Know Your Rights against ICE, Theocrats in the Cabinet, Christians in Climate Science

Plus, the Bible does not say Israel gets the West Bank

Hi everyone,

Two weeks ago, Sy dropped an amazing newsletter with some stellar sermons from Bishop Budde and Reverend Barber alongside wisdom for all of us and a word for White folks. It was great! Now it’s my turn. And the last two weeks have been turbulent to say the least. Trump wants to occupy and ethnically cleanse Gaza, blame DEI for a tragic plane crash in Washington DC, and shutter USAID. This administration is flooding the zone with controversy. We would do well to break up with breaking news before it breaks us. I hope you find encouragement, information, and a challenge in my offering this week as we seek Jesus and confront injustice.

What I’m covering this week:

- Pete Hegseth’s commitment to theocracy

- Know your rights resources for people dealing with ICE

- No, Israel does Not have a biblical right to the West Bank

- Follow Katherine Hayhoe for resources on faith and climate change

- Staying grounded with worship from the Porter’s Gate

- Join us for our live bonus podcast recording next Thursday at 11 AM

- And paid subscribers, register for our monthly Zoom call!

Pete Hegseth is a Theocrat and Jemar Tisby has receipts

Jemar Tisby, PhD

’s essay on the danger of Pete Hegseth’s theology is well worth your time. It discusses Hegseth’s connections to the most fervent Christian Nationalists, and the problems that will arise having him at the helm of the most lethal military in the world. It is also a piece you can likely come back to in the future to better understand how and why things are unfolding the way they are. Tisby defines Christian dominionism, its champions in the New Apostolic Reformation, and how those figures intersect with and coalesce around someone like our new Secretary of Defense. Hegseth sports several tattoos that glorify crusaders, and my fear is that he will get the military involved in similarly destructive and ungodly efforts under the guise of faithfulness to Christ. The beatitudes profess “blessed are the peacemakers.” It is my fervent prayer that we elevate peacemakers like Tisby and they inspire people like you and I to take action against distortions of the Gospel.

- Read Jemar’s essay on Substack

Follow Austin Kocher on Immigration & the Trump Administration

Syracuse professor

Austin Kocher

’s Substack covers immigration in the United States. A recent post collects Know Your Rights resources and summarizes some of the common pieces of advice for people dealing with ICE. It’s an exceptionally useful piece to help the most vulnerable under this administration prepare for the potential effects of Trump’s executive orders. There are no undocumented people in the kingdom of God. God calls us to care for immigrants. Full stop. So we seek His wisdom which He will give without measure if we ask and open ourselves to be conduits for His love that drives out all fear. As Bishop Budde told Trump on inauguration day, we are surrounded by people that came to this country for a better life who enrich our society in immeasurable ways. We must choose mercy and kindness over cruelty and injustice. Kocher’s work helps to make that choice possible. May Jesus meet our immigrant neighbors through us as we seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

- Check out Professor Kocher's post

No, Israel Does Not Have a Biblical Right to the West Bank

Journalist, professor, and author

Peter Beinart

explains from a religious, historical, and political perspective why our new Ambassador to the UN Elise Stefanik’s claim that the Bible grants Israelis a right to the West Bank is ridiculous and racist. Using scripture and rabbinical teachings, he shows that the assertion misses the mark of Jewish tradition, adding that making biblical arguments about why America should adopt a foreign policy is itself dangerous. Both followers of White American Folk Religion like Stefanik and those seeking to genuinely follow Jesus would do well to sit at the feet of our faithful Jewish brothers and sisters to learn precisely what the messages of the Hebrew scriptures are so that we don’t rip them from their context to ordain genocide.

- Read Beinart’s newsletter

For Climate and Faith, Follow Katharine Hayhoe

You should subscribe to Katharine Hayhoe’s newsletter for sincere, thoughtful writing at the intersection of faith and climate change. Hayhoe is a prominent Canadian climate scientist, professor, popular science communicator, and follower of Jesus. She is known for her expertise and her ability to break down complex topics for diverse audiences. As fires rage in California, floods rise, and storms ravage communities, we must be grounded in knowledge and wisdom. We must be able to navigate complexities with faithful guides who lean in when things are difficult, instead of seeking easy wins or ways out. Hayhoe has done this with boldness, nuance, and clarity for years. Check her out!

- Subscribe to Hayhoe’s newsletter

Staying Grounded with Porter’s Gate

Songs for The After Party is a worship album developed by Redeeming Babel in collaboration with The Porter's Gate. This collection of modern hymns aims to guide Christians toward a more Christ-centered approach to politics through worship and song. The album is part of a broader initiative, The After Party, which provides resources to help believers navigate political engagement in light of biblical truth. Each song is designed to encourage reflection on political identity and promote unity within the church. Redeeming Babel releases a new song each month, accompanied by prayers, readings, lyrics, and sheet music to enrich personal and communal worship. It reframes political engagement, emphasizing humility, mercy, and justice as central to the Christian political identity. The project reflects the belief that worship and song play a crucial role in shaping perspectives and fostering community.

- Listen to Songs for the After Party

Watch the Live Recording of our February Bonus Podcast

We will be going LIVE on February 13^th at 11am on Substack for the recording of our monthly bonus episode of Shake the Dust. We’ll be talking about Trump’s distraction tactics, how they erase so much suffering from our national discourse, and how to resist them. Good news: you can now watch from either the Substack app for iOS or Android or from your browser. If you’re on our free list, you’ll get an email when we start. See you there!

Join Our Monthly Zoom Call