BY OUR LOVE
Christians do not deal in the currencies of fear or coercion
Don’t lose the plot, Oklahomans. We’ve got to stay focused. At the most recent Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters accused Tulsa Public Schools of intentionally misleading the department about funding spent on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The consequences could include an unaccredited status, which would trigger a shut down and loss of funding.
But we know funding for DEI programs isn’t the real reason Tulsa Public Schools might lose accreditation. We know this because Walters let his actual motive slip at a news conference he held to grandstand about the right to coerce Christian prayer at a graduation ceremony held last spring. “The next [state] board meeting we have next week,” he said, “we will be looking at Tulsa Public Schools’ accreditation for all their violations, … and we are going to make sure that religious liberties are protected in Tulsa Public Schools.”
Make no mistake, Walters is intent on using the power of the state to enforce his private religious beliefs.
Followers of Jesus know what a deadly combination this makes. As explained by Barbara Brown Taylor, “Jesus was not killed by atheism and anarchy. He was brought down by law and order allied with religion — which is always a deadly mix. Beware those who claim to know the will of God and are prepared to use force, if necessary, to make others conform.”
This is the tactic of Christian nationalists — the willingness to use the power and authority of the government to force compliance with particular beliefs. Christians across our state (and nation) should be speaking with one voice about how this is a sin. Full stop.
If reminding Walters of what led to the crucifixion of the one we call the Prince of Peace won’t convince him to repent, cease and desist, perhaps Jesus’ teachings might. Just before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus gave his followers some final instructions, saying, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) Notice he did not say, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you force schoolchildren to pray to me.” Jesus never said that people will recognize his followers by their insistence that the Ten Commandments be hung in public schools. Nothing about the life, ministry and death of Jesus encourages bullying or gaslighting, both of which Walters seems to specialize in.
Friends of Jesus, do not be distracted. This is not someone else’s work. We must call out Christian nationalism for what it is, along with its foot soldiers. Let it be known that Christians do not deal in the currencies of fear or coercion. Let it be known that our faithfulness will not be judged by the purity of our beliefs, but by how well we do justice, love mercy and walk humbly in the ways of Jesus. Let us be known by our love. Full stop.