In a disturbing sermon streamed live on Sunday, February 9, Dr. Steve Caudle, a reverend at Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, issued an inflammatory call for Christians to “get violent and fight” against efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to curb waste in the federal government. In a tirade that left many questioning the motives of the woke pastor, Caudle took aim at Elon Musk and his DOGE initiative, warning that the push for government efficiency would lead to the “stealing” of personal information and money from American citizens.

Dr. Caudle, whose church serves a primarily African-American congregation, has a history of controversial statements, but his latest sermon may have crossed a dangerous line. The reverend accused the Musk-led DOGE of targeting the financial data of Americans, claiming that it was part of a plot to strip away personal freedoms. He ominously warned his congregation, “In this nation, I’m worried that we are on the verge of bloodshed. This is an attempt to take us back to a day that we do not want to go, and we will not go. Therefore, there will be conflict.”

Despite invoking religious language, the reverend’s message was far from peaceful. After calling on God to “overcome the madness,” he shockingly declared that sometimes “violence is necessary.” He insisted that violence would be required to fight the alleged overreach by DOGE, saying, “When Elon Musk forces his way into the United States Treasury and threatens to steal your personal information and your social security check, there is a possibility of violence.”

The rhetoric only escalated from there. Dr. Caudle, with little to no evidence, labeled Elon Musk as either the devil or a pawn of evil forces, suggesting that fighting back with violence was the only recourse. “Sometimes the devil will act so ugly, that there is no other choice but to get violent and fight!” he proclaimed.

Not only was the pastor’s tone dangerously inflammatory, but his interpretation of scripture also took a twisted turn. Citing Matthew 11:12, he argued that Jesus himself endorsed violence, claiming that “the kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” According to Caudle, “The kingdom of God is a warzone, it is a battlefield.” This disturbing interpretation of Christianity stands in stark contrast to the message of peace and love that the faith traditionally upholds.

The confrontation surrounding DOGE’s efforts to ensure fiscal responsibility and reduce waste in government spending has already sparked controversy. This latest sermon comes amidst a legal battle over the ability of DOGE and Elon Musk to access the Treasury payment system. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) denounced the legal decision in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling the ruling by Obama-appointed Judge Paul Engelmayer an “outrageous” overreach. Cotton criticized the court’s decision to bar Musk and DOGE from accessing Treasury systems, saying that it was made without any legal justification or allowing the Trump administration to appear in court.

While these legal disputes are crucial for the future of government transparency and fiscal accountability, Dr. Caudle’s dangerous rhetoric adds unnecessary fuel to the fire. His inflammatory calls for violence not only undermine the message of responsible government reform but also create a hostile environment that could lead to further division and conflict.

It’s essential for all Americans to stand against this kind of rhetoric. The call for violence is not only irresponsible but deeply un-Christian. The true strength of any nation lies not in violence and division but in unity and peaceful resolution of disputes. Dr. Caudle’s words, though extreme, serve as a reminder of the destructive potential when leaders, religious or otherwise, choose to incite conflict rather than promote healing.