Contempt fuels US political campaigns and social media, and many profit from it. But it’s a dangerous way to lead a country.
By now you’ve heard or read the words spoken to President Trump during a prayer service at Washington National Cathedral.
I was in Fort Good Hope, NWT in a Northern Store on the day of the presidential inauguration. President Trump’s speech was broadcast through the store’s sound system. But it was the next day at a prayer service that a pastor’s sermon caught the attention of the world.
Bishop Budde
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde has served as the Bishop of Washington for the Episcopal Church since 2011. She was invited by the President’s office to deliver a message. And deliver a message she did. Rare is the sermon that instantly goes viral.
Rev. Budde in a thoughtfully worded message said, “It goes without saying that in a democracy, not everyone’s particular hopes and dreams will be realized in a given legislative session or a presidential term or even a generation. Not everyone’s specific prayers – for those of us who are people of prayer – will be answered as we would like. But for some, the loss of their hopes and dreams will be far more than political defeat, but instead a loss of equality, dignity, and livelihood.”
She reminded the nation, “…the culture of contempt that has become normalized in our country threatens to destroy us. We are all bombarded daily with messages from what sociologists now call “the outrage industrial complex”, some of it driven by external forces whose interests are furthered by a polarized America. Contempt fuels our political campaigns and social media, and many profit from it. But it’s a dangerous way to lead a country.”
Pleading For Mercy
“The first foundation for unity is honouring the inherent dignity of every human being. As all faiths represented here affirm, is the birthright of all people as children of the One God. In public discourse, honouring each other’s dignity means refusing to mock, discount, or demonize those with whom we differ, choosing instead to respectfully debate across our differences, and whenever possible, to seek common ground.”
She urged the President, “Let me make one final plea, Mr President. Millions have put their trust in you. As you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families who fear for their lives.
And the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; who labor in our poultry farms and meat-packing plants; who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shift in hospitals – they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”
Backlash and Pats On the Back
And for that, Budde has received death threats amid a fierce backlash that only added to a polarized nation.
I have no skin in the game aside from being a pastor. I stand with Bishop Budde. No one other than her knows the motivation behind her words. Some read political opportunism. Some read passionate advocate for justice. Others hear sincere commitment to mercy.
My response would be a pat on the back.
Franklin Graham, among many, saw otherwise. “Trump stands with truth… he’s not purposely out there lying or misleading people. But this lady is. She’s misleading people, and she was wrong.”
I respect Rev. Graham. I’ve worked with him. Many evangelical leaders share his opinion. I’m not one of them on this file.
And other Christian leaders were less measured in their responses than Rev. Graham.
Apostate Priestess or Fearless Leadership?
Denny Burk, a Southern Baptist who is president of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, called Budde “a false teacher who has no authority or right to speak in the name of Jesus. We don’t need (the president) to be led away from Christ by an apostate priestess usurping the pastoral office.”
Rev. Mitchell Felton, South Carolina. “I thought Bishop Budde gave one of the clearest depictions of moral leadership and moral clarity in a time where that is just not present.”
Tony Perkins, head of the Focus on the Family related Family Research Council, said Budde represents “the cause of America’s decline. The cause of America’s decline was not what was sitting in the pew but what was standing behind the pulpit. What we heard today was not a prophetic voice from the church, but rather pathetic.”
Rev. Jen Butler, “She’s the first to really find her footing and show no fear. The more we fear a tyrant, the more power they have, the more we stand up in compassion, the less power they have. She did what needs to be done, and we hope to see our elected leaders do the same.”
Pastor Joe Rigney, said, “Women’s ordination is a cancer that unleashes untethered empathy in the church and spills over into society.”
How The President and Others Responded
President Trump wrote, “The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart. Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!”
Pastor Lucas Miles, senior director of TPUSA Faith, “On the very first day of Trump’s return to the White House, a woke clergy member hijacks a church service to promote partisan rhetoric, personally attacks the President of the United States, and distorts the truth about illegal immigration.”
Pastor John Amanchukwu, “Many fear a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but there is nothing worse than a wolf in Bishop garments. She’s heretical, diabolical, and should have NEVER had the opportunity to minister in the presence of President Donald J. Trump.”
Ryan Helfenbein, Executive Director of Standing for Freedom Center. He said Rev. Budde “completely missed the mark and was a far greater reflection of the liberal sickness so pervasive in American churches than they are on the American president.”
Pastor Rob Pacienza of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida and founder of the Institute for Faith and Culture, “Ironically, the bishop used the pulpit and the service to not only lecture the president but to promote a secular worldview and her woke ideology. Unity can only be achieved through a commitment to biblical truth, not cultural assimilation. Her sermon was indicative of the heresy being taught by mainline denominations.
The Last Words
Lorenzo Sewell, Detroit, Michigan, the pastor who prayed at the President’s inauguration, “I cannot believe that she would use that moment to speak a demonic message.There is nowhere in Scripture that we see that a leader would stand up without God’s permission and speak to someone who is in authority… What happens in the midst of our Christian tradition is that we think that we can stand before kings and just act like we can say whatever we want, how we want in the name of God.”
The last word goes to Rabbi Micah Streiffer, in the Jerusalem Post. “Speaking from a pulpit is an inherently political act because it deals with social ethics. Unless you’re talking strictly about private ritual matters, giving a sermon necessarily involves encouraging people to confront their own behaviours and choices. How we treat others or how we use resources. How we care for our planet, the people on it, and the vulnerable in society.”
“The Hebrew Bible institutionalizes this responsibility in the form of the prophet. A prophet is a kind of social critic who reminds people of the gap between moral expectations and actual behaviours.”
It’s going to be an interesting four years. Most concerning is the behaviour of American evangelical leaders compromising the purpose of the Church. Now more than ever, it is vital to pray for those in authority.
What do you think? Please join the conversation and post a comment below. Thank you.
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Good Morning Pastor Bob. I enjoyed today’s blog. I loved watching her speak the message. Trump & his family feeling awkward & uncomfortable….as she pointed out his lack of empathy for others. JD Vance’s wife watching intently from the pew. (Not looking at her husband…but, he glanced over at her.) I thought to myself…isn’t that awesome, that she doesn’t fear to speak her truth. A strong woman…& we all know that Trump doesn’t like to be spoken to…by a woman. I wasn’t surprised by his comments about the service. Typical rhetoric coming from his mouth. If someone doesn’t agree with him, he has issue. This is not the way to lead. He has a closed mind & does not believe in democracy…he wants to lead as a Dictator. He promised to do that on his first day at the job & has made good of that promise. He loves to point his finger at everyone else…& not take responsibility for anything. Typical responses from a narcissist & an egomaniac. There is nothing kind and humble about this guy. He is a dangerous individual in my eyes and a bully. I think it is going to be a tough 4 years for the World…as this behaviour is going to effect everyone in a “ripple effect”. We have the “Maple MAGA” following suit in our own province. Desperate times to follow…accountability must prevail. Thank you for sharing this blog this morning. Keep on, keeping on. Have a great weekend. ❤️ (I couldn’t even watch the inauguration…but, it was all over the news. Kind of hard to avoid it. )
I’m usually an avid listener to the news, but the absolute contempt this president shows for others is disgraceful, so I’ve pulled away from listening. Maybe that’s wrong as it’s good to stay informed.
I have come to believe that Trump is a psychopath; self-centred, absolutely no empathy for others. The worrying part is that many Christians continue to be loyal to him, as you have pointed out. I’ve come to realize it is about the influence and power he will bring to them and their followers. It is so far from the gospel message.
Well said Bob. Well researched.
We could learn from a strong voice of the past:
Bonhoeffer believed that the church should not get involved in politics because it would obscure the gospel message.
He believed that the church should not praise or condemn the laws of the state, but instead affirm the state as God’s order.
He believed that the church should not be over-eager to jump into policy debates, but instead allow the state a certain leeway.
He believed that the church should speak out against the state in certain conditions, such as when the truth of the gospel is at stake.
He believed that the church should address issues of public concern, but not confuse that address with the proclamation of the gospel.
This is a good blog… showing both sides yet taking a stand. I am not sure what is going to happen in the next four years. Without a moral compass ( the bible) both USA and Canada will be in a decline in every way. Some once said that God give a country the leader(s) they deserve…. I ginning to believe that yet hold on the the knowledge that God is in control. Thanks Bob for sharing and caring enough to stand up and be counted.
Bob, thank you for shedding light on this event. I appreciate your willingness to step into the mess caused when politics dictates to the Gospel.
Hi PB,
I enjoyed the tone and repectful nature of your post, despite not entirely agreeing with your opinion. This is free speech as it should be! Subsequently, I take exception with Julie’s comments. The name calling and personal degredation is precisely the devisive action of which she complains. This is thick with irony. As opposed to personal attacks, it is far more useful and productive to consider the individual issues according to thier merit or lack thereof.
In response to Cameron, I’m sorry that you take exception. But, I’m also allowed my opinion as you are yours. We can agree to disagree. I don’t agree with the actions & rhetoric that comes with the sitting President. You have your own opinions. I will leave it at that. You don’t know me, so you don’t need to speak my name.
I am committed to taking my direction from Scripture. I know Christians on both sides of some issues, like this one, would state the same commitment. That in itself is enough commentary to describe how people of a shared faith can end up with polar opposite opinions. Which is why the wisdom of Scripture is to pray for those in authority.
Retha, thank you for joining the conversation. I know you read often but don’t always comment, so I know this post touched a nerve. Good to hear your perspective an knowing you are a person of prayer, will persevere in praying for North American leaders.
Hello. Thank you for joining the conversation with your first comment. I hope it won’t be your last. Ever since Bible College in the 70s, I have been enamoured with Bonhoeffer’s writing.
Thanks Rod for joining the conversation. I showed the post to some beta readers before I posted it. They all said the same thing: are you sure you want to post this? Given the political climate, even some of your friends will disagree with you. Obviously, you see the outcome of those discussions. Your last sentence resonates with me rationale. There are some people who still respect my perspective and I would not want my silence to be interpreted as supportive or careless about the state of evangelical leadership conversations.
Thank you, Greg. Means a lot, especially since this is your first time joinging the conversation.
I hear you, Cam. For the last 28 years, our conversations have always been brotherly. It does me good to know when you hold a perspective that varies from mine. Those are always learning moments.
My view is that Bishop Budde faithfully and bravely echoed the timeless Kingdom words of the Lord Jesus Christ, “Blessed are the merciful…” May we do likewise, in spite of the example of others around us.
Thanks for being another first time commenter, Dave. Always good to hear from you. Thank you for joining the important conversation.
I watched the sermon as well. I stand with Franklin Graham and the other leaders who do not give this woman a “pat on the back”. While I recognize that Trump is not a born again Christian, he does for the most part reflect my values of freedom and equality.
I do not believe for a minute that gay and trans people are in danger, and that type of rhetoric is not helpful.
I believe pastors who agree with her position have a place in the United, Anglican, and many Lutheran churches in Canada. Perhaps the PAOC is moving that direction as well?
What is true is that we are to love everyone, even if they have mental issues or have made bad choices in their lives. We should, however, protect our children from evil, including Pride events, Abortion rallies and other socially acceptable behaviors that are clearly sin.
I am a bit disappointed in your opinion, but not surprised.
I would have to disagree with your position on Bishop Budde’s sermon. The pulpit should not be used as an opportunity to voice your political opinion; it is a place to share the word of God and trust that God will do His work in the heart and lives of those listening. I agree with what Kaeley Triller Harms writes in this article on the topic: https://kaeleytrillerharms.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web
Hi Marlene. Good to hear from a friend. Thank you for joining the conversation and including the link to Kaeley Harm’s post. I read through the post. I noted her comment – “I’m focused heavily on the trans element of her speech for obvious reasons; it’s been my own personal soapbox for the past 10 years.” It’s human nature to see what we want to see. She writes her post with a focus on a small portion of Bishop Budde’s attention to the “marginalized.” I understand why she would feel the way she does.
What I find concerning is the vocabulary used in the public responses of Christian leaders regarding the gender of the Bishop.
Marlene, I can’t comment on whether her words were political in nature because that goes to motive and no one but her and God know her heart’s motive. I know you will join me in praying for those in authority in Canada and our near neighbour.
Hi neighbour. Thanks for joining the conversation. My comments are my own and not representative of the PAOC. I would never see it as my place to represent the direction of our entire Fellowship. The PAOC is committed to the gospel and sharing the good news of Jesus with all people. I am committed to that direction.
This story has rattled me in ways that I didn’t anticipate. I feel like we’ve all been given a contemporary example of what it means to be a witness in 2025. The stakes have always been high, and Bishop Budde’s life has been a reminder of that.
Thank you for joining the conversation, Jordan. Your voice has been welcome in our household for 34 years. I appreciate your writing and perspective on faith and justice.
Morality cannot be politically enforced! True morality is a matter of the heart and a result of heart change. Heart change can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit! What America needs is a Holy Spirit-led move, resulting in repentance, love & unity, A man who is a proven womanizer and an incessant liar, even if he is president of the United States of America, is not about to Make America Great Again by attempting to enforce morality. It is time for Evangelical Christians to wake up and take note!
Thank you Sterling for joining the conversation as first-time commenter.Welcome to REVwords. Heart change is the beginning point. And my issue is not with the President but with influential evangelical Christian leaders speaking power to truth. Looking forward to future comments from you.