In the dark recesses of Sure Foundation Baptist Church, a new breed of false prophet has arisen, cloaked not in the robes of righteousness, but in the sinister garb of authoritarianism and hate. Justin Zhong, with his unrelenting and venomous rhetoric, has twisted the very essence of the Christian gospel into a manifesto of violence, exclusion, and death. His so-called "sermon" is nothing less than a perversion of scripture, a terrifying display of how religion can be weaponized to promote a grotesque agenda of power and control.
Zhong’s sermon, masquerading as a political declaration, begins with a chilling announcement: “I decide to run for the president of the United States… introducing the Independent Fundamental Baptist party.” But let us be clear—Zhong has no intention of running for any political office. His rhetoric is a facade, a grotesque performance aimed at manipulating his followers into accepting his radical ideology as divinely sanctioned truth. This is not a campaign; it is a declaration of war against everything that true Christianity stands for.
Zhong’s sermon is a masterclass in the art of twisting scripture to serve a hateful agenda. He audaciously claims, “You will be stoned to death if I am president,” and goes further to suggest that these executions will be broadcast on television, a macabre spectacle of state-sponsored violence. This is not the gospel of Christ; it is the gospel of terror. The true teachings of Jesus Christ, centered on love, grace, and redemption, are nowhere to be found in Zhong’s message. Instead, he clings to a perverted interpretation of Old Testament law, ignoring the New Testament’s message of salvation and peace.
Zhong's assertion that the King James Bible should replace the U.S. Constitution—“The Constitution is not the Bible”—is not just radical; it’s a direct threat to the principles of religious freedom and democracy. By advocating for its replacement, Zhong reveals his true agenda: the establishment of a theocratic regime where his distorted version of Christianity reigns supreme. This notion isn't just dangerous in theory; it’s a potential gateway to authoritarianism, where the rights of the minority are trampled in the name of a false religious purity.
Zhong’s rhetoric doesn’t stop at distorting scripture; it seeks to erode the very foundation of American democracy. His proposal to “replace the Constitution with the King James Bible” is not just radical—it’s a direct threat to the freedoms that have defined this nation since its inception. The Constitution, with its guarantees of freedom of speech, religion, and the press, stands as a bulwark against tyranny. By advocating for its replacement, Zhong reveals his true agenda: the establishment of a dictatorial regime where dissent is met with violence, and only those who adhere to his twisted beliefs are deemed worthy of life.
This is not a theoretical danger. Research consistently shows that violent political rhetoric can and does lead to real-world violence. According to the Brookings Institution, incendiary rhetoric, especially when it targets specific groups, significantly increases the likelihood of violence against those groups. Leaders like Zhong, who use their platforms to demonize and dehumanize others, are playing with fire. Their words, amplified by the echo chambers of social media and like-minded followers, can quickly translate into physical violence, as we’ve seen with the rise in hate crimes linked to political rhetoric in recent years (Brookings) (Political Violence at a Glance) (POLITICO).
The targets of Zhong’s venomous rhetoric are clear. He explicitly calls for the extermination of LGBTQ+ individuals, proclaiming, “I will put those LGBT HIV people in a concentration camp and exterminate them.” This is a terrifying echo of the genocidal regimes of the past, where dehumanization led to the systematic murder of millions. Such rhetoric not only endangers the lives of those it targets but also creates an environment where violence is not just tolerated but encouraged.
Women are another group in Zhong’s crosshairs. He brazenly declares, “I will ban any woman from running any political office,” and dismisses female leaders as “scumbags,” singling out figures like Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton. This is not just sexism; it is a concerted effort to erase women from positions of power and influence, reducing them to mere subordinates in a society dominated by toxic masculinity.
The implications of this belief are dire. Studies have shown that violent language, particularly when directed at specific groups, can lead to real-world violence and discrimination. This is not just about words—this is about creating an environment where hate and violence become normalized, where the most vulnerable in society are targeted for persecution simply because they do not conform to the extremist views of men like Zhong.
The danger of Zhong’s rhetoric cannot be overstated. Studies have shown that violent political speech can incite individuals to commit acts of violence, particularly those who are already predisposed to aggression. The effects of such ideas are cumulative and widespread, leading to an increase in hate crimes and violent acts against marginalized groups (POLITICO). Zhong’s sermon is a textbook example of how religious extremism can be used to justify and even promote violence, making it a direct threat to the safety and well-being of those he targets.
The concept of "moral disengagement," as explored in social and psychological research, explains how leaders like Zhong use dehumanizing rhetoric to make it easier for followers to commit violence without damaging their own self-image. By casting his enemies as subhuman, Zhong lowers the psychological barriers that typically prevent people from committing acts of violence, effectively greenlighting hate crimes under the guise of Divine Will.
Religious leaders have a profound responsibility to use their platforms to promote peace, love, and understanding. When they instead use their influence to spread hate and incite violence, they not only betray the teachings of Christ but also endanger the very people they are supposed to guide. The IRS and lawmakers must take a hard look at organizations like Sure Foundation Baptist Church. How can a church that preaches the execution of innocent people be allowed to maintain its tax-exempt status? It’s time for the IRS to revoke the privileges of organizations that use their religious platform to incite violence and hate.
The broader implications of failing to address such rhetoric are serious. When extremist religious leaders are allowed to preach hate without consequence, it not only endangers the specific groups targeted by their rhetoric but also threatens the very foundations of democracy and civil society. The unchecked spread of violent rhetoric has historically led to some of the darkest chapters in human history, from genocides to civil wars (Political Violence at a Glance).
To the faithful who may be swayed by Zhong’s rhetoric, let me be clear: this is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a perversion, a twisted mockery of the message of love and redemption that lies at the heart of Christianity. We must reject Zhong’s message of hate and stand firm in our commitment to the true teachings of Christ, which command us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39, KJV).
In conclusion, this is not just a fight for the soul of Christianity; it is a fight for the very fabric of our society. We cannot allow the gospel to be hijacked by those who seek to use it as a weapon of hate. We must stand up for the vulnerable, the marginalized, and the oppressed, and reclaim the true message of love, justice, and compassion that lies at the heart of the Christian faith.
Stop Pastoral Abuse is dedicated to exposing the harmful practices of extremist religious groups and advocating for the victims of pastoral abuse. Together, we can take a stand against hate and reclaim the true message of love and compassion that Christianity was meant to spread.
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