Like the teachings of Jesus Christ, the call of the Deep South Center’s radical imagination goes beyond mere reform. They call us to a radical love for the poorest and most marginalized among us. His call would be a welcome alternative to the crusading Christian Nationalists, the Warrior Pastors and the Christian Right power brokers dominating the church today. Jesus modeled and taught a radical, counter-cultural love that was completely inclusive. Yet, today’s political discourse is filled with xenophobia rather than the compassion that St. This dissonance calls into question who and what really embodies Christian values in America today.
As Pope Francis has repeatedly pointed out, we must put the poor first. Though abortion, he said, is a very big deal, it shouldn’t overshadow all the other critical parts of the Christian message. The Pope’s perspective aligns with the fundamental principles of Christianity as taught by Jesus, who believed that wealth could be a barrier to spiritual fulfillment. As he infamously quipped, a camel would have better luck passing through the eye of a needle. He thought it was much less likely that a rich man would get into heaven. This view pretty much nixes every popular, contemporary understanding of Christianity. Above all, it reminds us that serving those in need should always come first—no matter what social issue you prioritize.
As the religious landscape continues to change, Jesus is certainly still open to reinterpretation. Some use scripture selectively to justify their political stances, while others, like Rev. William Barber, strive to align their messages with the core teachings of Jesus. Barber’s advocacy is powerful, prophetic, and timely as it resonates with Jesus’ radical call to love and justice that cuts through the falsehoods of today’s politicized religion.
The Call for Radical Love
Jesus’ teachings are all about a very radical kind of love. Such love is always inclusive, accepting those at the geographic, emotional, and spiritual margins. His parable of the Good Samaritan is a beautiful illustration of this truth. It demonstrates that love and compassion need to extend beyond national and cultural borders. This powerful message stands in stark contrast to many current world leaders who have adopted xenophobic policy masked as nationalism.
In supporting policies that prioritize borders over humanity, figures like JD Vance and former President Trump neglect the concept of “philoxenia,” or love of strangers—a term deeply rooted in New Testament teachings. In doing so, one way or another, they end up drawing a line that contradicts Jesus’ life-embracing message.
Pope Francis has been unambiguous about calling out this contradiction. He calls on Christians to examine how they are welcoming foreigners and providing for the poor. He stated, “We’re going to be asked, you know, how did you receive the foreigner? Did you receive him and welcome him or not?” This reflection calls us to go back to the basics—to remember what Christian love is really all about. It nudges us to avoid partisan-tinged explanatory stretches.
“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups.” – Pope Francis
The Divergence from Core Teachings
Looking at the contemporary Christian scene, you would think we’ve come a long way from the attentive discipleship to Jesus’ life-term, heart-centered teachings. Many adherents cherry-pick scripture to support their views while ignoring the broader context of Jesus’ messages. Allie Beth Stuckey leverages the Book of Nehemiah to make her case for secure borders. What she really overlooks are the larger implications of compassion and generosity that exist all throughout Jesus’ teachings.
Not surprisingly this heavily selective and biased interpretation creates a very distorted view of what it actually looks like to be a disciple of Christ. As Pope Leo XIV noted, “Many people who’ve lived for years and years and years, never causing problems, have been deeply affected by what’s going on right now.” The few remaining Christians are exhausted and discouraged. This does not mean that faith leaders do not sometimes butt heads with some dominant narratives in their faith tradition.
Additionally, Pope Francis is right to argue that abortion and similar issues cannot dominate the Church’s public discourse. In his address in St. Peter’s Square on October 19, 2025, he reiterated the Catholic Church’s crucial role. Above all, he emphasized the call of Christ for us to serve the poor and marginalized.
“Abortion is not the only issue that counts for the Catholic church.” – Pope Francis
The Challenge of Modern Christianity
As a result, the decline of mainline Protestantism serves as a powerful case study in an enormous shift in American religious identity. What was once the dominant block—the mainline denominations—now make up less than one-sixth of the population. This decline points to a growing disparity between longstanding Christian principles and modern-day habits.
Christian nationalism has become one of the most powerful movements today, seeking to unite an unquestioned Christian faith with a distorted, nationalistic, political ideology. Critics have claimed that this development perverts Jesus’ purity, remaking him into a figure who no longer resembles the prophet we understand from his early teachings. James Talarico articulated this concern by stating, “They have coopted the Son of God. They have turned this humble rabbi into a gun-toting, gay-bashing, science-denying, money-loving, fear mongering fascist.”
This appropriation of Jesus’s identity to raise such important questions is another aspect of the authenticity of contemporary Christianity. Are these leaders truly embodying his teachings? Or do they just want to use his name as a smokescreen for activities that go against his radical love?