A prominent Atlanta megachurch pastor, who is also a vocal DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) activist, made headlines after using racial slurs against black Trump supporters, calling them "coons" and "runaway slaves." His comments have sparked widespread controversy, revealing the deep political and racial divisions within modern churches. This incident is particularly striking when contrasted with the perspective I share in my article, Introducing DEI...Have I Gone Woke???, where I argue for reclaiming the acronym DEI for the church, as Discernment, Edification, and Inspiration, to refocus our priorities on spiritual growth and sound doctrine rather than political correctness.
This kind of rhetoric reflects the increasing apostasy within the church. 2 Timothy 4:3 warns that in the last days, people will seek teachers who tell them what they want to hear rather than sound doctrine. When pastors prioritize political agendas over biblical truth, it leads to division, deception, and a shift away from Christ-centered teaching. The Bible calls believers to unity in Christ, not identity politics or racial division (Galatians 3:28).
This incident should remind Christians to test every teacher against Scripture (1 John 4:1) and be wary of churches that mix worldly ideologies with the gospel. As deception grows, the need for biblical discernment has never been greater. Rather than being swayed by emotional rhetoric, believers must stay anchored in God’s Word and reject divisive teachings that distort the truth. READ MORE
Commentary by Joe Hawkins