Just as religion is becoming more intertwined with politics in Texas, an Odessa church encourages its congregation to help the poor, and to not fall into the traps of Christian Nationalism.
In a sermon, Pastor Dawn Weaks of Connection Christian Church, reminded her congregation that “God stands against the proud, but he gives favor to the humble.” She said that Christian Nationalism, a movement that seeks to merge Christianity and with national identity, promotes the idea that nation’s laws should impose Christianity.
“Christian Nationalism is an example of this kind of arrogance parading as Christianity,” she said. “There is nothing Jesus-like about that.”
According to the Texas Tribune, Dawn, along with her husband and co-pastor Joe Weaks have pushed for keeping Christianity into helping the poor and loving their neighbors and not making laws.
Republicans have pushed for more Christian laws in public spaces, such as displaying the 10 Commandments in public schools or teaching bible lessons in every school.
While the Connection Christian Church believes that Christianity is in fact necessary in politics, they said it is in every person what to choose and the pastors don’t tell people who they should vote for.
“Jesus’ story in the gospel is very political. It’s a political story,” Joe said. “It’s a story of someone who is crucified as part of a political process.”
The church has successfully hosted a bible study group with senior members that have outlasted seven U.S. presidents and Texas governors, and witnessed some of the most important events in recent U.S. history. Despite this, the group has stayed focused on bible study and not politics even once.
The Weakses, while progressive, have voted for members of both parties and so have the members of they’re church.
“We don’t keep a list of who people vote for,” Dawn said.
The Church has become a hub for several nonprofits, including the Red Cross, and has several summer weeks of service programs where members help repair houses of low-income or donate food to low-income families.
In these very political and divisive times, the Weakses will keep the church open on Election Day to anyone who wants to pray. Dawn also reminds people the most important commandments Jesus gave.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ ” she said.
