The Michigan Palm Sunday Path, like that of other states, has now started. It is part of the Lighthouse Project Palm Sunday Path, supported by United Church of Christ Conferences. All together, it is a nationwide protest action against authoritarianism and white Christian nationalism.

PREFACE: The dastardly force is having its way, so it is more important than ever – urgent – to work together and resist. If DJT were to fall to his grave tonight, the dastardly force would still push on and keep using “Christian” nationalism as its powerful weapon. ‘Doing nothing’ has never been a valid option for believers, and paths of action to resist are taking shape. As the collective understanding grows, we enter a state of ‘no excuses’. 

The Michigan Palm Sunday Path was intiated last Friday in a meeting facilitated by Pastor Todd Lippert of Minnesota. In response to the rise of authoritarianism and corruption empowered by “Christian” nationalism, the project is bringing together a broad coalition of clergy, congregations, denominational leaders and faith-based organizations.  

Christendom is struggling under the guise of Christian nationalism

This nationalism is a knife cutting down the teachings of Jesus and democracy; it is racist and criminal in its commitment. Religion and government are separate yet the people’s response must account for both. This is the way the fight has been brought, the fight that must now be carried in the form of self-defense, readiness, and conflict avoidance. 

So, now comes the Michigan Palm Sunday Path. It proposes that Christians, of any and all denominations or none, band together with like-minded others to make a stand on the afternoon of Palm Sunday, March 29th. And to stand again, on July 3rd, as a significant counter to the authoritarian charade the dastardly forces will be attempting on July 4th. While welcoming other faiths and secular people, this effort holds to a Christian orientation and tenor. It is, after all, the voice of Christianity that has been stolen.

Think involvement of full congregations

The Palm Sunday Path anticipates to be large in scale, with a presence in as many state capitals as possible on the targeted dates, with awareness and education imparted to county boards along the way. The effort recognizes there has been a ‘wrestling’ with the call. Then there is the question ‘if not now, when’? One hope is that there is a positive nudging into brave action.

Pastor Lippert’s inspiring talk touched on Jesus’s strategic action against the Roman soldiers in Nazareth, when Romans were put in charge of the temple. Jesus and the people knew the rich were taking from the poor. Like us, they had righteous anger. The story is all too similar to today, with White House and government officials assuming manipulative control over Christianity.

Other points made during the start-up of the Michigan Palm Sunday Path

• The stakes are high – this is not a drill
• The main July 3rd action will likely be in Philadelphia
• The big GOP bill is a trillion dollar trade out – direct from Medicaid to the oligarchs; this is the source of the affordability issue which will be front and center
• County boards need to be made aware of the movement’s stance because they are on the front line in terms of budget loss
• The administration is pushing for a rapid response capability in the streets to squash resistors, which might be in place by the new year; we need strength to ward off counter resistance 
• We need to establish government leaders who are actually on the side of the people
• We must stay on the fact that this is an emergency – not normal
• Organization training will be available, including a series targeted for pastors/congregational leaders

We have skin in the game, so…

The Palm Sunday Path does ask people and their organizations: “who can and will commit to the milestone events, along with the attendant preparation”? This deliberation, this ask, is the nature of organizing for success. I hope you consider and can make a positive commitment.

Good chances to act and make a difference are precious in times like these

Please keep an open mind and willingness to help. I am grateful to see the Palm Sunday Path’s organization and plan, with an action orientation, around a timeline. Sure, there is more to learn. But personally, I have not seen anything better or as practical – and I have been looking. 

History suggests action, and that the Christian folk are the winners

The big WE have been here before, on both the withstanding of assaults on democracy and the immoral undermining of Christianity. Some gave their lives under the auspices of a Confessing Church at the time of WW2. The conditions are much the same again now.

Mussolini adopted fascism, followed by Hitler. They believed their system was the ideology of the future, and they tried to take democracy out and use Christianity. Since WW2, fascist embers have been glowing in remote areas of the USA, and now the dastardly force is trying to complete their “burn it all down” strategy. Again today, fascist types are abusing, discriminating, and manipulating Christianity. We do not consent. 

Please anticipate a spring of faithful actions

With this twist and emphasis of the Palm Sunday Path, Christians have a different more defined direction, one that can help us all get beyond the nationalism affliction.

Please respond if you or your organization would like to know more about the Michigan Palm Sunday Path, fighting “Christian” nationalism, or Detroiters Against Christian Nationalism.