(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Christian, Even If I’m Not [1] ['Grey Panther', 'Chitown Kev', 'Belinda Ridgewood', 'Bill In Portland Maine'] Date: 2026-09-01 Resurrection Church gathering of United Methodists during the great schism shiresteve Last week, I read an opinion piece in the Washington Post, a once proud newspaper. I have been an e-subscriber for a few years. Democracy now dies in darkness; it allows Bezos not to see the crime. Progressive Christians want to take God back from the GOP – Eric Teetsel (Gift Article) https://wapo.st/4qLMhxO I read the headline thinking, yes those church folk, like me, are fed up. I thought the author might welcome a more diverse approach to politics and religion. Recognize many Christian denominations are not worshipping the Golden Potato. I learned that was not Mr. Teetsel’s take. Progressive Christians may be the hands and feet of Jesus, but helping people isn’t really his thing. He is far too important for simple Jesus following. He was assuring his readers and himself, that MAGA fundamentalist voters would not desert to sensible sincere Christian candidates. When I see the true Christians (MAGA certified) circled around Trump, I know they are praying for something. They are not praying for more grifting by Trump. They all have their own grifts going. They exalt Trump because, well honestly I don’t know. He is not a sincere believer; it must be power. Power draws the bootlickers no matter where the boots have tromped. During the national inaugural prayer service, Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde directly asked President Donald Trump to “have mercy”. The Trump reaction, he demanded an apology called the Bishop, a Radical Left hard line Trump hater. An administration, strategically employing cruelty towards immigrants, is rankled by simple human mercy. Opposition to what was once expected behavior is the theme of our current era. Many core principles, our foundational beliefs about ourselves and our creeds have evaporated. Authoritarian actions not opposed but cheered. It isn’t that we aren’t aware of the cruelty of our history. It is that we promised to rise above it. In Christian religion to aspire to be like Jesus admitting we fall short. In secular religion the founding principles expressed by Jefferson and Lincoln, Douglass and King. Their words and phrases resonate in our souls, echo in our thoughts, and are inscribed on our monuments. Are we doomed to watch Trump inscribed on our monuments. What glorious words should we add? “I alone can fix it” or “I am your retribution” both seem less lofty than “I have a dream”. When did America lose mercy? We believed we were a nation of laws. We were a nation seeking to advance the people’s freedom. We were a nation where the will of the majority would defend an individual’s rights. We fell short. At times, we were our worst selves. The Christian message is love; they will know we are Christians by our love. It isn’t that we were none of those things. We often were not our ideals, but we shared belief in our ideals. If our churches were full in the twentieth century, it doesn’t mean they were full of the Gospel Jesus. (The Gospel Jesus is a messenger of love and respect. Other parts of the bible are not that.) When I read the Gospels, I see a Jesus that Christian Nationalists deny. Being pious on Sunday never affected most church goers on Monday morning, afternoon, and not Friday night. Some modern mega-churches have brought Friday Night into their worship. They know they are saved because they accepted Jesus. Spouting the name Jesus buys them a golden ticket. As long as they didn’t do any of that naughty gay stuff, or support women to have power over their own bodies. Of course true Americans, don’t call for anyone to take away the machine guns and always stand for the national anthem. A fundamental church demands rigid adherence. Bible study has little time for skepticism or obvious questions. As his article ends we find Mr. Teetsel would call anyone advocating the right of women to choose regarding their bodies and reproductive choices, baby-killers. I’ve been called a baby-killer because I am a Democrat. I would ask each of them whether in the small country chapels or the techno palaces of the mega-church, have you shown mercy? Have you comforted the hurting? Have you used the brain God gave you to make a better, healthier, more loving world? The celestial gatekeeper will ask, have you shown mercy? What mercy would you expect from a heavenly judge, staring with crystal clarity into your earthly being. If you are no earthly good, what use would heaven have for you? I am sure they are focused on material gain. The professed belief in heaven only background noise. They would never question themselves in self reflection. It is about celebrating themselves not seeking God in others. In my church experience, people regularly admit they are sinners. To be an American, to be a Christian, requires acknowledging the sins of both government and church. Each organization is coopted by humans to inflict terror and wield racism. Religion is used as a vehicle to acquire power and wealth. We are far from perfect. It is the, more perfect union thing, we aspire be on a higher plane. As Mr. Teetsel states the Woke Christians could never capture the evangelical voter. He is correct that the most fundamental who would vote for a theocracy are not swing voters. These are the five candidates he highlighted. Adam Hamilton, a pastor who leads the largest United Methodist congregation in the United States, is running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in Kansas. James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, is doing the same in Texas. In Iowa, two ministers — Lutheran Sarah Trone Garriott and Presbyterian Lindsay James — are Democratic nominees for the U.S. House. Another minister, nondenominational pastor Robb Ryerse, is running for Congress as a Democrat in Arkansas. Mr. Teetsel states they must moderate their policy demands. These candidates believe their views are moderate and so do many voters. In the mega-church and the fundamental country church there are people who oppose Christian Nationalism. They are sick of Trump. Add those voters to almost every Democrat and Independent then a majority emerges in the reddest states. Excellent article on the new politics of mainstream faith. shiresteve Mr. Teetsel it turned out is more concerned with political power than a moral code or a community of faith. He says they must moderate their views. He means they must accept evangelical extremism. Especially on abortion and preventing government from meeting human needs. It turns out he is from the Hertitage Foundation, the 2025 folks. We’ve seen his religion played out in our streets. Where people are brutalized, children are traumatized, and laws are ignored, I find nothing of America’s secular religion or of Christian teaching in his theocracy. Jesus’ two greatest commandments. Seek God, I think is seek truth and knowledge. Love others, how can we love others if we do not preserve the health of people and the planet. This is another of a flood of pundits warning the base about leaving MAGA. Socialism is portrayed as totalitarian communism. Moderate candidates with sincere Christian messages are Woke. Sarah Garriot has been referred to as a Woke Witch. Every policy Trump and the Heritage Foundation forced on America (and the world) has high disapproval ratings. They are left only with fear. Now it is rhetoric, but the current occupants of government would gladly institutionalize fear to be a weapon used on all of us. Vote in November – overwhelming turnout is the last best hope of mankind. I found an excellent Bill McKibben essay in the NewYorker. A publication that doesn’t seem to understand gift articles – I will explore its insights next week. As we navigate a world where America is being run by horse thieves and pedophiles. shiresteve I hope people will find Tuesday morning on Street Prophets a step back from the abyss. ShireSteve.Substack.com I write short stories and have written three novels. The latest Will It Require Pants may soon be fit to earn the title, a novel. My life goal is to preserve my timber and the land surrounding. 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