When Politics Penetrates the Pulpit: Anabaptist Reflections on the ICE Case

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines the recent ICE shooting of protester Renee Good in Minneapolis as a lens into a broader problem: political forces—both left and right—have deeply penetrated the Christian world. Drawing on Russell Moore’s piece on Romans 13 and a critical article about Francis Collins, Eicher traces how mass movements during the Obama and Trump eras altered Christian public witness and when it is legitimate for the church to render moral judgments about government actions. The episode covers COVID-era responses (church shutdowns and vaccine debates), interpretations of Romans 13 and the limits of obedience to civil authorities, critiques of evangelical leaders’ endorsements (including Francis Collins), and the distinction Anabaptists maintain against violence while urging moral engagement and truth-telling by the church.