Love and peace are Christian values. So are honesty and truth.

Dear sibling in Christ,

Here at Faithful America, we've always been fearless about confronting Christian nationalism -- an ideology that twists our shared faith into the hatred and greed that has brought our country to a near-breaking point.

It's hard to feel fearless right now. In the wake of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump and wealthy far-right figures like Elon Musk immediately started exploiting Kirk's murder by pushing disinformation and intentionally stoking division to punish their "enemies." And that's a dangerous place to be, for us as individuals and for our society.

One thing we want to be crystal clear about: Violence has no place in our politics, our churches, our schools, or our communities. Ever. As followers of Jesus, we are called to love our neighbors, seek peace, and reject cruelty. Every member of Faithful America's staff believes that, and we know you believe it, too. We're praying for the Kirk family and for everyone whose lives have been rocked by evil acts of violence. And we'll keep advocating for common-sense gun safety laws to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.

But we're speaking out today because peace isn't the only value that matters to us as Christians. Honesty and truth matter, too.

The public discourse over the week of Charlie Kirk's tragic death was full of lies and distortions that will continue to undermine the foundation of both our democracy and our faith if they go unchecked. And because these individuals are weaponizing Christianity to silence and divide people, we feel duty-bound to hold them accountable for their dishonesty.

First, it should go without saying that we can pay respects to those who have been taken from us without denying or rewriting the legacy of their ideas, words, and actions. The Christian-nationalist ideology Kirk's Turning Point USA was formed to relentlessly promote has harmed countless people and needlessly deepened hatred and division in our communities. There is nothing loving or Christ-like about it.

Second, we need to name the fact that the Trump regime and its far-right allies are trying to polarize us over a murder that is universally seen as a sin and a tragedy -- and they're abusing the Christian faith to do it.

Earlier that week, Vice President J.D. Vance quoted Bible verses and the Nicene Creed while spreading falsehoods about political violence in our country and threatening that there can be "no unity" with the political left. This merging of Christian scripture and tradition with dishonest state propaganda is a dangerous escalation and consolidation of Christian-nationalist authoritarianism.

Monetized social media and AI technology are ensuring that propaganda like this spreads faster and more effectively than ever. It's never been more important for social-justice Christians to to act as the salt and light in the world by being truthful and clear about the facts and our faith -- and doing so with love, empathy, and nonviolence.

Finally, Christian-nationalist leaders are not pushing this false and harmful narrative because of their fealty to the Bible -- they're pushing it to build their own power and advance their financial interests. Our God is a God of reconciliation and redemption. But the narrative Vance and others are pushing is designed to make peace seem not just impossible but immoral. There's a reason for that.

Most Americans -- no matter our race, gender, or community of origin -- want to live peacefully with our neighbors in a fair and democratic society, not be at war with one another. And most Christians -- churched or unchurched, no matter our denomination -- came to Jesus seeking love and compassion, and want to see those values centered in our communities also.

Social movements inspired by faith throughout history have proven that peace and progress can be achieved when we work together. But empire has everything to lose when we are united in community and everything to gain when we are afraid and fighting amongst ourselves. That's the true purpose of Christian nationalism: It takes that which is holy and tries to make it subservient to power and political ambition -- warping a theology rooted in love and instead using it to divide and conquer.

But we don't have to submit to fear and division. In fact, our faith compels us to resist it. As 1 John 4:18 reminds us, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment." As Christians, we know that a better, more just world is not just possible. It is imminent and the foundation of our hope.

Faithful America members have been coming together as a community to advocate for love and social justice for more than 20 years because of that hope. And we will keep speaking out together -- grounded in our love for God and one another, inspired by the prophets who battled injustice before us, and doing our absolute best to walk in the footsteps of Jesus every day.

Thank you for everything you do to love your neighbor, and thank you for being a part of this beloved community. In difficult times, we find solace and strength through our relationships with one another. So make a habit of checking in on the people you care about. Make sure they know you love them, and let them support you when you need it, too.

We're so grateful to be walking this sacred path with you. Let's keep lifting up the truth -- even in the face of adversity -- and building a world where every person is seen, cared for, and included. Because that's what Jesus did.

In peace,

the Faithful America team

"If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." - John 8:31b-32