Trump Administration Attacks Christians Praying in the Capitol

Baptist News Global: Reverend William Barber Arrested for Praying in the Capitol 

So much for making a big deal out of fighting against an anti-Christian bias in government, huh?  

Reverend William Barber, pastor of Greanleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Reverend Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, who associates himself with a movement known as "New Monasticism," and promotes Christian peacemaking, were arrested for praying in the rotunda of the United States Capitol.  They were charged with "crowding, obstructing and incommoding," considered "demonstrating" inside the Capitol building.  

You know, the U.S. Capitol.  The building where thousands of MAGA supporters, following Trump's instructions to incite an insurrection to stop the counting and certifying of electoral votes on January 6, 2021, broke out windows, set off smoke bombs, defecated on the floor and smeared the feces on the walls, urinated, and generally desecrated and disrespected the building, attacking police officers and aiming at attacking its occupants.  

That Capitol.  

Here's the Message:  There is a Real Anti-Christian Bias by This Administration Against Christians Who Reflect the Values of the Christian Gospel and Practice True Christian Faith 

Taking stock of the values that are reflected in the genuine practice of Christianity, not the pseudo-Christian cult that has merged with right wing political extremism to create MAGA Trumpism, might help understand why those who practice that kind of faith are not welcome to do it in the United States Capitol, at least not while Trump is in charge.  Jesus laid out some values recorded in Matthew 5 for which the current administration appears to have no use.  

This would include being poor in spirit, or humility, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in  heart, the peacemakers.  Those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, such as these gentlemen and those with them who were arrested for praying, will inherit the kingdom of Heaven, according to Jesus.  

There are some other values reflected in the practice of the Christian gospel, such as being salt and light to the world, as an example of Christian righteousness, loving God with all your heart, soul and mind and loving your neighbor as yourself, loving your enemies, making one's spiritual priority the worship of God, and through this, fulfilling one's purpose in life.  Living out the gospel as a testimony to the faith inside, through integrity, peace, a sense of equality and respect for one's fellow human beings, serving others and practicing good stewardship of resources are all high values of Christianity and are seen in Christian  practice.  

In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul calls love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control "fruits" of the spirit.  In the same book, chapter 6:2, he says, "Bear one another's burdens.  

These things are visible in the life and ministry of Reverend William Barber.  They are at the core of the proclamations and the writings of Reverend Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.  There was nothing they were doing, and nothing they have done, that resembles, in any way, the January 6th mob that was reflecting Trump's instructions.  But they were arrested for practicing their own freedom of conscience in, of all places, the United States Capitol.  

This may be a provocative question, but I'm going to ask it anyway.  Is it possible to observe even one of these Christian values in anything that the Trump administration is, or does?  Can these values, reflecting the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, be seen anywhere in the White House Faith Office?  

The current administration, doing the bidding of the Heritage Foundation, is looking for "anti-Christian bias" in the government.  It needs to look first at itself.  

Where There Are No Christian Values

There are no Christian values in racism, or vengeance, or violence, or hatred, or licentiousness.  Those things are reflections of a kind of worldliness that Trump has made a personal trademark.  Those who claim to be "religious" or "Christian," who follow him and his worldly ideology, have been sucked in by one of the same temptations Jesus faced, recorded in Luke 4.  The third temptation was for Jesus to exchange his messianic power and mission for political, worldly rule and all that comes with it.  That's exactly what the pseudo-Christian cult that follows Trump's worship of money and worldly image have fallen for. 

There are no Christian values present in Project 2025.  The Heritage Foundation seems to be fresh out of compassion, is not interested in bearing the burdens of anyone who doesn't think like they do, and has made it clear that their gods are money and power to push their own racist agenda.  There is nothing Christian about that, and to claim that an "anti-Christian bias" exists against what they believe is missing the point.   

And that's why Christians are arrested for praying in the Capitol, while those who desecrated it get a pardon. 

Find anything in Trump's actions or in his political beliefs that resembles any of the values in the Christian gospel.  Start with what Jesus himself considered the most important gospel values, loving God with all your heart, soul and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself.  

Would it be fair to equate Venezuelan immigrants as our neighbor?  Or the people of Gaza?  

There is an anti-Christian bias in the government.  It's the whole Trump administration.  It is completely opposed to the practice of any Christian value, especially in a government building.