Christian Leaders Respond to Charlottesville White Supremacy March and Attack
- Updated Aug 14, 2017
The city of Charlottesville, Virginia was the scene of a "Unite the Right" white nationalist rally on Saturday. Tensions escalated quickly as the white nationalists clashed with counter-protesters. One person was killed and 35 were injured in a horrific incident many are labeling as domestic terrorism.
In the wake of this hatred and tragedy, Christian leaders spoke out, condemning the racism and bigotry, and calling for unity during this time of national crisis.
Russell Moore, the President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, tweeted:
The so-called Alt-Right white supremacist ideologies are anti-Christ and satanic to the core. We should say so. #SBC17
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) June 14, 2017
Speaker and author Kay Warren, the wife of pastor Rick Warren, tweeted:
This is NOT the way of the Cross or the Savior who died on it. There is no place for alt-right ideologies in our churches or n our country. https://t.co/YwFgoMOKFi
— Kay Warren (@KayWarren1) August 12, 2017
Albert Mohler, the President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, also strongly condemned the racism on display Saturday:
Claims of racial superiority are an assault on God's glory in creation and the gospel of Jesus Christ. pic.twitter.com/cZ66IU7Ujc
— Albert Mohler (@albertmohler) August 12, 2017
Author and speaker Beth Moore did not mince words:
We cannot renounce what we will not name. It's called White Supremacy. And it is from hell. Call it. Condemn it.
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) August 13, 2017
Author and speaker Trillia Newbell tweeted:
Sharing to remind us there's great work to be done. Pray. Preach truth. We're not alone in our grief, this grieves God too. https://t.co/D3tCTsiMTn
— Trillia Newbell (@trillianewbell) August 12, 2017
Author and speaker Eric Metaxas agreed that white nationalism has no place in the Church or within the Christian community:
Like my heroes Wilberforce & Bonhoeffer, I see racism as the very antithesis of the love of Jesus for all. So white nationalism is Satanic.
— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) August 13, 2017
Ronnie Floyd, the pastor of Cross Church, released this statement:
— Ronnie Floyd (@ronniefloyd) August 12, 2017
Author and speaker Johnnie Moore tweeted that President Trump's evanglicals advisors (of whom he is one) have spoken out to condemn white supremacy:
God hates racism.https://t.co/UjpKCfS1cV
— Johnnie Moore ن (@JohnnieM) August 13, 2017
Pastor and college professor Ed Stetzer called on pastors to denounce racism from the pulpit:
Condemn bigotry, hate, and discrimination from the pulpit and through each ministry in the Church. ##Charlottesville https://t.co/oxY3eo0FC8
— Ed Stetzer (@edstetzer) August 13, 2017
Still other Christian leaders tweeted:
The foundation of "Western civilization" is Judeo-Christian, not whiteness.
— Owen Strachan (@ostrachan) August 14, 2017
It began with a despised Mediterranean Jew.#Charlottesville
Why any American would utilize the Nazi salute is beyond me. Our grandfathers died to rid the world of such evil. Don't dishonor them.
— Daniel Akin (@DannyAkin) August 13, 2017
https://t.co/K28uWponfpI denounce bigotry & racism of every form. I pray our nation will come together. Our answers lie in turning to God. https://t.co/K28uWponfp— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 13, 2017
Scotty Smith at The Gospel Coalition also wrote a response piece on the events in Charlottesville. The article looked forward to the day when Jesus will make everything right:
"Finally, and fully, we'll love each other the way you love us, Jesus. Honoring one another above ourselves will be our delight, not our discipline. Diversity won't be tolerated, but celebrated. All of our relationships will be whole, beautiful, and joyful--the overflow of living in joyful, intimate relationship with you, our Father, and God the Holy Spirit. Soon, Lord, please soon."
Join us in continuing to pray for our nation and the city of Charlottesville in this time of national crisis. Pray that the Church and Christian leaders would stand strong for the Gospel and for Jesus' love that triumphs over hatred, racism, and violence.
Photo: People gather downtown protest the alt-right movement and to mourn the victims of yesterdays rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. One person was killed and 19 others were injured in Charlottesville when a car plowed into a group of activists who were preparing to march in opposition to a nearby white nationalists rally. Two police officers were also killed when a helicopter they were using to monitor the rally crashed.
Photo courtesy: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Publication date: August 14, 2017