As news breaks that U.S. troops or National Guard forces are being deployed inside our own cities, my heart trembles with the memory of many hard lessons from history, and with an inner urgency: how shall followers of Christ respond?
There is a haunting resonance here with ancient Rome. When the Roman legions marched into Galilee and Judea, they were not coming as benign peacekeepers. Their presence was a reminder that the empire claimed the final say. Too often, religious voices in that world bowed before that claim, lending their influence to Roman authority, whether out of fear, ambition, or misplaced compromise.
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Think of Pilate, the governor, and the priests who pressured Jesus’ execution. Think of the Sanhedrin leaders who feared unrest and colluded with imperial power to preserve their standing. In that moment, the machinery of state and the machinery of religious authority joined forces. The cross, the act of state violence, became the instrument by which Rome sought to maintain order.
Yet Jesus and His apostles proclaimed something radically different. They preached a kingdom not of this world. They called people into love, mercy, justice, and humility. They challenged the systems of dominance, injustice, and fear. They showed us, amid subjugation and oppression, a way that dignifies the weak, defies violent power, and calls us into sacrificial love.
When power is concentrated and the state asserts a monopoly on force, even inside our neighborhoods and streets, it carries a danger. It quiets dissent, suppresses hope, and terrifies the vulnerable. The church, if it sides too easily with that power, becomes complicit in the silencing of conscience.
In our day, as armored forces move into our cities, the question is not only political; it is moral and spiritual. The question is this: Where is the church? Will we lend our voices, by silence or by speech, to the enforcement of power? Will we submit to the narrative that these troops are necessary because people are too dangerous? Or will we refuse to abandon the poor, the oppressed, and the fearful?
My dear friends, this is a call. This is a moment for Christianity to breathe. The gospel is not a comfort only for Sundays; it is a confrontational, disruptive, hope-filled force in a broken society. If there is ever a time to live the gospel in the face of governmental might, this is it.
So here is my call to every Christian who reads this:
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Pray, fiercely and honestly. Ask God, “How can I love my neighbor in this moment?” Ask for wisdom, courage, and clarity.
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Speak, truthfully and respectfully. Do not let fear silence your voice. Christians must testify to justice, mercy, and the dignity of all people, especially those whom power would degrade.
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Act, gently, humbly, firmly. Show up where the need is. Feed, tend, minister, accompany. Be present in the margins, especially where people feel abandoned or terrified.
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Bear witness, in suffering if need be. If you are called to be a prophetic voice, know that the cost may be high. But the power of the gospel is greater than fear. The cross itself is our emblem.
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Unite, across divides. This is not a moment for petty partisanship. It is a moment for the Body of Christ to stand in solidarity—Black and white, immigrant and native, rich and poor—to say “not this,” to say “enough,” to say “we believe in another way.”
Christ did not come to legitimize kingdoms of force. He came to inaugurate a kingdom of peace, justice, healing, and reconciliation. His first words to the followers were “Peace be with you.” His last gift was the Holy Spirit. His command: love one another.
To all who wonder if Christianity still matters in politics, let this time answer: yes. This is a chance, a burden perhaps, but also a glorious opening. The gospel shines brightest when darkness seems to grow thickest.
If troops are sent into our neighborhoods, let them see Christians who do not cower. Let them see people who pray in the streets, serve in the doorways, and speak truth in the halls of power. Let them see the wounds we bear, but also the hope we carry.
Let us refuse to abandon the margins. Let us refuse to exchange the gospel for convenience or comfort. Let us refuse to conspire with violence, even state violence. We will live the gospel, in fear if we must, in love always. And in that, we will show the world that there is a way beyond empire, beyond fear, beyond domination. A way of mercy, justice, and reconciliation.
A Prayer for Our Country
God of mercy and peace,
You formed this nation from many peoples and called us to live as one family.
When fear divides us, remind us that perfect love casts out fear.
When power tempts us, remind us that true strength is found in service.
When violence rises up in our streets, teach us again the ways of peace.
Bless those who serve with integrity and protect the innocent.
Restrain the hands of those who would harm, and soften the hearts of those who seek domination.
Give courage to every person who works for justice, truth, and reconciliation.
Let your Spirit move through our cities, turning anger into compassion, and suspicion into solidarity.
May your Church be a beacon of hope,
not a voice of fear or control,
but a living sign of Christ’s mercy in a weary world.
Renew our vision of the common good.
Heal our land, O Lord, and make us instruments of your peace.
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
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