Thousands of faithful people filled two churches to over-capacity the Thursday after Pentecost Sunday, emulating the early followers of Jesus, who took their faith to the streets during the Pentecost season. After hearing inspirational talks from church leaders who were the original signatories to the Reclaiming Jesus Declaration, the multitude marched to the White House to pray and articulate the articles of faith required to Reclaim Jesus.

In addition to declaring what Christians believe, those gathered outside the White House also proclaimed what they rejected. As Bishop Michael Curry and Rev. Jim Wallis said in a recent letter to church leaders, Reclaiming Jesus "is not just a statement, but the beginning of a process of discernment, prayer, reflection, and action that we believe–and have been told my many others–our churches and their pastors urgently need." 

We are living through perilous and polarizing times as a nation, with a dangerous crisis of moral and political leadership at the highest levels of our government and in our churches. We believe the soul of the nation and the integrity of faith are now at stake.

It is time to be followers of Jesus before anything else—nationality, political party, race, ethnicity, gender, geography—our identity in Christ precedes every other identity. We pray that our nation will see Jesus’ words in us. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Let’s call out the ungodly events happening every week, many emanating from the White House with the silence and complicity of white evangelical religious leaders. It is clearly time to reclaim Jesus, in the midst of those who are attempting to co-opt Jesus for political gain.

Pentecost was the beginning of a new time in the Church’s life, when Christ-followers were empowered by the Holy Spirit. May we also be given the courage to take our faith to the streets of our personal and public lives.

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