WASHINGTON, DC- Rev. Jim Wallis, renowned faith leader, prophetic voice, social justice advocate, and political activist, declares racism as a key and central religious issues in the 2020 election. And he argues that for decades upon decades, white Christians have ignored and denied how racism has perpetuated systemic injustice, fear, hatred, and violence against black and brown people made in the image of God.
“Racism is a religious issue. Not only that, I would argue that racism is the central religious issue in this election,” said Rev. Jim Wallis. “Those of us who believe racism is the paramount religious issue in this election must find practical ways to put our faith into action for the sake of our democracy and of our faith.”
“In nearly every presidential election cycle, a narrow set of so-called religious issues comes to the fore. In recent decades that set has been abortion, LGBTQ rights, and religious liberty. Candidates fall on one side or the other, and predictable controversies erupt. It’s exhausting to see people of faith lumped into a media narrative that largely only follows white Christians.”
“But I believe that tired and oversimplified narrative is changing — and the crises of 2020 are making that change clearer than ever.”
“I believe this moment, this movement, of racial reckoning could begin to change all of that.”
In the article “The 2020 Election is a Moment of Truth for White Christianity” published today and aimed toward white Christians in regards to this upcoming election, Rev. Wallis makes clear that the most pressing religious issue for American Christians as they head to the ballot box must be racism.
Rev. Wallis warns that, “If white Christians once again refuse to treat racism as a political deal breaker for their support, any chance to regain some of the credibility they’ve lost by their political captivity of recent years will be gone forever.”
Rev. Jim Wallis is a New York Times best-selling author of 12 books and Founder of Sojourners. His two most recent books are Christ in Crisis? Reclaiming Jesus in a Time of Fear, Hate, and Violence and America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America.
Read the full column here.
For interview or other media requests, please contact Jim Simpson at jsimpson@sojo.net