sinful us. Ignoring our doubts, we took the plunge and invited Him in to our hearts anyway. Shockingly, we found the truest love of all time, and many of us have lived in community with others through our neighborhood church. Church families are far from perfect, but just like every other family, we muddle through and try our best and cling to each other through thick and thin. Those of us who were not blessed with nurturing families may have relied more heavily than others on our spiritual families, setting us up for heartbreak when the unthinkable happened.
Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, due in large part to the political movement known as the Religious Right. Thankfully, he was defeated in his second attempt. Now, in an unbelievable twist, he is running again. In spite of numerous federal indictments, so-called “Christians” are abandoning every teaching of Jesus Christ to support this evil man. Small wonder millions of us have left the Evangelical Church.
This site is devoted to exploring how Evangelicals went from following Jesus to following Trump, resources for those of us who still have the strength to fight, and spotlighting new voices for those of us who live as Jesus-followers in a world where the name “Evangelical Christian” has become synonymous with “Trump Supporter.” God help us.
My blog, Today’s Resistance, chronicles my journey with Jesus through this present darkness. Even though this tragedy is so bad, Jesus is so good. Several of these posts have been reprinted through other publications, most notably Red Letter Christians.
So how are we to live?
Millions of us left our churches, and many of us still feel the loss deeply. Finding another church (especially in my deeply-red rural town) is something I can’t do just yet. However, even in the smallest burgs, I know there are rays of light. If you’re looking, keep your eyes open for churches with leaders who demonstrated courage when the crowd followed lies. Watch for repentance among those who fell for false conspiracy theories. Be on the lookout for congregations who stood up against white supremacists and proclaimed that Black Lives Matter. Pitch in with communities of faith that continued their work on behalf of refugees. And as always, continue to read the Gospels- the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Knowing Jesus through His teachings, His actions, and His love is the only way we can tell the difference between evil and Good.
And lest we forget how easily we can be drawn astray by “Christians” with a decidedly political agenda, it’s always prudent to gain an understanding of where they are coming from.
For more information on understanding the political machine known as The Religious Right, read The Immoral Majority by Ben Howe.
Lastly, pray. This present darkness can easily discourage us from lifting our hearts and seeking Jesus. Remember that He hears every word uttered in the depths of our souls (Romans 8:26). Don’t give up.
Wait for the LORD; be strong, take heart, and wait for the LORD. – Psalm 27:14 NIV