Confession

My mother is a devout Christian who teaches Sunday School in the Methodist Church. At 82, she brings wisdom and unbelievable energy to that job. Every week, she also cooks and delivers food to “the old people,” mentors at-risk youth, and drives neighbors to doctor appointments. She takes Jesus seriously enough to quietly do what he asked.  

It pains her to know that many young people today think that “Christian” codes as MAGA.

The Protestant Church in Germany issued the Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt in October 1945. It marked a significant public acknowledgment of moral responsibility and failure by German church leaders following the collapse of the Nazi regime. It stated in part:

“Through us infinite wrong was brought over many peoples and countries. We did fight for long years in the name of Jesus Christ against the mentality that found its awful expression in the National Socialist regime of violence; but we accuse ourselves of not standing to our beliefs more courageously.”

Will we see a similar confession from the evangelical churches in the United States for their active support of Donald Trump and his cruel and violent administration? German church leaders apologized for not actively resisting the Nazis. What we see in America is the wholehearted embrace and enthusiastic support for un-Christian behavior. When will we see a reckoning, an acknowledgment of guilt, and a return to Christ's teachings?

Jesus taught us to welcome strangers, heal the sick, feed the hungry, and clothe the poor. He told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The Ten Commandments are pretty clear on the subject of worshipping idols, adultery, murder, coveting, lying, and stealing. It seems impossible to reconcile the teachings of Christ with support for a serial adulterer who lies, steals, and condones murder while pursuing the most vile and cruel policies imaginable.

Church leaders who excuse or celebrate this conduct would likely look at Jesus nailed to the cross and say, “He should have just obeyed the law.” My mother would say that you cannot be a real Christian and be in the MAGA cult. The behavior of those in power stands in stark contrast to the teachings of the Bible and is a complete betrayal of our traditions.

I am not going to hold my breath for a Stuttgart-style declaration of guilt from the MAGA churches in the United States, but there will be a price to be paid, in this life or the next.

While being crucified, Jesus prayed for his executioners, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." This is the case my loving mother makes for excusing the behavior of that portion of the evangelical community that still backs Donald Trump.

But I must confess, she is a better Christian than I am.