How do we make sense of our confusing political moment? Scripture is constantly warped to advance purely partisan agendas. The underlying goal is advancing power at seemingly any cost. Luckily, @briankaylor.bsky.social has a new book that deciphers it all.

A Turning Point leader said the memorial was like a Trump rally with the Holy Spirit mixed in. That’s the mashup Chris Tomlin and the other Christian singers blessed, helping suggest the MAGA agenda is God’s will and calling what is bitter “sweet.”

In honor of yet another rapture day, it's worth sharing my favorite rapture song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvB3... #rapturetok

"This was using worship songs to point to partisan politics." @briankaylor.bsky.social Crazy how many household Christian Artists annotated this "Worship Service". #SoSad #charliekirk publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/chris-toml...

With worship music, the Christian singers sought to whitewash Kirk & make his political views equivalent to what it means to follow Jesus. publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/chris-toml...

U.S. Department of War created a video mashup of military footage & Pete Hegseth reciting the Lord's Prayer. Such an absurd mix! Praying for daily bread isn't code for dropping bombs on people. And the kingdom, the power, & the glory is not about the U.S. www.youtube.com/shorts/81ICp...

Theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez helpfully defined a key task of theology as critical reflection on Christian praxis. Baptist journalist and editor @briankaylor.bsky.social does that here in relation to these examples of Christian practice. publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/chris-toml...

Chris Tomlin & and the Christian singers created a connection between well-known & beloved worship songs & the political agenda of Charlie Kirk. Such worshipwashing of Kirk’s ugly politics is hurtful to the Christian witness. publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/chris-toml...

Some excellent news about chaplain Ayman Soliman came over the weekend. We reported on the religion angle to this case here:

Excellent look at Black Christian responses to Kirk's death & to the glorification of Kirk by White evangelicals: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

A reflection on the Kirk memorial service: "Chris Tomlin’s Worshipwashing of Charlie Kirk" publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/chris-toml...

I spent six hours today watching the #CharlieKirkFuneral. And, as a mainline clergyman, I think sitting with this book by @briankaylor.bsky.social should be mandatory for those of us who identify as mainline Protestants before we point our fingers at our evangelical counterparts.

With Charlie Kirk memorial service being held on Sunday morning, it'll function as replacement for church for many. That will increase rhetoric conflating Kirk's ugly politics with Christianity. Also, Christian worship signers will give it church service feel. Pay attention to who's blessing this:

Fox pretends to be a chicken while giving speech warning chickens are at risk. Alito is part of why true religious liberty for all is at risk (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/alitos-anx...)

GOP Rep. Troy Nehls said that "if Charlie Kirk lived in the biblical times, he'd have been the 13th disciple." We must stand against this unholy effort to cancel Matthias! #StandWithMatthias www.youtube.com/shorts/6TpWL...

Today’s issue of A Public Witness takes you to the heart of Texas to consider the promise of public education and church-state separation as advocated for at @interfaithalliance.org’s first-ever Religious Freedom in Public Schools summit.

GOP Rep. Troy Nehls said that "if Charlie Kirk lived in the biblical times, he'd have been the 13th disciple." We must stand against this unholy effort to cancel Matthias! #StandWithMatthias www.youtube.com/shorts/6TpWL...

My report from the Religious Freedom in Public Schools Summit in Dallas, Texas, this week: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/summit-cha...

When Karl Rove says Republicans are going too far with polarizing & demonizing rhetoric, then things really are dangerous!

ABC pulls Jimmy Kimmel, citing comment on how Trump admin's using Kirk's death (& thus kind of proves Kimmel's point): www.cnn.com/2025/09/17/m... Important to see this as part of larger attack on late night comics, following cancellation of Colbert: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/canceling-...

The remarks weren’t “about Charlie Kirk,” they were about how this administration is using Kirk’s death as an excuse to shut down critics … and they responded by proving him completely correct.

For Sen. Josh Hawley, the mandated “In God We Trust” signs are a holy mission — albeit one based on a bit of faulty history since the phrase’s life as the national motto is not connected to the country’s Semiquincentennial next year.

Pre-order your copy today! @briankaylor.bsky.social is one of the smartest theologians witting about our current moment: chalicepress.com/products/the...

As Sen. Josh Hawley makes a push to require every federal building across the country to post “In God We Trust,” today’s issue of A Public Witness looks back at the real history of our national motto.

On same day court blocked #ChristianNationalist social studies standards pushed by Ryan Walters (www.au.org/the-latest/p...), Walters sent out demand that schools hold midday moment of silence tomorrow for Charlie Kirk. Some school districts said they won't: www.newson6.com/story/68c88e...

A man in Washington, DC, plays the Imperial March from Star Wars while following patrolling soldiers. One of the soldiers threatens to call the police.

At London vigil for Charlie Kirk, "Christ is King" shouts after British politician (& a Turning Point UK leader) Nick Tenconi says, "Meek & mild, turn the other cheek is over! Each & every one of you should be radicalized!" Can't really claim "Christ is King" when you literally reject his teachings!

Mo. Senate passes Trump's gerrymandering, though move had bipartisan opposition: missouriindependent.com/2025/09/12/g... This effort targets Rep. Cleaver, a Methodist minister, but there are still efforts that could block power grab. Here's my testimony against it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAWq...

We need more than just a recommitment to avoiding violent rhetoric and demonizing those with different politics. We need a recognition that the guns are not worth it.

The department has joined other branches of the federal government in embracing a Christian nationalist tone in its official communications. religionnews.com/2025/09/09/d...

We should condemn all violence, not just when it’s against those we like. All who suffer deserve empathy as everyone is created in the image of God. Losing sight of our shared humanity is not worth it.

In life and in death, Charlie Kirk represented the worst of American politics. He stoked dangerous conspiracies, attempted to silence voices he disagreed with, and utilized violent rhetoric mixed with a godly veneer. Then, someone decided to respond with evil by picking up a gun to silence a life.

While Charlie Kirk refused to give empathy to Paul Pelosi or the numerous victims of senseless gun violence, many people who were targets of his political attacks gave it to him and his family in the hours after yesterday’s horrible shooting. publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/not-worth-it

My reflection after yet another horrible case of political violence: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/not-worth-it

Kirk: "It's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment" (www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk...) I disagree. We shouldn't live like this. Kirk shouldn't be dead, nor should be the kids who were killed at school. Let's do better!

Gun violence is out of control. The victims of gun violence are Republicans, Democrats, independents, and kids, who have no political affiliation whatsoever. We need to tone down the incendiary political rhetoric, for sure, but we also need to do something about guns. The guns!

Massive rally at Missouri Capitol today against gerrymandering. Largest protest I've ever seen there. Here are some scenes from the crowd: youtube.com/shorts/7hIQs... #moleg

"Those verses were not about the United States military," said Brian Kaylor, a Baptist minister and author. "They weren't really even about any imperial military force, and quite the opposite."

Reports coming in that Charlie Kirk was shot at an event at Utah Valley University, condition unknown. www.deseret.com/utah/2025/09... Violence is never the answer. And we need life-saving gun control measures that Kirk & others have worked so hard to block.

Wild religion angle to proposed gerrymandering maps in Missouri:

"The irony about this #ChristianNationalism is that they're justifying themselves with the Bible, but they're only able to do it because they're being very selective on what verses they choose." wordandway.org/2025/09/09/d...

New @pewresearch.org survey shows most Americans don't believe God picks presidential winners, although majority of White evangelicals & Black Protestants do think that (while most White Catholics, White Mainliners, & unaffiliateds say no): www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...

Some warn the new social media strategy could indicate how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s conservative Christian faith is revamping the military branch. religionnews.com/2025/09/09/d...

"Those verses were not about the United States military. ... It's a very dangerous conflation of scriptural ideals with the U.S. military." wordandway.org/2025/09/09/d...

HUD Secretary Scott Turner claimed "more than 70 major faith organizations & churches have joined" the "America Prays" initiative. But White House site only lists 36, several are just individuals, & Southern Baptist Convention is inaccurately listed: wordandway.org/2025/09/09/d...

Excellent @rns.org piece by @fiona-ndre.bsky.social: "Department of War Quotes Bible on Social Media. Some Link It to Christian Nationalism" religionnews.com/2025/09/09/d... I'm part of the "some" linking it to #ChristianNationalism. Appreciate being included to push back on misuse of Scripture.

Is White House saying America wasn't great nation when founded? "Under God" didn't go in Pledge till 1954. Also, this is why mainline Protestants must reckon with role in creating #ChristianNationalism. Evidence WH points to is because of liberal sermon: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/70-years-u...

Carter concluded this lesson with a harsh assessment of the Christian church in Jerusalem. In retrospect, his comments could be read as raising alarms about the conservative Christian movement that would campaign against his re-election and eventually drive him from the Southern Baptist Convention.

Despite the fanfare, the “America Prays” effort thus far has garnered minor support from Christian Nationalist groups, churches, and individuals. In fact, there’s been greater religious opposition to the Trump administration than what the government prayer initiative boasts.