January 6th forces American Christians to confront two starkly different stories. One is now five years old: the mobbing of the U.S. Capitol by Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and other right-wing groups in an attempted coup—many carrying crosses, chanting prayers, and claiming God’s approval for their violence. The other is ancient: the Epiphany, when three wise leaders from afar refused to serve a tyrannical ruler and instead protected a vulnerable family fleeing persecution.
As we continue to witness the rise of authoritarianism, the assault on reproductive rights, and attacks on families, the collision of these stories exposes a truth that demands our attention: White Christian Nationalism is distorting the gospel into a tool of empire, using fear and domination to consolidate power.
For Christians who know this betrays our core values, the question becomes urgent. What does it truly mean to follow a faith tradition that’s being used to justify the erosion of human rights, especially reproductive freedom?
Many of those who stormed the U.S. Capitol five years ago were prominent members of the anti-abortion movement. The religious right has long advocated for reproductive oppression, claiming righteousness while harming the very families Jesus calls us to protect.
But faith traditions call on us to build a world of justice—one where all people can make decisions about their families free from coercion. We must reclaim our faith from those who wield it as a weapon and work for reproductive justice as a reflection of these values.
The Christmas Story Continues
The story of Jesus’ birth does not end at the manger. It ends with a family running to save a child’s life, a family becoming refugees to survive an empire’s brutality. Its lesson for us today lies in the Magi, who practiced costly solidarity by refusing a tyrant’s demands.
Matthew 2 tells the story clearly. The Magi arrive in Jerusalem looking for the child Messiah. Herod, threatened by even the rumor of competition, instructs them to report Jesus’ location under the guise of offering homage.
But this is a plot to kill him. Warned in a dream, the Magi refused. The holy family flees to Egypt, and a furious Herod orders the massacre of children in Bethlehem.
Herod is not afraid of an infant, but of losing power. This is what we see today, as many political leaders cling to authority through lies and the scapegoating of immigrants, LGBTQIA+ communities, people in poverty and anyone insisting that we reckon with this country’s oppression. From banning abortion and essential healthcare to prosecuting miscarriages, Herod’s violence echoes through the political choices we see today.
As an adult, Jesus instructed his followers to honor children, feed the hungry, clothe the unsheltered and build communities of healing. Yet today’s most domineering Christian leaders condemn compassion as blasphemous, calling it weakness or “toxic empathy.” Their positions align not with Jesus, but with Herod—treating people as expendable and their bodies as tools for political control.
Epiphany reminds us that faithfulness means standing with the vulnerable and defending the dignity and bodily autonomy of those under threat.
The wise ones are a testament to the type of advocates we can be when we are committed to the wholeness of all life.
They draw on faith and political discernment to see through Herod’s manipulation. They share their resources, offering material support to a family under threat. And they take risks, refusing to comply with imperial orders.
Their example challenges us to use our own influence, resources, and courage to protect those in danger— especially as attacks on reproductive freedom and true family values intensify.
Resistance Continues
This resistance is alive today. It looks like our work at SACReD, the Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity.
We are a national, multi-faith alliance of congregations, advocates and scholars committed to advancing reproductive justice for all. Resistance reflects our call as people of faith to honor life, agency, and care, and gives us a vision for the world we can create when faith is rooted in liberation rather than domination.
We do this through education, organizing, and building transformative power together. We guide communities through the history and spirituality of reproductive justice, connecting faith with liberation and healing through storytelling.
Through our network of SACReD Congregations, we organize communities dedicated to acting for justice as an act of faith. Our work has deep historical roots, and we continue a legacy of moral courage from clergy who have long helped people access safe reproductive care.
As White Christian Nationalism dominates headlines, we are building a beloved community that spans many faiths to challenge oppression, shame and judgment.
Five years after the insurrection, and millennia after the time of Herod, we again stand at a crossroads. But Epiphany offers another way: a story not of domination, but of defiance; not of empire, but of liberation.
As people of faith, we are called to choose that path—and to walk it together.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Rev. Iyalosha Latishia James (she/they) is Executive Director of SACReD, a national alliance of organizers, religious leaders, academics, and congregations working together to advance the cause of reproductive justice through congregational designation and community building programs. Rev. Lyndsey Godwin (she/they) is Director of Strategy.
