Incommoding

Okay, let me see if I’ve got this right. On Feb. 6, Trump signed an executive order establishing a task force which seeks to root out anti-Christian bias. “It is the policy of the United States, and the purpose of this order, to protect the religious freedoms of Americans and end the anti-Christian weaponization of government.” (whitehouse.gov) Ah, this must be what Franklin Graham meant the day after the election when he said, “It’s a win for religious liberty.” Go, team!

Attorney General Pam Bondi convened the first meeting on April 22. It’s too bad the task force wasn’t in place on January 21, when Bishop Budde asked President Trump at the National Prayer Service “to have mercy on the people of this country who are scared now.” Or when she very publicly reminded us of Jesus’ words: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matt. 7:24) (21 Jan. 2025) Now that we have a task force, perhaps they can investigate the verbal attacks and death threats Budde received due to her sermon.

But anyway, now we’re good. No more government squashing my rights. We have protection if we want to talk about Jesus and pray publicly. Like if we want to pray in the Capitol Rotunda, we can freely do that now. Because they are rooting out anti-Christian bias, and our government will protect our rights.

But … I’m confused. On April 29, the Capitol Police arrested Rev. William Barber and three other religious leaders for praying in the Rotunda. The charge? According to a spokesperson for the Capitol Police, they were charged with “crowding, obstructing and incommoding.” (Baptist News 29 April 2025) “Incommoding”? It feels as if I should follow with a punchline here. I actually had to look up that word. It means inconveniencing.

So, four praying men were crowding, obstructing, and inconveniencing, uh, well I’m not sure. The video shows that there weren’t many people there at the time.

According to the News & Observer, this is some of what they prayed: “We are here crying to you, Oh, God, because we have heard the cries of your people. Deliver us, Oh, Lord, from the deceptive lie that says our nation will be better off if those who have little get less, and those who have too much get more. Against the conspiracy of cruelty, we plead the power of your mercy.”

Well, this is bad optics. People with cell phones and the press were there. Still, the Capitol Police weren’t going to have those fake news purveyors printing lies, so before they arrested the men, they cleared everyone else out and shut the doors. If you stayed, you’d be arrested, too.

The Capitol spokesperson clarified the narrative for us: “They were arrested for demonstrating inside the Congressional Buildings, which is not allowed in any form, to include but not limited to sitting, kneeling, group praying, singing, chanting, etc. In this case they started praying quietly and then began to pray out loud. That is when we gave them multiple warnings to stop or they would be arrested.” (Baptist News 29 April 2025)

Well, there you are then. Freedom of speech is not actually allowed in our Capitol. Those are the rules. They were warned. Multiple times.

Am I the only one who finds this ironic? You know, when the language you use signifies the opposite of what you mean? You can’t crow about a task force to root out anti-Christian bias and then turn around and show anti-Christian bias by arresting Christians who gather to pray.

Oh, wait. I’m starting to understand. We have protections for a certain version of Christianity, the one that wants rules and patriotism and control at the expense of compassion and mercy.

Of course, when Jesus was talking to the religious community (the ones concerned with rules and control) He said, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” (Luke 11:46) As we all know, those words incommoded (disturbed) them.

The version of Christianity that’s causing problems for the government cries out for mercy and compassion. We can hide behind excuses like “this is an illegal demonstration.” But that’s the problem, isn’t it? When the Gospel crowds our hearts, it compels us to speak out, to obstruct injustice. The words of Jesus are incommoding.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matt. 7:24) Still, if you dare to act on His words, that’s the kind of behavior that will get you arrested at the Capitol.

If y’all want to join me in thanking him, you can send a card to:

Rev. William Barber
Repairers of the Breach
PO Box 1638
Goldsboro, NC 27533-1638

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