What I’m seeing on the road: A spiritual hunger

I have been on the road for 10 days in what has become a tour on faith and democracy

I have been on the road for 10 days now on The False White Gospel book tour, which has become a tour on faith and democracy, especially in key battleground states. 

What I most feel is the deep hunger for a better word, better faith, truer message to be heard over the noise of the bad religion of White Christian Nationalism and its maga-mega church power brokers. The biggest crowds so far have been in the key battleground states – Wisconsin, Michigan, and Georgia. 

Sherman Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I have been  impressed and encouraged by the depth of the conversations so far, which are in such contrast to a presidential candidate selling nationalist Bibles for his own financial gain and comparing himself to Jesus Christ with values that are indeed antiChrist. We’ve been talking about the meaning of words like idolatry and heresy and how going back to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus over these next critical months before the election may be the best way forward. We are doing a theology and spirituality of democracy in great contrast to the bad religion of White Christian nationalism. 

These meetings often feel like revivals of faith, with local faith leaders moderating the public conversations, and clear calls to action as we help advance and defend multi-racial democracy.

So we’re not just having good discussions but also planning how to take our faith out into the streets – into as many congregations in America as possible. To show up, stand up and speak out at all kinds of community gatherings, candidate forums, school board meetings, believing that our commitment to being beloved faith communities could help undergird and even help guide us in our pilgrimage toward more genuine democracy. The foundational moral question at stake in our nation’s narrative is what kind of people, what kind of nation, and what kind of faith communities do we want to be?

Sherman Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

And in the midst of all these challenging, encouraging, and emboldening gatherings, I just got word that The False White Gospel will debut as #4 on the New York Times best-seller list on Sunday, April 21st. I hope this helps spread the message, of course, and encourages more faith and democracy conversations across the nation in the weeks and months ahead.

Thanks be to God.

Order your copy of The False White Gospel.