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On Thursday, October 3, I participated in a prayer vigil outside the Essential Conference. The Essential Conference was organized by the Center for Christian Virtue and held in Columbus, Ohio. The conference, funded in part by the Heritage Foundation, was a platform to promote Project 2025. Project 2025 is a diabolical attempt to realign American society from one that aims to see and welcome everyone to one that is concentrated around a small, select group.
While America’s original sin was slavery, the country has made great strides in creating a multiracial democracy. Progress has been made in creating an inclusive society, but with every step forward there is a predictable setback. Project 2025 is such an example; any attempt at integration would be wiped out by the recommendations and practices outlined in this proposal.
Although the Essential Conference audience included evangelical faith leaders, I believe all faith leaders have a responsibility to protect religious freedom and democracy. Both faith and freedom are under threat, with one of the greatest threats coming from Project 2025. It is to this point what the Southern Strategy was in the 1970s and 1980s: an attempt to declare white supremacy.
As Christian leaders, we have a responsibility to protect religious freedom and democratic values. The vote is the most powerful thing we have and we cannot allow Project 2025, or any other legislative or political maneuver, to push us away from it.
Regardless of our denomination, followers of Jesus have a responsibility to care for our communities. However, Christian nationalists have a limited view of who belongs to the community. They see themselves and those who look, act and think just like them.
It is imperative that far-right Christians do not become the exemplar of Christianity. True Christianity is a life of sacrifice, a life in which the focus is outward and upward, that is, our relationship with God and our relationship with others. True Christianity is about ensuring opportunity for all; it includes caring for the least of these, the widows, the orphans, and the orphans. Individuals who are exclusively concerned with one hue, one color, one profile, etc., do not represent the ethos of Christ. Christ got into trouble with the Pharisees and Sadducees because they had a prescribed way of life and persecuted everyone else. But we know that Christ loves us regardless of our identity or life circumstances.
Project 2025 poses a serious risk to our democracy by seeking to dismantle government institutions, roll back protections for vulnerable groups, and castigate some as second-class citizens.
How should churches respond?
Christians are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are called to show compassion to immigrants (Leviticus 19:33-34). In fact, the command to love the immigrant comes right after the command to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Mark 12:31). Finally, we are commanded not to harm others (Proverbs 3:29).
In light of these truths, the primary focus must be on encouraging ourselves so that we can serve the people. What we do affects people – not just Christians, but all people. Therefore, the focus of faith leaders must be inclusive and broad. One of the most powerful tools of evangelism is building relationships. It is time for the church to build relationships with all people.
If we do this, we can involve more people, including young people. But many young people are dissatisfied and disenchanted with American politics. When young people watch news broadcasts and listen to rhetoric from Christian nationalists, they are turned off. There is disagreement between what they see and hear, and what they believe Christianity is. That’s because concepts like “helping the least of these” or “being my brother’s keeper” are missing from the mindset of Christian nationalists. As a result, young people see Christian nationalists focusing on capitalism and not on Jesus. There was no alignment with Jesus and the money changers, and young people understand and appreciate this point.
Our faith should remind us that no one is replaceable; not the Haitian migrant, not the Mexican refugee, not the person living in poverty, not the person who holds different political views. We all make up the fabric of the United States and there is a place for all of us.
To take that place, faith leaders must step up and live by true Christian ethics and values. This isn’t about momentary moments of euphoria. We must do more than become happy; we must be willing to organize, vote, and encourage others to do the same.
We know that power only yields to power. It is time for Christians to demonstrate their power by abandoning Christian nationalism and embracing a life of love and service.
Michael Harrison is pastor of Union Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio, chairman of the board of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, and president of the Ohio State Baptist Convention.
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