A Racist Senator's Rant, Authoritarian America, HardLee Typical
Plus, mercy and the Parkland shooter
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Our highlights this week include:
- A Senator batters an Arab-American witness with racism during questioning
- 43% of Americans score at least “high” on the “Right-Wing Authoritarian Scale”
- An Excellent new podcast on church, disability, race, and more
- Mercy for the Parkland shooter
- And Jonathan keeps us grounded with reflections on the high priestly prayer
Jonathan’s Recommendations
Louisiana Senator’s Racist Rant toward Arab American Witness
At a committee hearing on Tuesday, the Executive Director of the Arab American Institute, Maya Berry, spoke at the committee’s invitation on the rise in anti-Semitic and anti-Arab hate crimes. During questioning, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy went on a racist rant, repeatedly asking Berry if she supported groups like Hamas or Hezbollah. She said no each time, but he insisted she did. She pointed out that his questioning was itself evidence of the rise of anti-Arab hate in America. And he told her she should be so ashamed of her support for terrorism that she should hide her head in a bag. In moments like this, we can respond in a myriad of ways. But before you go posting online or take some other action, I want to invite you to pray for our Middle Eastern neighbors (and those we mistake as Middle Eastern) living in the US. Behavior like Kennedy’s only highlights an already vulnerable group of people and emboldens racists to commit acts of violence. Like the woman who tried to drown a Palestinian child in Texas or the man who shot three Palestinian students in Vermont. Lord have mercy on those marginalized people downstream of those like Kennedy who weaponize their platforms for hate.
- Read about or watch Kennedy's ranting
43% of Americans Score ‘High’ on the ‘Right-Wing Authoritarian Scale’
The Public Religion Research Institute developed a scale for measuring how much a person’s beliefs are in line with right-wing authoritarianism. After interviewing more than 5,000 Americans, the researchers found that 43% of Americans score either “high” or “very high” on the scale. That number rises to 64% for White evangelical Protestants, and 75% for those who have favorable views of Trump. More disturbing is that one in five White evangelical Protestants and almost one in four Republicans believe that if Trump loses, “he should declare the results invalid and do whatever it takes to assume his rightful place as president.” A helpful Substack post from
breaks down key findings from the authoritarianism study into five digestible graphs. this data should inspire intercession from anyone who resists the heresies of Christian nationalism and colonized faith. It is discouraging to see such dedication to idolatry, but heartening to know that it is coming to light. I pray that the Church of God mobilizes to preach a Gospel so compelling that people would leave nationalism behind for God’s truly beautiful kingdom.- Check out Jones' break-down of the data
Sy’s Recommendations
An Excellent New Podcast on Church, Disability, Race, and More
Way back in season 1 of Shake the Dust, we interviewed Rev.
about the church’s theology and practice around disability. During that interview, he mentioned working on a book about disability and race, which he published this past February as How Ableism Fuels Racism: Dismantling the Hierarchy of Bodies in the Church. You should read that, but it’s not actually my recommendation here. I want you to check out his new show, the . That wasn’t a typo. Dr. Hardwick and his co-host Dr. Terisha Lee (Get it?) discuss how disability, race, and other identities intersect in the Church from their perspective as Black, autistic Christians who have a ton of personal and professional experience surrounding disabilities, theology, and church culture. The first few episodes have been lively, wise, and insightful. This show is in my regular podcast rotation now, and it should be in yours too!- Listen to the HardLee Typical Podcast
Mercy for the Parkland Shooter
Almost two years ago, a relatively small legal defense team in Florida did something I didn’t think was possible. They convinced three members of a twelve-person jury to refuse a death sentence for Nikolas Cruz, the mass shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland. He will spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole. A recent article from the Marshall Project tells the story of what Cruz’s defense team uncovered to save his life, including his mother’s non-stop drinking and drug use during her pregnancy, his consequent brain development and mental health issues, his highly disturbing behavior flagged at every stage of his education, and the evidence to show it all to a jury. It was long, grueling work over years for which they were met with hatred, death threats, and a massive policy change to make future death sentences in Florida more likely (none of which will do anything to prevent gun violence). I’ve always thought American debates around the death penalty highlight our culture’s opposition to Jesus’ teachings. Jesus values mercy and the sanctity of life; Americans value retribution through death. Jesus takes the consequences of sin on himself; we eliminate the sinners. Jesus sees people for who they are; We see people as the worst act they’ve ever committed. Pray that there would be a revival of mercy across this country that would produce massive resources for the truly heroic people like Cruz’s defense team who fight for it every day.
Staying Grounded with Jonathan
Last week, I recorded an interview about politics and faith. The interviewer asked if I thought the church had something to offer us in terms of hope for a political future. My immediate answer was “no.” I elaborated that it is Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 that should ground us in our political action, not the obedience of the Church in any given moment. I do not have hope in the four-walled buildings or denominations we have built. I don’t place hope in pastors, choir members, deacons, or congregants. I put my hope in Jesus’ prayer and intercession for believers, and in the work of the people who will be revealed on that day when we all stand before him. His prayers will be answered. He has called his people and they are responding all over the world in ways big and small, regardless of what the Church as a whole is up to. I take great solace in that, and I pray you do too!
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