If you aren’t familiar with Mr. Kirk, let me help. He is a racist; for example, after Affirmative Action was rescinded, he said that Michelle Obama had to steal a white person’s spot (for college) to “be taken somewhat seriously”. He is a misogynist who believes that women should “make themselves presentable to attract good men”, and that women need to focus on being mothers. He has also been sending me weekly emails, inviting me and our congregation to participate in Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a movement that “works to raise a Christian voice for the soul of America and to equip pastors like you to stand for biblical values for our nation.” His closing words in his last email were “When we stand up for our values, defend biblical truths, and let the Holy Spirit work in our lives…we can face the darkness of our nation and, ultimately, be victorious in His name.” This is Christian Nationalism at its worst. This is White Supremacy.
To be honest, I am getting tired of writing about this. It is clear to me that the battle lines in this country have been, are, and will always be around whether or not we allow racism to control us. This is why I have said countless times that there is no Civil War coming because we never ended that last one. And combining racism with Christianity is nothing new. Hateful people have always wrapped their words in the cross and the flag, and we have allowed our fears of not wanting to look unpatriotic or unfaithful to make it seem like we support them with our silence. This country has, from before its inception, been a nation of immigrants and diverse religious communities. We have never been a Christian nation, although there are arguments that would support our being a religious nation. The problem with being religious but not faithful can lead us to believe that our particular flavor is the only one that should be available.
TPUSA is coordinating congregations in every state to be part of what they are calling Kingdom to the Capitol American Revival during the coming year. On their website, they have a place where they watch for “radical” college professors and “woke” school boards that want to teach things like real history and allow students to read books that TPUSA disagrees with. Kirk and his kind are a danger to democracy and Christianity, and we need to be aware of their impact on our local communities. They are trying to mobilize high school students to work against what TPUSA considers to be a radical agenda. Their motto is: We boldly empower the rise of the citizen to play offense with a sense of urgency to restore the American Republic. In other words, they are in sync with the agenda of the homegrown terrorists who attacked our Capitol on January 6th.
Please be aware of this movement when you vote for candidates, especially local politicians and school board members. Ask them if they belong to this organization. Make your voice heard. Because this is not politics – this is a religious organization gone wild, trying to form this country into their warped vision of the Kingdom of God. They want a Christian Theocracy to rule this country. If they succeed, we are all in peril. And democracy will die in America.
Prayer – Help us to be courageous, God of all people, so that we can protect those who would be abused by people like Charlie Kirk and groups like TPUSA. Amen.
Today’s art is called “Touchdown Jesus” – University of Notre Dame Hesburgh Library Mural constructed in 1964 ~ visible from the football stadium ~ official name is “The Word of Life” by Millard Sheets ~ South Bend, Indiana.