Cultural Divide Highlighted in Church Protest
On Sunday, the ongoing cultural and political divide in America was prominently showcased when theologian Albert Mohler spoke out against protests that occurred inside a Minneapolis church. His remarks sparked significant applause on X/Twitter but drew considerable criticism on Threads.
Mohler was addressing a group of anti-ICE activists who interrupted a morning service at Cities Church. They confronted congregants in protest of the pastor’s alleged connections to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The church belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention. This disruption was notably captured on video by former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
During the protest, Nekima Levy-Armstrong, one of the demonstrators, stated, “This cannot be God’s house while there is someone lurking there directing ICE agents to wreak havoc in our communities.”
In response, Mohler, who is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, framed the incident as a matter of religious freedom. He articulated his views in a post shared on various platforms, including X and Threads, stating, “I don’t normally post on social media on the Lord’s Day, but today’s unspeakably evil invasion of a Christian church service must be harshly condemned. Federal authorities should respond quickly and effectively.”
His comments quickly gained traction, receiving over 225,000 views on X and sparking supportive comments from a number of users, some expressing gratitude for his stance. One individual wrote, “That’s right. Thank you for speaking out about this…”
However, the feedback on Threads was markedly different. The platform gained popularity among liberals after Elon Musk took over X/Twitter, and here, most of the roughly 150 comments were critical of Mohler. One user contended, “If you’re more concerned about worship being disrupted than about a state-sponsored movement that terrorizes immigrants, you’re missing the point of Jesus.” Another urged Mohler to “repent” for his comments.
On his podcast, Mohler elaborated on the protest, stating that perspectives on the events are subjective. He emphasized that the protesters had no right to invade the church and disrupt its worship services.
He also expressed support for the authority of government and law enforcement, referencing Romans 13 to underscore his belief in a legitimate government. He argued that respect for federal authorities is essential for maintaining societal order.
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Anti-ICE demonstration at Minneapolis church: Pastor condemns protesters: ‘Shameful’
Publication date: January 19, 2026.
