Don’t Let Evangelists Hijack The Teachings of Jesus
England was always a ‘Christian nation’, it was Catholic until the reformation of Henry VIII, when he replaced the Pope with himself as head of the church. Which later morphed into the Church of England (the head of which is now King Charles).
Of course today we live in a multi-cultural society. But the majority of people in England still identify themselves as Christians. And as a tolerant and peaceful bunch, there should not really be many issues (likely the only one that many of us have issues with is Halal and Kosher meat (where against the advice of vets at Compassion in World Farming), food animals are not stunned before slaughter.
The good news is that it’s perfectly possible for both Muslim and Jewish religions to be vegan, it’s kind and find within both faiths. The Middle Eastern Vegan Society even has its own v-label for plant foods!
But now something ugly has reared its head, first in the USA and increasingly in England. White Christian Evangelism. What is this? It’s the kind of Trumpian politics that is creating such division and hate, that it’s almost now causing civil war over the pond, and mass shootings. And could do here, if nothing is done.
It’s basically a blend of far right (not conservative with a small c) politics, combined with some idiotic notion that somehow it’s following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Who these ‘followers’ seem to either don’t know or have forgotten that Jesus Christ was a peaceful, simple man who preached to love and forgive everyone.
And if alive today, would no doubt be protecting the downtrodden people, innocent animals and saving the planet.
We are in dangerous territory. President Trump and his vice-president are both always ‘thanking God’ for their right to support arms sales, war, hunt polar bears, drill for oil, deny climate change, insult others who don’t share their beliefs, and then ‘hijack Christianity’ to do all this, in the name of Jesus.
This is veering into other areas like homophobia, not doing anything about genocide, cosying up to world dictators and groping women. We have a situation where the monarchy (head of our Church of England) used money to pay off a young woman who has now committed suicide, due to being groomed by sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, who appears linked to powerful ‘Christian’ men.
It’s not for us to have shame, it’s for them. Gisèle Pelicot (whose husband drugged her to be raped multiple times in France)
Yet anyone who opposes these dubious morals are accused of being anything from ‘far left radicals’ to ‘antisemitic’ if questioning the genocide in Gaza. One Green MP in New Zealand was recently thrown out of parliament, for daring to question the genocide in Gaza, and asking politicians to do something to stop it.
Now in England, we are starting to get more of the same. Many people feel worried (not just due to politics) but because this message of Christianity does not match the message of love, acceptance, and peace found in the gospels.
JD Vance is wrong. Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others. Pope Leo XIV (in response to a quote by vice-president JD Vance).
A few years back, leading Catholics in England wrote an open letter to Iain Duncan-Smith (a Catholic Conservative MP who was in charge of reforming benefits, which appeared to be hurting the vulnerable – former MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is also a devoted Catholic). Here is an excerpt:
We urge you to abandon further cuts which are likely to cause more damage. To become seriously ill or disabled is bad enough. To then have to wait months for help whilst unpaid bills mount up, perhaps fearing eviction or needing to use a foodbank, is distressing and damaging.
We know you place great faith in Universal Credit to restore fairness to the system, but would ask you to reconsider halving of the disabled child’s allowance. Families with disabled children, are already more likely to be living in poverty.
Support Values of Peace and Acceptance
Quakers and others who follow the heart of Jesus’ teachings know real Christianity is about peace, forgiveness, and understanding. Trumpian politics and white evangelical movements often promote fear, division, and even support for guns and racism. That isn’t what Jesus preached.
Challenge Racism and Xenophobia
White Christian evangelicalism often ignores racism or tries to justify it with selective Bible passages. Real Christianity, as seen in the early church, stands against racism. Join and support groups fighting for racial justice within faith communities. Jesus Christ was from the Middle East, not the USA!
Did you that St George (the patron saint of England) was actually a Roman soldier born in what is now Turkey? He was a Eurasian immigrant!
Combat Homophobia and Exclusion
Many evangelical churches still preach against same-sex relationships, leaving LGBTQ people feeling unsafe or unwelcome. That goes against the message of Christ. Read more on why it’s best to ignore homophobia in both politics and the media.
Reject Guns, Hunting, and Violence
In the US, some evangelicals claim gun ownership or hunting is a God-given right. But Jesus never supported violence or weapons. Support campaigns that keep guns out of churches and promote safe communities. Share voices from Christians who are against hunting for sport or power.
