A Warning to Woke Preachers

Like many God-fearing Americans, I was grateful to see Donald Trump return to the White House last Monday. I watched the inauguration at Rodney Howard-Browne’s church (which played on the video screens during their Winter Campmeeting). I was happy to hear the president declare, “We will not forget our God.”

However, some clergy aren’t happy about this. Among them is Episcopal bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who oversees 86 churches across D.C., and Maryland, with 38,000 members. She previously made critical remarks about the president during his first term in office. On the day after Trump's second inauguration, Budde delivered the homily at an interfaith prayer service held at the Washington National Cathedral. The final part of her sermon was directed at President Trump who sat in the front row. Here are portions of what she said: 


“Millions have put their trust in you. And 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. Some who fear for their lives. And the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings…they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes, and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwara, and temples.”


I agree believers need to be merciful. However, Budde promotes radical ideas contrary to the Bible. She referred to “gay, lesbian, and transgender children.” Budde condones parents encouraging their kids to live deviant lifestyles forbidden in Scripture. Jesus gave this stern warning in Matthew 18:6, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”


Budde also talked about having mercy on “immigrants.” I’m all for being compassionate toward those who legally enter the country. Those who come in illegally are not migrants but lawbreakers. They should be scared as it says in Romans 13: 


1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 

2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.


Another minister even more judgmental of Trump is Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, a Catholic Priest who is outspoken against the death penalty and has written over 100 books, including “The Courage to Be Queer.” Last Sunday at a church in Little Rock, Arkansas, Hood made this statement: “Resist…and I pray with all of my heart that if he enacts these evil policies, may God damn Donald Trump and may God damn all of us if we don't do anything about it.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 says we are to pray for those in authority over us even if we disagree with them.


In a Fox News Interview, Pastor Lorenzo Sewell (who prayed at the inauguration and attended the DC prayer service) labeled Mariann Budde’s message as “demonic” and “theological and spiritual malpractice.” I totally agree. Budde, Hood, and other ministers like them need to repent and preach sermons consistent with Scripture. 1 Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God."


Last Wednesday, Budde defended her lecturing Trump on “The View” by saying she was “trying to speak a truth.” Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” A minister’s focus should be getting the gospel out. People’s eternal destinies are at stake.


“Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries…Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” - Jude 8, 11


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