A new leader has risen who gives a fresh voice and new credibility to the old evil.

*An excerpt from a paper for my class, The History of Christianity in America.

From Civil Rights to feminism to freedom of religious expression for Native Americans and minority faiths to the embrace of the LGBTQ+ community, the main feature of Christianity in America has been change. People who sustain a vision for the church dedicate their energy and their lives to ensuring it remains relevant. They embrace the core message of the gospel, and with sustained effort, further the church’s mission to liberate the marginalized and the oppressed. At every step there is resistance, both within and without. New issues arise forcing the Christian community to grapple with a right response. Adjustments must be made to how the church addresses the needs of its congregants, the local community, and the whole of society.

Some challenges have plagued America from the start. The sentiments that fuel the White Christian Nationalist movement seemed to abate for a time, fooling us into believing that evil had been overcome, when all that happened was a temporary outward suppression in an age of political correctness. A new leader has risen who gives a fresh voice and new credibility to the old evil, creating a permission structure that allows people to pander to their lowest and most base instincts.

America struggles mercilessly with evil, and once again, we find ourselves at a crossroads. History proves that once things deteriorate beyond the point at which the majority can simply look away, a remnant of society takes notice and stands in opposition to wrong. It is the role and responsibility of those who follow the teachings of Jesus to take a stand and be part of that remnant. It is incumbent on the church to lead that charge.