Last week the Trump administration released a 500-page report – and I have not read it all yet – that, it believes, “details the Biden Administration’s radical efforts to punish Christians and highlights President Trump’s efforts to restore religious liberty.” The report expresses, ad nauseum, the belief that Christians – which make up 2/3 of the American population (that is debatable) – are being oppressed by restrictions and regulations aimed at them alone. No other religious group is mentioned, according to Religion Dispatches website; just a lot of examples showing concerns about things like candles being lit while unattended and Bible studies and Christian prayer not being allowed in publicly supported ways. I will tell you that if these are ways that Christianity is being suppressed, I am guilty of having an anti-Christian bias. Why? Because I believe that America is governed by the rule of law – that pesky Constitution thingy – and that all people have the right to practice – or not – the religion of their choice.
Sadly, there are many crimes committed against people based on hatred of their religion. According to the 2023 FBI report on these kinds of crimes, “out of 2,833 hate crimes motivated by religious bias, only 10% (290 cases) were motivated by anti-Christian bias. By contrast, 71% (2,006 cases) were motivated by, and 19% (537 cases) involved bias against members of other non-Christian/non-Jewish religions and atheists/agnostics.” In fact, Jews are 200 times more likely to have a crime committed against them because of their religion than Christians. And yet – anti-Semitism is thriving in America and being perpetrated by people who vote in both political parties. Hate has no one identity – hate is a mental illness.
I think that the real anti-Christian bias is being perpetrated by people pretending to follow Jesus while ignoring His teachings. Hatred of other religions – bias against immigrants – English only advocates – those who are trying to force their religion on the public – stuff like that. It is those who are trying to figure out how to follow Jesus in these times and in this place who are being demonized by this administration. Those calling for equal rights and due process – those demanding that ICE follow the law – those who expect all religious traditions to be allowed – that is the real anti-Christian bias in America. If you want to follow Jesus, you first need to read what He actually did and said. But be careful – it might lead you to the cross.
Prayer – Holy God, may the words of our mouths, and the actions in our lives, be acceptable to You. Amen.
Today’s art is “Helping Each Other” by Godlieve Richard.