Nearly a Century After Niemoeller...

 First they came for the migrants,

and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a migrant.

Then they came for the people who needed abortions,
and I didn't speak up
because I didn't need an abortion.

Then they came for the transgender people,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't transgender.

Then they came for the Muslims
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't Muslim.

Then they came for the Jews
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't Muslim.

Then they came for the people with disabilities
and I didn't speak up
because I didn't have a disability.

Then they came for the Black people
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't Black.

then they came for the teachers

then they came for the librarians

then they came for the scientists

then they came for the doctors

then they came for the union leaders

then they came for the journalists

then they came for the university professors

then they came for the university students

then they came for the 'liberal' pastors

they came for the homeless

they came for the hungry

they came for the sick

they came for the working poor

Nearly a century after Niemoeller wrote his poem,
why don't we see

we are repeating this terrible lesson
all over again?

There's Nothing 'Christian' About 'Christian Nationalism'

There's nothing 'Christian' about 'Christian Nationalism,'

except that history shows us how the Church,

and especially the White Church,

chooses Nationalism time and time again.

Those Christians who choose to stand up to Nationalist movements

(whether in Nazi Germany, or here in the United States)

frequently do so at great cost

not only to their vocational prospects,

but their lives.

On Rejecting the Evil of Christian Nationalism, And All Its Empty Promises

Our next chapter in ecumenical partnership-building must be working together to reject the evil of Christian Nationalism and all its empty promises.

Our future is not in holding on to the shards of our White European immigrant squabbles, but in creating sanctuary and a society in which all people are truly, fully, and unabashedly welcome and included as a vital part of God’s Beloved Community.

There's Nothing 'Christian' About Transphobia

There's nothing 'Christian' about wanting to harm transgender people or their families.

Gender divergent people have always existed and always will, and your untrained preacher's bad Biblical scholarship isn't going to make that any different.

All these laws trying to exterminate transgender people, as well as immigrants and other targeted groups, are no different than what the Nazi government was doing to all sorts of people in the decade prior to the gas chambers. It's called 'Nationalism,' and it is not what Jesus taught.

It simply boggles the mind how the Gospel has gotten so twisted, especially in the United States.

Authoritarianism and the Politics of Exclusion

Authoritarian systems will employ a 'politics of exclusion,' and begin by targeting populations who do not have a lot of popular support in society. As they become successful in isolating these groups, they move in on groups that have a bit more popular support and compassion, but are still vulnerable. They continue in this manner until society is heavily striated, the bonds of community are weakened, and few folks if any have the ability to fight back anymore. Then they can do whatever they want.

Look at which groups are being targeted now and in recent years. Think about the calm rationale, along with the stereotypes, being employed for why we should fear them, not allow them around our children, and not welcome them into our neighborhoods or 'polite society.'

People needing abortions

Transgender youth and adults

Drag performers

People with substance use disorders

People with mental health disorders

Undocumented immigrants

Muslims

Black and Brown people, especially young men

People experiencing hunger, poverty, and/or insecure housing

People who were formerly incarcerated

Pay attention to the laws being passed in your state against these groups of people, which limit their freedom to live their lives and participate in society.

Pay attention to laws being passed that impose significant penalties on anyone who may try to help them.

Pay attention to laws being passed banning books representing diverse groups of people and their experiences or perspectives on historical events.

Pay attention to laws and policies and funding decisions that limit access to higher education for groups of people who are not currently privileged within a society, and may reduce the quality of education for students in public education systems.

Pay attention to praise being given and recommendations to emulate religious leaders who uphold authoritarian views, and disdain for religious leaders who challenge authoritarian views.

Pay attention.

If the list above reminds you of a famous quote, you may be thinking of Martin Niemoeller, a pastor who risked his own safety to speak up against the Nazi regime. There are several variations on the poem, which you can read from the link here: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/.../martin-niemoeller...