As NC faith leaders, we are speaking out against Mark Robinson | Opinion
North Carolina has a proud history of faith-based movements. Movements like Moral Mondays and the Poor People’s Campaign helped defend voting rights and move our state toward socioeconomic justice. Now, however, the far right has hijacked faith with their degradation of Christianity to advance a violent, divisive vision for North Carolina.
Known as white Christian nationalism, this far-right movement weaponizes religion to promote hate and fear. And the current face of this movement in North Carolina is none other than Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.
Christian nationalists believe the United States was founded as a Christian nation and that Christian values should be prioritized in government and public life. From opposing school desegregation in the 1970s, to emboldening the presidency of Donald Trump, this brand of Christianity teaches exclusion and violence.
On Aug. 14 at the N.C. General Assembly in Raleigh, leaders from across diverse faith traditions and backgrounds in North Carolina will hold a press conference to speak out against Robinson’s use of faith as a political tool. I will be among them.
As a rising star on the Christian right, Robinson has pushed forth mainstream Christian nationalism rhetoric. He has tried to justify his radical views on reproductive rights, guns and the LGBTQ+ community with his Christian faith. He says churches showing support for the LGBTQ+ community are “a direct spit in the face of God almighty,” and that Christians are “called to be led by men,” not women.
Robinson says that school shootings happen because we have “purged prayer from the hallways” of our schools. And from the pulpit, he has stated that “some folks need killing.”
Robinson has also threatened people in his own party, stating, “I don’t have to listen to those in my own party who have watched as my back has been whipped by our enemies… Because one day, Jesus Christ is going to ride back to this earth on that white horse. When he does, he’s going to bring his vengeance.”
Of course, Jesus does not kill enemies. Jesus said: “Love your enemies...pray for (those who) despitefully use you.”
Jesus doesn’t restrict the rights of women. In the scripture, Jesus empowers women. It was the women who were the first to preach the gospel of the risen Savior when the men were in hiding.
Jesus wouldn’t ban books in school because certain truths make certain groups uncomfortable. Jesus says, “The truth will set you free.”
It pains me that because of religious extremists, reproductive health care access, women’s rights, protections for LGBTQ+ people, and our children’s freedom to learn are under attack in North Carolina and across the country.
As faith leaders, we can no longer allow this misrepresentation of God — and misrepresentation of Jesus. Faith leaders must stand together to offer a counter narrative. We cannot allow Robinson and Christian nationalists to shame, exploit, oppress and villainize our most vulnerable.
In coming months, we, as faith leaders, will be standing up for what we believe people of faith should consider when they vote this November in North Carolina. We take inspiration from the Gospel and progressive religious movements in our recent history.
We must come together to define our values. This election is an opportunity to underscore that North Carolinians from all walks of life vote for acceptance over hate and peace over violence.