In ancient Hebrew scripture, there’s a moment when the prophetic tone shifts. There are no more gentle invitations nor soothing poetic metaphors. Just a voice that cuts straight through the noise:

“You have forgotten the cause of the fatherless and the widow.”

Not distracted from the cause of those without opportunity, privilege, and the meeting of basic needs. No, it says “You’ve forgotten. You couldn’t care less.” It finishes with the flourish of “thus saith the Lord.”

That’s what this version of Easter feels like. A group of religious communities, carrying the name of Christ, yet aren't willing to put aside self-protection and propagandized fear in order to attend to the very one central command of the Bible - care for and seek justice for all, even those you believe don't deserve it... because your belief may be dead wrong.

Donald Trump said this week that the U.S. Government shouldn’t be helping people with child care costs. Even though he promised in the presidential campaign that his tariffs would do just that. Even though that cost is a major barrier to economic opportunity for millions of Americans who believed in Trump’s populist promises.

The government is too busy fighting wars. Care for the poor is for other entities. Not the representative of the communal heart of us as a people. Things like outrageous health care or housing costs don’t matter to the president. He’s got a war to fight and a ballroom to build. He’s too busy to care about justice for the poor, the foreigner, the marginalized and those disadvantaged by our economic system. In fact, Trump finally said the quiet part out loud. He’s going to ask Congress for another $200 billion for his war and ask for a $1.5 TRILLION budget for the military in next year’s allocations. How’s he going to fund paying for this bloated war machine? On the backs of those in our country who are in desperate need of a country to care – by making even deeper cuts into health care assistance.

But, it’s not so much that I care about thisdisplay of Trump’s calloused heart, it’s what it says about us as a people that cuts my soul.

We don’t just slightly misunderstand Jesus. On this Easter 2026, it’s clear that we’ve forgotten the story altogether.

The story we claim to celebrate, as Christians (and those who claim we are a “Christian Nation”) is centered on a man who stood with the poor, touched the sick, fed the hungry, and consistently moved toward the marginalized while declaring those who live by the sword will die by it. And the “good”, pious, religious hated him for it.

And yet…

The modern evangelical machine has learned a different instinct to protect access to power rather than seeking justice for those most in need. To prize influence of the influential over the influence of Jesus’ life. And to get and maintain that access, the Church must focus on maximum growth. Maximum giving.

So Easter doesn’t feel so much like a Holy Day anymore as much as it feels like the biggest annual marketing push of any evangelical church. Can you almost hear Jesus straining to flip over our tables and call us “a den of thieves?”

It’s one of the most quoted lines in Christian culture. But we’ve given Caesar far more than coins. We’ve given him allegiance. We’ve given him moral authority. We’ve asked him to reflect the heart we didn’t want to admit we carry.

We’ve given him a loyally groomed community who would support Cesar even if he were to shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue. What’s left that belongs to God?

On this Easter, there certainly is no widespread Christian stance against a corrupt, heartless empire, but rather are now comfortably housed within it. And to feed that beast, the Church must be:

• Branded.
• Marketed.
• Optimized.

A resurrection story used to drive attendance and revenue
inside a system that often mirrors the very forces
that put Jesus on the cross.

Let’s be honest about the trade that’s been made. This is not evangelism. It’s an alignment with capitalism so complete, that success can only be measured by butts in the seats. Faithfulness is measured in church followers enticing others into the comfy, powerful fold.

The poor and mistreated of our community have been reduced to talking points rather than people to stand with. The commands of the Bible are dismissed with manipulative words like “socialism,” “murdering babies,” and “Jesus is King!”

The prophets of old didn’t stay quiet about this kind of thing. Jeremiah didn’t mince words:

“Shall I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?”

That’s not abstract theology. That is a warning and a confrontation against the mindset of the American Evangelical Church. It ought to be a chill down the spine for those who believe sectarian rituals will protect them in the universe while they ignore justice.

Jesus didn’t soften his words either.

He said there would be communities and people groups so hard-hearted that “it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

That comment wasn’t aimed at outsiders – like the Romans, Samaritans and the eunuchs – it was aimed at the religious people in their best dress on their way to the temple to give homage to tradition over the messiness of caring. Easter turned into a marketing campaign.

At some point, we have to ask:

Are we following Jesus… or have we learned how to profit from his name? THAT is the meaning of “taking the name of the Lord in vain.”

Because the resurrection story holds nothing about staying safe and clean and in power, rather than fighting it. No. The true Easter story is FAR from a comfy and safe one.

The crucifixion and resurrection story requires us to stand up and speak out against an empire. To confront those who empower it. Jesus never once endorsed increased institutional legalism.

He demanded that we help those with less than we have find freedom and justice. He declared the kingdoms of this world to be systems of death, control, and domination. Jesus commanded those who claim to follow him to reject the seduction of power and make sure the dark heart of social, economic, legalistic, and corrupt systems does not get the final word.

And the question that lingers, whether we want it to or not. Or is this selfish thought that WE are in charge just too much to sacrifice?

If the prophets of old were here today…
If Jesus walked into our Easter services…

Would they recognize what we’re doing as being enacted in a Holy Name?

Or would they say what they’ve always said when power replaces justice?

You’ve forgotten.