Daniel, my brother in ministry:
Praise the name of Jesus Christ this song is MAGNIFICENT. I have been waiting quite a long time for for someone like you to write a song like this.
I'm not white so I'm not a member of the 19%. You probably know that the vast majority of black evangelicals did not vote for DJT. I can't find a good poll, but the numbers are probably reversed--I would guess that more than 81% of black evangelicals rejected him.
In the intense political climate, I am extremely grateful to belong to a church where I don't have to go outside the walls to find the presence of Jesus, hear the gospel of grace preached, and see people from many different walks of life living the commandment to love God and neighbor.
So while I greatly admire you for this beautifully written and incredibly powerful song, when I get to the “you’re better than this, you taught me better than this” section, my heart and mind resist a bit.
Because honestly, they didn't "teach you better than this." They just didn’t.
Scripture taught you, the Holy Spirit taught you, the good example of authentic Christians taught you, but the white evangelical church did NOT teach you better than this.
I can’t tell how old you are from your voice, but the white evangelical church moved itself away from gospel imperatives in favor of political power 40 or 60 (or more) years ago, depending on how you count.
The Moral Majority is neither. The Christian Right is NEITHER. They have been violating every Matthew 25 gospel imperative since Reagan.
You can go back further to find the white evangelical church eagerly embracing the “Southern Strategy” that led Dixiecrats to switch to the Republican Party as a punishment for Lyndon Johnson advocating civil rights and voting rights for black people.
You can go back further to find the white evangelical church advocating segregation in and out of Dixie, opening private academies rather than allow their children to attend integrated schools.
You can go back further to find your churches embracing the literal treason of the Confederacy. And it was liberal/progressive churches and denominations who sustained the abolitionist movement from before the founding of the country.
And that’s before we get to their relative silence on the brutal treatment and betrayal of Native Americans.
And that’s before we even get to the way the white evangelical church has always denied the power and personhood of women, looking the other way when powerful men in your pews and leadership positions abused their wives and children and vulnerable parishioners.
And that’s before we get to the fact that your whole life they have backed politicians who advocate “small government” goals that restrict funding for welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and caring for the sick.
In spite of all this, I’m glad you included that bridge, because it’s very evocative, and I’m sure it will touch the hearts of some of the 81%. Who knows, you may change some minds. You may change some votes in the Senate next week. You may change some votes in November.
I pray fervently that this song will spark similar creativity among the rest of the 19% until many more songs like this are streaming everywhere by spring.
I’m not one of these people who calls DJT the anti-Christ. But I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve cried bitter tears and asked why Lord, why? Why did you let this horrendous presidency happen to my country? Why do the wicked prosper? Why are you letting this evil stand?
Then there are times when I think maybe DJT was chosen by God for a time such as this, only not in the way he thinks.
Maybe he was allowed to become President in order to expose the evil underbelly of the Republicon Party and destroy it from within.
Maybe he was allowed to become president to force hypocritical Christians in Name Only (XINO) to stop claiming the political philosophy they have been pushing has any relationship to the teachings of Jesus.
Maybe he was allowed to become president to inspire creativity from songwriters and playwrights and movie producers and writers and other artists, to capture the evil essence of blind obedience to corrupt authority, and make sure we never do this again.
Anyway, thanks for writing the song, singing it so beautifully, and making it available on YouTube.
Are you releasing it? Is there a way for me to purchase it, just to show support for you? If you are selling it, I’ll happily buy it, because I’m old and I remember the days when you had to pay artists for their music.
And I also want to buy it to thank you and encourage you (and others) to give the 81% more songs like this.
May Love overcome, and Justice roll down!
TrueBlueMajority+