Political developments in the USA have had a profound impact on the country’s church culture. According to the Frankfurter Rundschau, experts warn that Christianity in the US is in crisis as conservative Christians reject central teachings of Jesus as too “left”.

Russell Moore, a former top official at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), told NPR that many pastors have noticed this trend. When Bible passages such as the well-known “turn the other cheek” passage are quoted, many react with skepticism and ask, “Where did you get that from? Liberal talking points?”. Moore emphasized, “When we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we are in a crisis.”

Pastor thinks Trump is a ‘unique threat’

Former US President Donald Trump is said to have had a significant influence on this change, according to the “Frankfurter Rundschau”. Moore described Trump as “a unique threat to both American institutions and the witness of the Church.” Moore resigned from the SBC in 2021 because of his criticism of Trump.

Evangelical Christians, who represent a significant voting bloc for the Republicans, massively supported Trump. According to Newsweek, up to 81 percent of white evangelical Protestants voted for Trump over current President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Stressing the need to improve church culture through “small and local” actions, Moore supports candidates running against Trump in 2024.