In the 1850s, it was a community of Christians – those called “radical Republican abolitionists” – that helped create a new movement dedicated to free markets, to the value of human work, to black dignity and freedom, and in the 1860s champion the cause of Union (Greeley itself is a “Union Colony”). They fashioned a legacy of honor that cannot be taken from them. Those from across the political spectrum today embrace wholeheartedly the gifts of these American Christians who spoke out with fervor for the welfare of the abused and marginalized. We live in the modern equivalent of the 1850s. Our country is deeply divided and as you know there were Christians prior to the Civil War who were not part of the abolitionist movement. Such servants of Christ had a very difficult decision to make. A pastor could lose his livelihood, lose his life’s work, lose his very life speaking out against slavery in many states. Affirming what is good and right can be difficult.Jesus himself lived through a time of immense political unrest. He was raised in an occupied country governed by a wicked king whose rule was made possible by the religious elite of his day. In the face of bad stewardship of his land and religious tradition, Jesus started a revolution in which he aggressively stood by the abused and marginalized. In one famous encounter, a mob brought a prostitute before Jesus. The John is nowhere to be found, but the mob wants to make a point. They said, “Moses told us to kill women like this, do you believe we should do what the Bible says?” Jesus navigated the situation by not only defending the scriptures, but defending the value, dignity, worth and heart of the woman before them.The marginalized, the abused, those culture perceives as weak – are often those whom Jesus served and defended first. In his most important sermon he called down blessing on “the meek,” “the mourning,” and those “starving for justice.” In fact, he died at the hands of those who mocked “truth” and used the legal system for self-serving ends. But his is a legacy of honor and it is a gift many of us embrace today.With this in mind, let me list some truths I find alarming. National stats show that one out of every five women will be raped and one in six men will be sexually abused or assaulted. Such stats also unveil that less than 1 percent of rapists will be convicted of their crime, and the vast majority of sexual assaults are never reported. Research also shows that false accusations are incredibly rare (one local researcher claimed the number was .005 percent of all reported rapes are lies). So as we hear stories of sexual assault in the news and the lasting damage they have done not only to those on TV but to a large percent of our neighbors with similar stories, we need to acknowledge the abuse and marginalization of many among us. And Christians in particular need to be reminded that these kinds of people were those Jesus turned to serve and bless first.When a sexual assault victim comes forward and tells her story at great cost to herself. When she says she remembers their laughter. She remembers fearing being suffocated more than being raped. She remembers bouncing from the bed when the second man jumped on it. She remembers locking herself in the bathroom, but cannot remember what day it happened or who else was in the house – these stories matter and they are the identical accounts of many not on TV. They have the ping of truth for sexually abused teens will not know what to do after they have been violated. They will often hide their shame and try to put that memory as far away from themselves as possible – just so they can function.The Kavanaugh nomination process for the Supreme Court this week shows how hopelessly broken the American government is right now, and as such how broken American society is. I am a white evangelical male, and I have been shocked that it is my Evangelical brothers and sisters – who for decades have been the most outspoken about high moral standards regarding sex – who have been among the most vocal in silencing the testimonies of sexual assault victims this month. In fact, according to a recent Marist poll, 48 percent of white evangelicals think a proven history of sexual assault should not disqualify someone from the Supreme Court, and 16 percent of white evangelicals would not answer the question at all.When white evangelicals choose to support those accused of sex crimes without considering evidence, those who have been assaulted are listening! For those of us who were sexually abused when we were young, the words of Senators and the President and Christians around the country about the woman on TV aren’t about her. They are about us. You are speaking about our past which we haven’t told anyone. You are accusing us of having bad intentions and calling us liars. You are choosing not to advocate for the abused and marginalized, but to hold our hearts out, place them in an ashtray and smother them because you need to fill a government job.How unlike Jesus. How truly pathetic. White evangelicals, stewards of Christ’s words and power, are sacrificing relationships and trust with the very kinds of people Jesus served and blessed first – and it needs to end now.To my brothers and sisters in ministry and evangelical churches who are afraid to speak out about issues that are intertwined with the personality and branding of this President: The future of the American churches is on the line. In speaking out, many of us could lose our jobs and our friends, but we need to rediscover our prophetic voice. We need to pray for power and say what needs to be said. May God grant us an infusion of courage and soul-strength, for we need to lead those in our circles to reconsider some deep values, and we are fighting cable news networks with billions of dollars to gain by keeping our community fearful, misinformed and addicted to anger.But I want us to be on the right side of history. I want to fight for a legacy of honor. I want people 150 years from now to say, “They chose wisely.” Their lives were a gift and, like Jesus, they stood strong for the marginalized and the abused.– Jeff Cook pastors Atlas Church in Greeley. He also has controversial opinions about Nickelback and who should quarterback the Denver Broncos. You can connect with him on Facebook or @jeffvcook.