By Christopher A. McCroy
As we place our spiritual stethoscope to the heart of these so-called United States of America, what we hear is not a steady, life-giving rhythm, but an irregular, labored pulse that signals deep distress. The heart of America, once aspirationally committed to liberty and justice for all, appears today to be in critical condition. The symptoms are evident in blatant acts of racism, public disrespect, and an alarming disregard for human dignity and decency; acts that are no longer whispered at the margins but boldly displayed in the public square.
Consider the reported uninviting of Governor Wes Moore from a White House bipartisan governors’ dinner, a gathering intended to symbolize unity, shared responsibility, and mutual respect across party lines. In a nation that has elected only four Black governors in its entire history, Governor Moore’s position is not merely personal or political, it is profoundly symbolic. It sends a troubling signal about whose leadership is affirmed, whose presence is welcomed, and whose dignity is deemed expendable. When such disrespect occurs at the highest levels of our civic life, it exposes a deeper sickness within the nation’s moral core.
This same condition is visible in cultural arenas that shape hearts and minds, such as the Super Bowl, one of the most unifying events in American life. The decision by Turning Point USA to host a separate “halftime” performance highlighting artists notorious for divisive, racist, sexist, and inflammatory rhetoric stands in stark contrast to the spirit of unity the moment calls for. That this was framed as a counterpoint to a Latin artist, whose platform has consistently emphasized love, joy, cultural pride, and acceptance, reveals a deliberate posture of opposition rather than inclusion. It is not merely a difference in musical taste; it is a statement about whose culture is celebrated and whose is resented.
Together, these moments function like diagnostic tests, confirming what many already sense: our nation is experiencing moral heart failure. We find ourselves at the epicenter of a social climate marked by separatism instead of solidarity, violence instead of compassion, and dishonesty instead of truth. Daily, the very fabric of our democracy is publicly stretched, strained, and threatened like never before. Driven by falsehoods, attacks are launched on the very ideals we claim to hold dear as a Christian Nation.
If we are honest, we see that the veins and arteries connected to the heart of our nation are dangerously clogged. They are obstructed by hateful, harmful, and heinous acts of disrespect, ignorance, and cruelty. When these blockages go untreated, they restrict the flow of empathy, starve our civic body of moral oxygen, and leave us numb to the suffering of our neighbors. A heart in such condition cannot sustain a healthy, just society.
This reality beckons a hard but necessary question: how do we stand, not only for individuals like Governor Wes Moore, but for justice itself, for what is right, and for what is decent in the sight of God?
What our nation needs now is a divine defibrillator—an interrupting shock to the heart of this country that can reset its rhythm and revive its conscience. When racism seeks to humiliate our brothers and sisters, our response must be to honor their humanity, protect their joy, and affirm their legacy. In cases like that of Governor Wes Moore, we ought collectively call upon governors across this nation to resend their invitation, to stand publicly with him, and to refuse complicity through silence. When injustice occurs, silence can be misread as consent.
We cannot solely stand for what is right with our words; we must take action. Only then can the heart of our nation begin the long, necessary work of healing, and beat once more in rhythm with justice, dignity, and love. Remember, justice is not optional in the sight of God; it is required.
