Ok, I’ve got to say something. I can’t just leave it open to interpretation.
I try not to be overly political here, and I’ll try to continue to maintain my sense of grace when I discuss these things. However, this fight is real. It seems that the Powers of Darkness are winning, and I won’t just sit back and let it happen without contributing to the fight.
I’ve been hesitant to call myself a Christian over the past several years because of the way that Christians are behaving in the United States. When I see the anti-immigrant, anti-poor, anti-whatever-I’ve-been-told-to-be-afraid-of rhetoric of the Evangelical church in the USA, it makes me want to separate myself from it as much as possible. It seems to me that the leaders of many of these churches have never truly read the gospels.
But now I want to reclaim the label. I am a Christian in its most essential form, the way it was originally used. It was used mockingly in the book of Acts, a slur against those who followed Christ. Its meaning is “little Christ.” If there’s one thing that I both aspire to and am completely unworthy of, it’s being a “little Christ.”
And so, amidst all of this turmoil, amidst the fear-mongering and hatred of the current administration in the USA, I will choose to be a “little Christ.” I want to be someone who goes against the mainstream, who is ridiculed and reviled for living a life that is different to the broader culture. I want to live my life as Jesus did. I believe what he said in Matthew chapter 5, ““Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you” (Common English Bible).
The truth is, the man who is now the President of the United States thrives on fear and chaos. He stokes fears of immigrants and refugees to increase his own power and authority. His narcissistic tendencies will cause unspeakable damage to communities across national and color lines.
As much as I’d like to be on the team of “can’t we just agree to disagree?,” I simply can’t.
Please hear me when I say that I am not looking to lose friends or acquaintances over this, but I also can’t promise to meet you halfway. You see, I know and cherish many people from some of the populations that will be hurt by this administration. I currently live in France, it’s true, but let’s face it: US policy deeply affects policy in the rest of the world. The hurt starts in my home country, and then it spreads outward, across the whole world.
So no. I won’t be quiet, and I won’t pretend that I’m somewhere in the middle. My conscience is wholeheartedly against the fear-mongering, harmful policies and perspectives of the American Republican Party.
What I just said might make you very angry, but I care too much about the harm that will befall those who do not swear unfaltering allegiance to the Trump administration for it to matter much to me. I cannot simply remain neutral.
Rather, I will reclaim my Christianity and proclaim loudly that there is another way to be a Christian. There is a way to live out the values of the gospel and the words of Jesus when he tells us to welcome the stranger and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
This is the kind of life I want to live and the example I want to set for my children.
If you feel the weight of this moment and the urgency to live out the teachings of Christ in a broken world, I invite you to join me in reclaiming what it means to be a “little Christ.”
Start small but act boldly:
- Love your neighbor actively: Look for ways to support immigrants, refugees, and those marginalized by current policies. Volunteer, donate, or simply listen to their stories.
- Speak truth in love: Challenge fear-mongering and hatred wherever you encounter it—online, in conversations, or in your community—but always with grace and compassion.
- Rediscover the gospel: Immerse yourself in the teachings of Jesus, particularly his call to welcome the stranger, care for the poor, and love unconditionally.
Let’s show the world a faith that heals rather than harms, a faith that welcomes instead of excludes. Together, we can live as true reflections of Christ’s love and grace.
What will your next step be?
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