Thanks for this very important question, Dorothy.  It is the one I’ve been asking myself every day since January 20^th.

It is very easy to get so lost in the forest of lies, insults, deceptions, destruction of institutions, mistreatment of allies, disregard for the rule of law, and performative cruelty toward immigrants and trans people that we have a hard time seeing the trees.  The clear-cutting has begun, and we must stand in its way.  Each of us must choose which tree to save, and if enough of us act, there’s hope for preserving the forest.  What is being attacked that matters particularly to you?  Focus your energy on it.  Join the movement that is focused on that issue.  Put your energy and your time and your money into it.

I believe that progressive Christian churches are uniquely positioned to be very useful in this resistance movement.  Embedded in our Judeo-Christian tradition is a profound rejection of despotism.  Now is the time for us to read our Bibles, remember our spiritual roots, and renew our commitment to resist the forces of autocracy, fighting back against the "principalities and powers".  William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, said that people "must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants." In a time when so many churches in America have turned into right-wing echo chambers, Christians who choose the Love who is God over billionaire broligarchy must make their voices heard in the public square as never before.  We’re in an existential crisis:  abandon your inhibitions!  Put up signage in front of your church that makes your congregation’s stance crystal-clear:  “Religious Freedom = Choice” – “We Stand With Our Immigrant Neighbors” – “Christianity = Diversity, Equity, Inclusion” – “Donkeys, Not Teslas”.  (For more ideas, google “Adam Erickson Church Signs” – this pastor in Oregon is a brilliant communicator!)  My church put up a “Little Free Library of Banned Books”, which earned us a spread in the local newspaper and put us on the map as part of the resistance.  We recently held a community forum on immigrant rights, which earned us more publicity, resulting in new folks showing up for Sunday worship.  Be loud!  Be proud!  Be outrageous!

Nowhere in our scriptures is the democratizing impulse more evident than in the speech of the prophet Samuel to the people of Israel, when they clamored for him to anoint a king.  In 1 Samuel chapter 8, we read his speech imploring the people to consider the terrible consequences that would result from subjecting themselves to a tyrant.  The people chose a tyrant anyway.  The will of the people resulted in handing their will-power over to the will and whim of one person.  Sound familiar?  But we follow a teacher who showed up in Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, not a would-be King who sells Teslas in front of the White House.  We follow a tradition that is anti-despotic to the core.  But who will know that what kind of Christians we are, unless we put ourselves out there, and make it obvious?

~ Rev. Jim Burklo