When Power Turns on the People: Kirk Cameron, the Insurrection Act, and a Christian Warning
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Have you ever thought of your faith as a threat to other communities or nations? I know I haven’t, but I’ve also been a Christian since I was in the womb. Is this something that those living in the U.S. and beyond need to become more aware of?
In recent news, American actor, author, evangelist, and producer Kirk Cameron brings up this very point. Making a controversial TikTok video that’s gone viral, Cameron explains that President Trump is sending the National Guard to stop violent crime, protect federal agents, and defend cities that seem out of control. This might also include an invocation of the Insurrection Act.
The Insurrection Act, in case you’re unfamiliar, is a law from 1807 that allows the current president to deploy the military in the United States. According to PBS, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that ” he is ‘allowed’ to use it if courts deny his efforts to send the National Guard to U.S. cities.
The concern with this action isn’t the abuse or overuse of power, but the fear that if this insurrection is used for everyday unrest, what happens when the next president decides that you are a threat? “What if a future president, a far-left president, declares Christians, homeschoolers, and conservative voices are domestic extremists?” asks Cameron.
When power promises protection, how can believers stay vigilant to ensure that freedom of faith and conscience aren’t quietly surrendered in the name of safety?
What’s Truly at Stake
While I don’t believe Cameron meant to cause any strife, his questions have many Christians concerned. And rightly so. An Insurrection Act is an emergency power allowing the president to deploy the military domestically during civil unrest. President Kennedy originally invoked this act in 1807, and it was most recently used in 1992 when massive riots broke out in LA over the acquittal of police officers beating a black man (Rodney King). At the time, President George Bush sent in active-duty members of the Marines and the Army to help settle the dispute.
The U.S. government has typically worked to limit the use of military forces on American soil. Since returning to office, however, Trump has declared his authority by “declaring national emergencies, which gives the president access to powers and resources that are normally restricted” (BBC). Cameron’s concern that a future president may declare Christians as domestic extremists isn’t just fear or paranoia, but a cautionary reminder of how unchecked power can shift targets over time.
As Cameron adds: “Would we have any moral ground left to stand on when those powers are turned on us?”