Easter Message from President Trump

I am making public this letter I sent to Senators Britt and Tuberville and my Congressman Gary Palmer.

Lives are at stake, my friends, as are international relations. The stakes are huge. And this hyper-militaristic “Christian nationalism” finding voice in this administration must be exposed.

If you wonder why I would post this on Easter Sunday, the real question should be why did he?

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Dear Senator/Congressman,

I write to you today, on Easter Sunday, with deep concern and a sense of moral urgency.

This morning, I was troubled and frankly outraged by a public statement from Donald Trump on Truth Social. The tone—marked by profanity, inflammatory rhetoric, and what appeared to be cavalier references to potential acts of war—was deeply disturbing. Even more grievous to me was the mocking tone toward Islam, particularly on a sacred day in the Christian calendar.

As a person of faith, I believe words matter. Scripture teaches that the tongue has the power of life and death, and that those entrusted with leadership bear an even greater responsibility for the consequences of their speech. When rhetoric escalates, especially in matters of international conflict, it does not remain merely words—it shapes policy, posture, and ultimately human lives.

I am especially concerned about the potential for escalating conflict with Iran. History has shown us how quickly miscalculation, provocation, or reckless language can lead to devastation in war. Any suggestion—implicit or explicit—of actions that would violate international law or target civilian populations must be unequivocally rejected.

I urge you, as my elected representative, to:

* Exercise strong Congressional oversight regarding any military posture or escalation involving Iran

* Publicly affirm the United States’ commitment to international law and the protection of civilian life

* Call for restraint in both language and action from all national leaders

* Work actively to prevent a slide toward catastrophic escalation of conflict in the Middle East

From my Christian perspective, this moment calls not for mockery or provocation, but for humility, restraint, and a commitment to peace. Easter reminds us that the way of Christ is not domination or destruction, but sacrificial love and reconciliation.

I ask you to act—clearly, courageously, and quickly—to help ensure that our nation does not stumble into a war that could have been prevented.

Respectfully,


Rev. Steve West

Irondale, Alabama

NO MORE TRUMP WAR

I stand up and speak once again. Lives are at stake. This is not a partisan statement. I’m not a partisan person.

It’s a matter of the present administration defying all the gray areas in every version of classic Christian ethics in a vast tradition of Just War Theory, as old as was first developed by 5th century African bishop St. Augustine.

NO MORE TRUMP WAR.

Our president predicted a few hours ago that he would “have the honor of taking Cuba.” This statement comes after our Commander in Chief launched unprovoked wars against Venezuela and Iran, all without congressional approval, all without building world alliances, all without rigorous diplomacy being exhausted, and all with little accountability or explanation to the American people. No matter how bad the leaders of those countries are (and they have done bad things) war is only justifiable in Christian theological and ethical tradition when it is a matter of self-defense and last resort. Many wars have been justifiable, and I deeply appreciate those who serve in harm’s way.

NO MORE TRUMP WAR.

This president who was obsessed over not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, who has flouted with taking over Canada and Greenland, now has his eye on Cuba.

I will be attending the “No King’s” protest next weekend and exercising my constitutional rights. My sign will read:

 NO MORE TRUMP WAR.

Protesting the War in Iran

 Once again, I find myself writing my senators and congressman. This is addressed to Katie Britt, and I will send a similar one to Tommy Tuberville and Gary Palmer.

I am making this a public letter and will put it on my blog and social media. 

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Dear Senator Britt,

I am writing to you as a constituent from Alabama in response to your recent statement regarding Iran, in which you said: “Iran is led by a murderous regime that not only murders innocent Americans, but is also holding innocent Americans in captivity.”

While I understand the seriousness of those accusations and the gravity of the Iranian regime’s behavior, I want to express my deep concern and disagreement with the current war. I believe this conflict is reckless and unnecessary, and I am troubled by the manner in which it has unfolded.

President Trump ran on a platform of “America First,” promising peace, strength, and an end to foreign wars. Many Americans supported him on that basis. Yet this military engagement appears to have been initiated without a clear and transparent explanation to the American people, without meaningful involvement from Congress, and while diplomatic negotiations were reportedly still underway and showing at least some positive movement regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

The Constitution vests in Congress the authority to declare war. When military action of this magnitude proceeds without robust congressional deliberation and authorization, it undermines both our constitutional framework and the trust of the American people. If we are to send our service members into harm’s way, the case must be clearly made, publicly debated, and lawfully authorized.

I urge you, as my Senator, to exercise your constitutional responsibility to demand accountability, insist on full transparency, and work with your colleagues to bring this conflict to a swift and responsible end. America can be strong without being perpetually at war. Strength includes wisdom, restraint, and a serious commitment to diplomacy wherever possible.

Please use your voice and your vote to press for de-escalation and to restore Congress’s rightful role in decisions of war and peace.

Thank you for your service to our state and for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,  

Rev. Dr. Steve West  

Irondale, Alabama 35210

Six Years Ago Today

 Six years ago today, the schismatic leadership among North Alabama Methodists released a signed, ten page rebuttal against my letter, “Why I Am Not Leaving the UMC.” My letter had gone viral as a rallying cry for what became known as “Stay UMC,” a phrase our North Alabama coalition soon coined.

In subsequent weeks, a number of them asked me to issue an apology, or write a retraction, or remove my letter from online publication. Naturally, I declined to do so. I believed every word I wrote.

I found myself articulating to a friend last night, for the first time, that the final exam for my college Sociology of Religion class at BSC was Stay UMC, 35 years later.

An article later written about Stay UMC and similar grass roots movements may be found HERE.

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Taking an Active Stance in Society

 In the past few months, I have spoken out against the dangerous mentality of “Christian nationalism,” violence toward immigrants and the lawlessness of ICE, racism in political rhetoric, the dangers of disregarding NATO and international law, aggression against Venezuela, and the like.

I do not do this because these are partisan issues. They actually aren’t … no party has been, well, “party” to these things in the past.

I do it because these are gospel issues. They are a matter of life and death. They are about following the Way of Jesus. They are not just about opinions or budget numbers.

I also do it because I am Methodist.

Here’s an excerpt from the Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church in 2026:

“Taking an active stance in society is nothing new for followers of John Wesley. He set the example for us to combine personal and social piety. Ever since predecessor churches to United Methodism flourished in the United States, we have been known as a denomination involved with people’s lives, with political and social struggles, having local to international mission implications. Such involvement is an expression of the personal change we experience in our baptism and conversion.

“The United Methodist Church believes God’s love for the world is an active and engaged love, a love seeking justice and liberty. We cannot just be observers. So we care enough about people’s lives to risk interpreting God’s love, to take a stand, to call each of us into a response, no matter how controversial or complex. The church helps us think and act out a faith perspective, not just responding to all the other ‘mind-makers-up’ that exist in our society.”

The Only Thing More Powerful than Hate

 “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love."

I watched the Bad Bunny halftime show and afterward read what the Spanish translated into. I sincerely think it was beautifully done, a testimony to the diversity of what it truly means to be American. 

I also believe the vitriol against it, plus the need for some kind of  “All American” alternative show, are prime examples of “white nationalism” unashamed.

Christians, diversity of all those made in the image of God is a core biblical value.

Is Our Country in a Dark Night of the Soul?

I was looking back over some of my writings from over the years. I found this column I wrote for the United Methodist Reporter in 2012.

You can find my column HERE.

The last dozen years or more have indeed been a dark night of the soul, and I’m not just talking about the Church.  We are living through a dark night in our culture. Lately, watching the news has felt more like a nightmare.

I closed the article with this: “The only uniquely Christian understanding of transformation is that it involves a cross and a resurrection, and you can’t work hard to create a resurrection. I’m afraid of what taking up the cross might mean for our beloved institutions, but I know that when a cross happens, God is in it. And something new and beautiful will emerge, even if it hurts.”

Something new and beautiful did emerge from schism, I truly believe. It’s like a breath of fresh air to get together with those committed to unity in all our diversity, who stayed in the main body of the UMC. God is moving. Maybe it also feels that way for those who left. I don’t know.

But what is going to emerge from this dark night in the United States? I remind us (with trepidation) that last time my denomination went through a major schism, 17 years later our country plunged into Civil War. History revealed that the South in general, and those sho separated from the Church in particular, were wrong. Yet, strangely, some of the same dynamics in our culture are back. It seems to me that here we are again.

Surely these next few years won’t look like civil war. But what will it look like to get out of this hole? And do I still believe that something beautiful will emerge?