What Is The Purpose of Hijacking Faith?

Feet on the ground 👣

Lately, I’ve been hearing the name of God everywhere, but not in prayer, not in praise, and not even in pain; instead, I've been hearing it in politics, in culture wars, on stages, behind pulpits, in campaigns, and through hashtags.

People keep saying “God told me,” “This is God’s plan,” or “We’re doing this in the name of Jesus.”But something doesn’t sit right.

Because when I listen closely, the words they speak don’t sound like the Jesus I know. Not the Jesus who washed feet.Not the Jesus who stood between a sinner and a stone. Not the Jesus who fed the hungry, touched the untouchable, and stayed silent when He could’ve shouted.

The gospel is showing up in speeches, but it’s being used, not lived. That’s what caught my eye. That’s what stopped me. This is why I am writing.

The Pebble in my Path🚶🏽‍➡️

Here’s the ache that won’t go away: When people hijack the Gospel, faith & the name of God, they don’t just distort truth. They make it harder for others to trust it.

The message of Jesus, once so simple, so liberating, so pure, is now being used as a tool. For power.For control.For fear.For applause.

And what hurts most is this: when someone hears the name of Jesus used to justify cruelty or arrogance or injustice, they begin to doubt the name itself.

But it’s not Jesus who changed. It’s the way His name is being misused.

That’s the pebble in my path, the thing I can’t ignore: How did we get to the point where people say “God told me to do this” while doing the opposite of what Jesus lived?

Why do we wrap pride, hate & division in religious language? Why does “truth” often sound like a weapon, not a light?

The Compass🧭

When Jesus walked the earth, He didn’t say, “Follow those who say the right things.”He said, “Follow me.”

He didn’t seek the spotlight. He emptied Himself. He didn’t build a platform. He carried a cross.

The book of Matthew warns us:

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-16)

In other words, don’t look at their words. Look at their fruit. Not what they claim. But how they treat the poor.Not what they preach. But how they love the broken.Not how loud they are. But how much they resemble Jesus.

God’s voice doesn’t contradict God’s heart. The Holy Spirit never inspires hate. And the name of Jesus should never be a stamp of approval for something Jesus Himself would’ve opposed.

When in doubt, go back to the Gospels. Read what Jesus did. How He walked.How He forgave.How He stood quietly before Pilate and boldly beside sinners.

That’s your compass. That’s the real Jesus.

The Open Trail 🛣️

So how do we move forward?

First, don’t give up on Jesus because someone misused His name. Second, don’t be afraid to ask: Does this look like love? Does this sound like Jesus?

And third, take off your shoes. Not just literally, but spiritually.

Come back to the soil of the Gospel. Come back to the quiet, the humility, the simplicity of following Jesus, not crowds, not voices, not platforms.

Ask God to give you discernment. Not to judge, but to see clearly.

Because sometimes, the loudest voices speaking “in the name of God” are the furthest from His heart.

And sometimes, the most Christlike person is the one nobody’s quoting but who’s quietly loving their neighbor anyway.

Stay barefoot. Stay honest. Stay close to the ground.

-Barefoot Gospel 👣