In a recent episode of The Bulletin by Christianity Today, hosts Russell Moore, Mike Cosper, and Nicole Martin discussed three key stories that intersect faith, politics, and the public square: the uncertain future of PEPFAR, churches making political endorsements, and a sweeping new immigration proposal dubbed the “big beautiful bill.”
First, PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief)—a program launched by President George W. Bush—has been one of the most successful global health initiatives in history, saving over 25 million lives, many of them in sub-Saharan Africa. It has long enjoyed bipartisan support, including from Evangelicals. Yet today, it faces growing opposition from some conservatives who claim (often inaccurately) that it supports abortion. The podcast clarifies that PEPFAR has strict anti-abortion protections. What’s at stake isn’t just foreign aid—it’s the credibility of Christian compassion in a watching world. Withdrawing support now risks undermining decades of Evangelical witness and life-saving mercy work.
Second, the hosts turn to an alarming trend: churches openly endorsing political candidates from the pulpit. While the IRS prohibits tax-exempt churches from political endorsements, enforcement is rare. Some pastors now test those limits without much concern. But Moore and Martin warn that aligning the gospel with a political party distorts its core message. When a church becomes an appendage of a political campaign, the cross gets co-opted. Our identity in Christ should never be reduced to the red or blue of American politics.
Finally, the episode discusses the newly proposed “big beautiful bill” on immigration—an expansive piece of legislation that drastically curtails legal immigration, asylum, and refugee programs, while expanding border enforcement. While some Christians applaud its “tough on immigration” stance, the podcast invites listeners to consider how such policies align with biblical teachings about welcoming the stranger and caring for the vulnerable. Compassion and rule of law are not mutually exclusive; the church must speak clearly when laws dehumanize or exclude.
These three issues reveal a deeper crisis: when politics take priority over biblical conviction, the church risks losing its prophetic voice.
So let’s reflect together:
- If PEPFAR has saved millions of lives and reflects Christ’s command to care for the sick, why are some Christians abandoning it now?
- If Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” should churches really be endorsing political candidates?
- If God repeatedly commands us to welcome the stranger, can we in good conscience support immigration laws that close our doors to those fleeing danger?
Let’s not trade away gospel witness for political wins. Christ calls us to be salt and light—not a partisan echo.