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.
Speak Up About Climate Science
Some white evangelical groups question or attack climate science, claiming a divine right to use nature as they wish. This attitude is not just harming the planet and other creatures, but already causing ‘natural disasters’ and famine for people worldwide – how does this denial align with the teachings of Jesus Christ?
Highlight churches that take real action to cut waste, protect green spaces, and support clean energy—following the Christian call to treat the Earth kindly.
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.
Encourage Media Accountability
Media often gives too much space to extreme voices. Byline Times (a citizen-funded newspaper) reports that the Lib Dems have recently launched a Balance the BBC campaign, due to providing months of ‘wall-to-wall’ coverage of Nigel Farage and Reform UK, fanning the flames of dangerous populism.
Compassionate solutions to the ‘boats crisis’ already exist, if only politicians would listen to the experts.
As our national broadcaster, the BBC should offer balanced news coverage. Lib Dems report that despite only having 5 of 250 MPs in opposition, Nigel Farage accounts for 60% of the BBC website’s mention of opposition leaders (over Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey and the Greens).
Empower Young People and New Leaders
Many young Christians reject the politics of hate. Let young voices shape the future of faith communities, making sure kindness and fairness win out over outdated, harsh rules.
A YouGov study found 25% of under-30s said they would never vote Labour. In the year since the general election, Labour has gone from dominating the youth vote, to being a three-way race with Greens and Lib Dems. Reform (despite the headlines) isn’t even close. University of Exeter
Books to Reduce Hatred in Religion
Wild Faith is a book again on how the Christian Right is taking over America, by investigative journalist Talia Lavin. From book bans in libraries to banning gay rights, she also covers the Christian Patriarchy movement (a desire to place all women under male control) and ‘deliverance ministers’ that leads to child abuse.
Separation of Church and Hate is by the son of a former Catholic nun and Franciscan brother, a Biblically correct takedown of far-right Christian hatred. For over 200 years, the US constitution has given people the right to a society where church and state exist independently. But now this is being hijacked by a few, to impose narrow views on government and faith.
These extremists who weaponize the Bible for earthly power, are not on the side of Jesus. Comedian John Fugelsang takes you through the issues. Abortion is a personal ethics issue and one that should be respected, but other issues like immigration and homophobia are far less clear-cut.
Nice Christians don’t get the airtime. You don’t see them on cable news, talking about how war is bad. Villains make for better TV. John Fugelsand
Bring Back Your People is a book to bring the real issues of climate change and pollution back to a nasty politics more concerned with scaring people into voting for far-right beliefs. The author is a preacher and leader of the Poor People’s Campaign in the USA, who even saw loved ones, get sucked into this new politics. He says, the price of gas is not the reason to spew politics of hate.
In the US recently, one bereaved father called out Trump and Vance for mentioning (without permission) the name of his son, accidentally killed by a Haiti immigrant. He asked them to stop using a genuine accident which involved the death of his son, for political gain.
I wish that my son was killed by a 60-year old white man. I bet you never thought anyone would say anything so blunt. But if that guy killed my 11-year old son, the hate-spewing people would leave us alone. Nathan Clark (father of Aiden Clark speaking alongside his wife Danielle).
The same thing happened in England, when Boris Johnson used two murders, again to spew his own agenda:
Jack would be seething at his death (and his life) being used to perpetuate an agenda of hate. He believed in the goodness of humanity. Borrow his intelligence, share his drive, feel his passion, burn with his anger and extinguish hatred with his kindness. Never give up his fight. David Merritt (father of Jack Merritt, who with Saskia Jones was killed in a London Bridge terrorist attack)
Books on Real Christianity (love, peace!)
God Didn’t Make Us to Hate Us is an uplifting book of 40 devotions, to liberate you from your fear of God, if you have a faith. And embrace the heart-healing forgiveness of Jesus.
Author ‘Father Lizzie!’ is the vicar of a church in Texas, which she planted in 2022 (yes, they ‘plant churches’ in the USA!) Known for her trademark phrase ‘beloved babes of God’, she uses her platform to unravel ‘toxic theology’ and reveal the abiding love of God. Her husband is also a preacher.
Why This Book is Timely (and needed)
Not so long ago, to believe in God was optional. And if you went to church, you mostly would find a kindly priest or vicar to offer advice, and offer prayers.
Now we have ‘born-again’ Christians (who know little of the religion they preach, due to being new to it) who scare people witless if they are gay or immigrants. Yet don’t call out people living lives of excess, flying around on private jets to meet world dictators.
Years ago, Gandhi was considering becoming a Christian. But after meeting ‘racist Christians’, he decided to not join the religion, just keep ‘all the good bits’ about Jesus.
There is a story of a Christian preacher in India, who was scaring local Hindus that if they did not follow the way of Christ, they would suffer in the next life.
With no takers, he asked Gandhi why this was happening, why they were not scared? The story is that Gandhi replied: ‘Once you start behaving like a real Christian, people may start listening to you!’
If you know anyone who’s racist, have them watch the 1958 film The Defiant Ones. It portrays a white and black man on the run from chain gangs, and can’t separate due to metal holding them together.
Highly reviewed, Tony Curtis (who took the role after Marlon Brando had to pull out due to contractual obligations) was warned not to do the film in a racist USA at the time, but he did it all the same. And insisted Sidney Poitier’s name took top billing, unheard of at the time.
If God Were a Great Big Bear is a meditation on the nature of God in the world. Through the eyes of a child, this picture book imagines God creating each element of nature, for the benefit of the creatures and plants that God lovingly made.
If God were a mighty whale, we would have vast mysterious oceans, wouldn’t we? If God were a wiggly worm, we’d have fallen leaves, rotting trees and rich earth, wouldn’t we?
Rushing streams, mountains full of caves, sun to warm flowers, trees blazing red and orange and seas full of friends in every shape and size. God created them all! God is all of creation, and God is in you and me.
God made a perfectly balanced and interconnected world, to please not just humans. But every plant and animal, every planet and star in all creation.
A Book on Evangelicals, Politics & Firearms
In Guns We Trust focuses on the USA, but is a book relevant to England too, in a world increasingly scared by gun violence. When you have over 100 million people in one country owning guns, you get tragedies like the Sandy Hook shooting, when a gunman shot dead 26 people (20 children, 6 staff) at a primary school in New England (he had also shot his mother dead, before shooting himself).
One young teacher (Victoria Leigh Soto – the daughter of immigrants) was just 27, who died by placing her body in front of the children, to try to save them. Just like teacher Gwen Mayor in Dunblane – her daughter won’t let her children play violent video games, instead she teaches them about hedgehogs – her mother’s favourite animal).
The American killer’s gun had been legally bought by his mother. And all UK mass shootings have been carried out by licensed gun owners. They passed all checks needed to carry guns, before their crimes.
One good thing to come out of this was Sandy Hook Promise, a website that has free resources for councils , schools and police forces to prevent gun violence worldwide.
Millions of Americans also hunt animals. President Trump sons are big game hunters and in 2011 killed a buffalo, leopard and elephant (they were seen smiling, the infamous photos including one holding the cut-off tail of the dead elephant). Trump does not hunt, but when in power relaxed laws on trophy hunting imports.
What’s This Book All About?
It’s an unsettling investigation into the ‘unholy trinity of so-called ‘white evangelicals’ who fuse the Gospel of the Bible with guns (something that Jesus Christ would never use) in order to ‘bear arms, and create politics that stands in the way of preventing school shootings and more.
The author has personal experience of the Sandy Hook shootings, as he was the New England bureau chief on the day it happened. He asks why it is that ‘white evangelicals’ are more likely than other Americans to own weapons, and how did his own Christian faith (rooted in Jesus’ call to ‘turn the other cheek’), get hijacked?
But he also introduces us to Christians across the world who would never own a gun (think of the Amish village whose residents forgave a killer of schoolchildren (which led his parents to campaign against gun violence) and even helped pay for (and attend) the funeral of the gunman, to help his young widow and family.
Most of us could never imagine being that forgiving – but they were following in the real teachings of Christ. He even meets activists who are ‘beating guns into garden tools’, and nuns who bought company stock, so they could force a gun manufacturer to do more, to prevent gun violence.
William J Kole is an award-winning veteran journalist who has reported worldwide, and also served as bureau chief in Vienna and New England. A former lay missionary for the Assemblies of God and worship leader at churches in Europe and New England, he also served as board president of an international Christian relief agency. He lives in Rhode Island, USA.
