Among President Donald Trump's most fervent supporters are White Evangelical Christians.
A full 81% voted for Trump in 2016.
But not all Evangelicals are still riding the Trump train. The largest Evangelical publication, Christianity Today, of course, published an editorial calling for Trump to be removed from office.
And now those who oppose the President's hold on church leadership have an anthem to rally behind.
Daniel Dietrich—a pastor for arts and worship at an Indiana Evangelical church—wrote a song addressing the 81% who supported Trump.
You can hear the song and see the full lyric video below.
The song called out the Trump administration for "putting kids in cages, ripping mothers from their babies."
But it blamed Evangelical Christians—the 81%—for being complicit with the lyrics:
"I looked to you to speak on their behalf"
"But all I heard was silence"
"Or worse you justify it."
In another section, Dietrich references the hypocrisy of church leadership, singing:
"You said to love the lost"
"So I'm loving you now."
"You said speak the truth"
"I'm calling you out"
"Why don't you live the words"
"That you put in my mouth"
Dietrich wrote on YouTube, regarding his song:
"In 2016, 81% of white evangelical Christians voted for Donald Trump after (among other things) hearing an audio recording of him bragging about sexually assaulting women."
"Maya Angelou famously said, 'when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time'."
"In the years since, even after enacting deliberately cruel policies to rip families apart and put children in cages at the southern border, evangelical support is as fervent as ever."
"I was raised in the Evangelical world. It shaped me. I learned to take the words of Jesus seriously - love God, love your neighbor, feed the hungry, fight for justice for the oppressed. I thought that things like love, kindness, gentleness, and self-control MATTERED. I have been so confused and deeply saddened by the unflinching loyalty to a man who so clearly embodies the opposite of these values."
"This song is a lament. It's a loving rebuke. It's a plea for the 81%, to come home to the way of Jesus."
Bonnie Yoder responded in the YouTube comments:
"You succinctly wrote the full expression of my torn heart: dismay, disbelief, confusion, fidelity, anger and...love."
Bob Welch wrote:
"Truly, truly powerful. As a Christian who is among the 19%...this truly encourages my heart."
Paul Nye added:
"Absolutely beautifully haunting, Daniel! It's encouraging to see the 19% of those of us who saw the hypocrisy take a stand and being supported."
"I'm totally mystified as to how and why Evangelicals can support this man. Pray for him, YES. Follow?"
"Jesus didn't die a horrible death for a political party or agenda, but we've cheapened his incredible sacrifice by our spiritualization of politics."
According to his bio on the South Bend City Church website, Dietrich was born and raised in southwest Michigan. He and his wife Katie have three children.
According to the singer/songwriter, the purpose of Evangelical Christianity is "Christ-followers devoting their lives to serving the marginalized, forgotten, and oppressed."
That philosophy stands in opposition to many of the goals of President Trump and his administration. But whether more Evangelicals will abandon Trump in 2020 remains to be seen.
Dietrich said to Religion News Service:
"This song might ruffle some feathers, but maybe some feathers need to be ruffled."
"Maybe some tables need to be turned over. Hear me on this, though: It is because I was taught to take the words of Jesus and the prophets seriously that I cannot stay silent."
You can purchase The Immoral Majority: Why Evangelicals Chose Political Power Over Christian Values by Ben Howe here.
@SaraSchon/X
@SaraSchon/X
