Great is Your Faithfulness, O God!
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
~ Lamentations 3:21-24
The Lord promises that his mercies are “NEW EVERY MORNING!” Let’s look for them together!
There is no better time for you to be alive than right here, right now! Your Heavenly Father has “marked out (your) appointed time in history” and the particular land you would live in right now (Acts 17:26). For House of Mercy that means the United States of America in this particular era. We join with our fellow Christians in America of all denominations, our fellow people of faith, and all people who hold to the values expressed in the Christian Faith & Democracy Statement, which beautifully and powerfully expresses God’s heart of mercy for this world and for our nation:
Christian Faith and Democracy
The United States confronts a crisis of democracy, and the American church confronts a test of faith. Democracy stands embattled, facing new threats within our nation and new challenges around the globe. The witness of “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) stands distorted and corrupted—especially to a new generation.
The Declaration of Independence testifies that democracy is not only a political system but also a moral affirmation. In this time of pernicious polarization, we are forced to grapple anew with fundamental questions about governance, civic life, shared values, and the role of faith in shaping our collective future. The rise of anti-democratic sentiment and nationalist ideologies imperils our common life and threatens the cultivation of communal and global peace. As followers of Christ, we strive to meet this moment with clarity and courage, charity and conviction, drawing on the depths of our moral imaginations and theological traditions to articulate afresh a theology of democracy fit for our times.
We are American Christians who deeply love our country. We affirm the right of Christians to bring our faith to bear on the public square for the common good and the flourishing of all humanity. We also welcome and affirm the rights of people of all faiths and of no religious faith to speak to this crisis; this document offers a distinctly Christian perspective, but the principles affirmed here are shared broadly across many religious and ethical traditions and by people of good will.
We face this moment with great resolve and deep humility. Christianity has had an ambivalent and at times hostile relationship with democracy, as evidenced in colonial domination and the dispossession of indigenous peoples, the brutal enslavement of Africans, and the denial of women’s rights. We continue to reckon with the legacies of slavery and segregation, and with the enduring racism that limits achievement of a true multiracial democracy.
In recent years, in the United States and around the world, the Christian faith has been distorted and leveraged in defense of authoritarian leaders who seek to erode freedoms essential to a thriving democracy. Some Christians enthusiastically praise dictatorial leaders and regimes. Some have willingly accepted or even participated in political violence. On January 6, 2021, the will of the American people and the peaceful transfer of power came under direct attack during a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. In a profound distortion of the faith, some who rioted on the Capitol steps and stormed into the congressional chamber did so in the name of Jesus Christ.
We write in a moment of fierce urgency, as the people of God animated by faith, hope, and love. It is in this spirit that we reaffirm Christian support for democracy and invite all Christians and people of moral conscience to do the same.
In the face of these challenges, we ask our fellow Christians to join us in affirming and defending these truths.
On the Imago Dei and Human Dignity.
Core to Christianity is the belief that all people are made in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-27) and that our loving God is incarnate in the humanity of Jesus Christ. God’s love, therefore, embraces all of humanity and calls us to respect every person. Democratic governance is an outgrowth of our divinely endowed dignity and corresponding obligation to protect the rights, freedom, and equality of all.
On Human Sin.
The scriptures attest that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Although humans bear the divine image, the capacity for sin runs through every human heart, and every nation. Christians are not immune from this reality. The mechanisms of democracy, the balances of power, and the protections of a Constitutional framework rein in human tendencies to dominate, demean, and exploit.
On Truth and Integrity.
We are called to speak truth, put away falsehood, and walk in integrity (Prov. 11:3; Eph. 4:25). Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32); therefore, the opposite of truth is captivity. A healthy democracy rests upon a foundation of truth. For that reason, we must work to foster trust among citizens, to elect leaders with demonstrated integrity, and, with gratitude for the tens of thousands of election workers who labor to ensure that all voices are heard, to keep our elections safe, secure, and fair.
On Loving the Stranger and the Enemy.
Jesus teaches us that loving God and loving neighbor are inseparable, and that loving our neighbors includes loving the stranger (Lk. 10:25-37) and our enemies (Mt. 5:44). We are obligated to reach out to those with whom we disagree, to empathize with those of different backgrounds and experiences, and to be hospitable to those who do not shareour beliefs.
On Solidarity and the Common Good.
Love of neighbor calls for the inclusion of all our fellow neighbors in the political process. Democratic participation enables individuals to live in service to, and in solidarity with one another-especially the marginalized among us. As Christians, we are called not merely to pursue self-interest, but to prioritize the collective good.
On Participation, Wealth, and Poverty.
In Matthew, Jesus calls Christians to demonstrate special care for the vulnerable, saying: “As you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.” Too often, American Christians have been guilty of idolatry, of worshiping money and power rather than the one true God. All citizens, regardless of wealth or income, should be able to participate fully in shaping our life together. Money should not buy greater influence, and Christians should work to overcome all unjust exclusion from civic participation as commanded in the Bible by the God of justice.
On Religious Pluralism.
The gospel of Jesus Christ advances through divine grace and human persuasion, not by government power and coercion (2 Cor. 5:11; Eph. 2:8). A democracy respects and protects the freedom of the human conscience to discern and decide on matters of religious faith. Christian communities and democratic societies alike must recognize religious pluralism and uphold religious freedom, respecting both minority and majority religious beliefs.
On Peacemaking and Bridge-Building.
Jesus called peacemakers “blessed” and declared them “children of God” (Matt. 5:9). Rather than stir conflict and seed mistrust, Christians are to “live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18). In this spirit, Christians should collaborate with individuals and institutions—religious or secular—to work for the common good and for the realization of a more just world at peace. We now face specific threats to undermine and weaken our democratic system that are in direct opposition to these foundational Christian principles. Because we are committed to the core values above, we stand together against these threats.
Because every human being is of equal value and worth before God, we reject any attempt to limit, suppress, intimidate, or subvert equal participation in our democracy on account of a person’s skin color, economic status, or political opinions. We believe in transparently fair elections. We reject all efforts to inhibit voter participation, including curtailing opportunities for voter registration, obscuring information about how and when to cast ballots, removing eligiblevoters from voter registration lists, and reducing polling station hours in targeted areas. We firmly reject any intimidation or threats against election administrators and poll workers, or voters themselves, regardless of political persuasion.
Because democratic life requires pluralism, we repudiate political systems, parties, movements, laws, regulations, and policies that raise any group of people, including Christians, above others by granting them special rights and privileges. Specifically, we repudiate the tenets of Christian Nationalism and the idea that Christians or Christianity should hold a place of privilege and power in our nation’s governance.
Because peace and stability are characteristics of a healthy democracy, we condemn the rising tide of violent language and behaviors, including violent threats and actions against public servants, election workers, and fellow citizens.
Because truth-telling is integral to the pursuit of solidarity and the common good, we denounce the sowing of falsehood about election outcomes, the use of lies and half-truths by officials and candidates to distort truth, and the weaponization of fear and despair as a strategy to acquire or maintain power. As signers, we differ on many moral and social issues—on how to achieve a more equitable society, on war and foreign policy, on abortion and reproductive health, and on issues related to gender and sexuality–but we are committed to preserving a democratic space within which we can collectively discern the way forward with respect to these vital issues.
We realize that for some, signing this statement will put themselves and their livelihoods at risk, but we are convinced that the urgency of our moment requires such courage. We cannot remain neutral about the choices before us.
This is a kairos time, to use biblical language– a moment that can change time, altering events for decades, even generations to come. This electoral season, each one of us must stand for democracy’s future. We must resist cynicism, apathy, and fear; withdrawing from the electoral process only risks consolidating power in the hands of those who would abuse it. We cannot transform democracy unless we save it. As Christians, we are people of hope. The resurrection of Jesus Christ powerfully attests that life overcomes death, and that what is to come is far better than what is; “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” Pressing forward with confidence in God’s sustaining care, we call on all Christians and people of good will to work together to reawaken democratic spirit and improve American democracy.
In keeping with these principles, we, the undersigned, commit to advancing a multi-racial, multi-faith, multi-generational democracy, where every voice is valued and every person afforded the opportunity to participate fully and freely in the life of the community.
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift!
~ Ephesians 4
People are too poorly suited to life in the world for this to be the definitive human condition.
~ Marilynne Robinson
There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.
~ Richard Sibbes
To truly follow Christ is to set forth on a journey of ever-expanding benevolence, from the narrow limits of familiar territory into the dark and unfamiliar world of the oppressed and suffering — and to people often unlike ourselves.
~ Dr. Diane Langberg
Racism is not just America’s problem; it’s humanity’s problem. We serve a holy God who is near to the broken-hearted and who calls his people “to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke” (Is. 58:6). We follow a Savior who came not to be served but to serve and who did not fight for his own life but willingly laid it down for ours (Mark 10:45). Too long has this call and its price been predominantly borne by the black church in America. It is time for God’s people to walk the path of the suffering servant Jesus in solidarity with one another. As the first evangelical, the first proclaimer of good news—the evangel—Jesus declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18–19).
~ Walter Kim
How does the thief on the cross fit into your theology? No baptism, no communion, no confirmation . . . and no church clothes. He couldn’t even bend his knees to pray. He didn’t say the sinner’s prayer and among other things, he was a thief. Jesus didn’t take away his pain, heal his body, or smite the scoffers. Yet it was a thief who walked into heaven the same hour as Jesus simply by believing. He had nothing more to offer other than his belief that Jesus was who he said he was. No spin from brilliant theologians. No ego or arrogance. . . . Just a naked dying man on a cross unable to even fold his hands to pray.
~ Andrew Snow
Church is where Christ’s people, his bride, can delight in the Lord together. Church is where we can develop our desire together as he is preparing our souls for love. Church is where we can practice heaven, as Curt Thompson calls it. It is where we find sacred siblings and advocates. It’s where we hear, speak, and read God’s word in community. It’s where we read the Bible with an eschatological imagination—being courted and transformed by God’s word. Church is to be a safe place to ask the hard questions about life, offering security in Christ as we express our doubts. It’s to be a place of protection from the harm of others. It is where we are to provoke one another to love and holiness as we gaze at Christ together. Church is where we are to have communion without shame. Repentance comes easy in loving cultures.
~ Aimee Byrd
Christian Resistance in the Trump Era
By Duane W.H. Arnold, PhD
I have never believed that the Church is safe—not from compromise, not from collusion, not even from its own desire to be admired. What we have witnessed in recent years, however, is not merely the drift of a few individuals or institutions. It is the exposure of a fault line—a theological one. A line between allegiance to the crucified Christ and allegiance to a cultural construct bearing His name but not His likeness.
We have seen the American Church—at least large swaths of it—enthralled not by the Gospel, but by the promise of power. The language remained familiar. Scripture was quoted. Prayers were offered. Yet underneath it all, something shifted. We were no longer proclaiming the Kingdom of God. We were defending the kingdoms of men.
What, then, does Christian resistance look like in such a time?
It begins with remembrance. Rowan Williams once wrote, “The Church is not here to provide the nation with moral endorsement but to remind the nation of the Kingdom of God.” That sentence should be taped above pulpits. In an age when the Church is tempted to exchange its birthright for relevance, Christian resistance begins by remembering what we are for—and what we are not.
We are not here to win elections. We are not here to court Caesar. We are not here to preserve our influence. We are here to bear witness. Augustine saw this clearly. In The City of God, he reminded the Church that the city of man, the earthly city, is marked by the love of self, even to the contempt of God. The city of God, by contrast, is marked by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. One city seeks dominance. The other seeks holiness.
In recent years, too many Christian leaders chose dominance.
But resistance also looks like truthfulness. In a time when falsehood is currency, to tell the truth is a subversive act. Robert Webber—a friend, a mentor—said often that the Church’s task is to “tell the story of God’s work from creation to consummation and invite the world into that story.” That story is not bound by any party or platform. It cannot be co-opted without distortion. It begins in a garden and ends in a city, but nowhere in between does it pledge allegiance to empire.
The problem is not merely political. It is liturgical. It is catechetical. Somewhere along the line, we stopped forming people in the likeness of Christ and started forming them in the image of talk radio. We traded the slow disciplines of prayer and study for slogans. We lost the long memory of the Church in exchange for the short cycle of electoral momentum. That, too, is a crisis. Not one that can be fixed by voting differently, but one that must be addressed at the level of discipleship.
Christian resistance, then, is not loud. It is rooted.
It looks like a pastor quietly refusing to lie. It looks like a congregation returning to the lectionary, the Eucharist, the Psalms. It looks like young seminarians, unsure of what kind of Church they will inherit, reciting the Nicene Creed with trembling faith and stubborn hope.
It looks like worship.
To receive the Body of Christ in the presence of the broken, the poor, the undocumented, the politically homeless—this is resistance. The Eucharist is a rejection of every ideology that says some are in and others are out. The table is not partisan. It is eschatological. It points to the feast to come, not the party convention next summer.
In one sense, resistance is nothing new. The Black Church has long known how to survive in the face of power’s indifference or hostility. So have immigrant churches. So did the early Christians. So did Bonhoeffer. “Not to speak is to speak,” he wrote. “Not to act is to act.”
There are still churches who will not speak. There are still bishops who will not act. But there are also voices rising—quiet, clear, courageous. Not shouting into the void, but proclaiming Christ crucified. Not seeking power, but embodying love.
That is resistance.
We resist not because we are political, but because we are theological. We resist not with hatred, but with holiness. Not with violence, but with vision. Not with nostalgia, but with memory.
This is not about being anti-Trump. That’s too easy. This is about being for Christ—truly, deeply, sacrificially for Him. The Christ who was homeless, not housed. The Christ who was mocked, not crowned. The Christ who was lifted up, not by supporters, but on a Roman cross.
So we remember. We repent. We worship. We resist.
Because we believe that Jesus—not Caesar—is Lord.
And that changes everything.
GRACE: A good sleep is grace and so are good dreams. Most tears are grace. The smell of rain is grace. Somebody loving you is grace. Loving somebody is grace. Have you ever tried to love somebody? A crucial eccentricity of the Christian faith is the assertion that people are saved by grace.
The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you. There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.
~ Frederick Buechner
The number
of hours
we have
together is
actually not
so large.
Please linger
near the
door uncomfortably
instead of
just leaving.
Please forget
your scarf
in my
life and
come back
later for
it.
~ Mikko Harvey
The Church is the Church only when it exists for others. . . not dominating, but helping and serving.
It must tell those of every calling what it means to live for Christ, to exist for others.
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.
~ George Eliot
Isn’t it funny how often we read something on social media, we take it as truth, and start spreading it around like a wildfire? But let someone tell you about the true gospel and what Christ has done in their life and we’re reluctant to tell anyone. Salvation isn’t something you buy, or trade, or even beg for. With your last breath . . . all you have to do is believe.
~ Nancy Stroppe
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
~ Isaiah 33