https://progressingspirit.com/2025/06/12/taking-back-the-bible/
"They are active contributors to our ministry, generously giving of their time, talent, and treasure, in support of what we do. If I were to rail on about Trump’s injustices, they would not feel welcome in our spiritual center."
Answer
by Rev. David M. Felten
Dear Tom,
"Simple. Just double down on Jesus. No need to mention Trump at all. Tell the stories of Jesus confronting systemic injustice, lifting up the lowly, calling out hypocrisy among the powerful, and welcoming the outcast into community. Leave no doubt in your hearers’ minds about what Jesus is for and against. Then compare those stories to what is going on today. If someone’s conscience is disturbed, be sure they know that their problem is not with you, but with Jesus.
I know they’re having voted for Trump in the first place sheds doubt on their capacity for self-reflection, but hopefully, if you tell these ancient stories with enough clarity and moral conviction, people will make the connection themselves. I’ve heard tell of clergy preaching on the Beatitudes only to be confronted by angry parishioners over how they don’t agree with such “woke” ideologies — a hard situation best solved by suggesting such parishioners would be happier in a different church.
I know you know. The MAGA threat is real — and even though they’ve buried it deep down, at least some of your Trump voters know they’ve screwed up. Subsequently, they are highly sensitive to any hint of criticism. Job one for you becomes subtle persuasion. A constructive route worth considering is intentionally creating space for one-on-one conversation. Ask non-threatening, open-ended questions like, "What does loving your neighbor look like when your neighbor is being harmed by the system?" or "What do you think Jesus would say about (fill in the blank)?" Maybe, “What do you think Jesus would say about how we’re treating immigrants, LGBTQ+ folks, or the poor?”
Or, you could help people confront their prejudices directly. In the anti-Muslim furor after 9/11, there were very strong negative feelings toward Muslims being expressed by members of the church I served. My solution was to flood the zone with Muslims. We had Islamic forums with Muslim panelists discussing their lives and beliefs. We had special Muslim speakers. I told Nasrudin parables in my sermons. We sponsored a tour of a mosque. Before you knew it, many of those who had previously expressed fear and suspicion of Muslims counted Muslims among their friends.
So, this is where pastoral courage comes in. Remind people that generosity and “goodness” inside the church is not a cover for injustice outside the church. Remind people of the hard truth that Jesus never said, “As long as you’re nice, you’re fine.” Then trust the Spirit to do the work of conviction — and remind yourself that, no matter how big a dent it puts in your church’s income, keeping people happy does not equal doing good ministry.
In the end, despite what many middle-of-the-road conventional Christians think, being “nice” and “good” are not synonymous with being aligned with God’s priorities. Plenty of kind, generous, church-going folk are impervious to self-reflection and mindlessly support policies and politicians that actively harm the people Jesus calls us to put first.
So, keep reminding people that, for Jesus, the ultimate measure of a person is how they treated “the least of these” — the hungry, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned. And to make his point, he opposed the religious elite, denounced exploitation, and upended the social order — all without “railing on” about Caesar directly.
Keep emphasizing Jesus’ teachings and give your Republican parishioners time to reflect on their own faith. And after you speak truths that may cause people to bristle — even leave the church — know that you haven’t failed. You’re doing exactly what you’re called to do."
~ Rev. David Felten
