Why a Non-Christian Should Care About Lutheran World Relief
By: Andrea Kratzke-Nelson
All views expressed are the author's alone and do not represent BMGC
On 2/2/25, Elon Musk declared that Lutheran Social Services, a Christian non-profit, a money laundering front.
Chances are, you or someone you love has been hurt by a person or an organization that calls itself Christian. It is common. Humans are capable of immense cruelty, especially when they believe they are acting in service to a higher power. I am not here to defend them. They do not deserve it.
Chances are, when I say Christian non profit, you think of the Salvation Army, and get a pang of betrayal as you remember learning that the the creators of the cute little red buckets of your childhood Christmases were also perpetuating hate.
Sure, you say, “money laundering” is probably a little extreme. But surely, Lutheran Social Services surely has some skeletons in its closet. Christian organizations always do. And with so many other things going on, it is reasonable to remain agnostic about the government attacking a Christian organization.
That is what this administration is banking on.
Because Lutheran Social Services provides comprehensive support of refugees, including helping facilitate immigration and providing housing and support after they arrive.
They provide emergency housing, food, and child care.
They support LGBTQIA+ youth and allies.
They support federally qualified health centers
They provide resources for those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
They are a critical support in disaster relief.
It is in this administration’s best interest to hamper Lutheran Social Services. They support all of the populations and services that this administration is trying to destroy. And it directly plays into this interest for non-Christians to lump together this organization with all of the other “good Christian” organizations like the Salvation Army.
It is certainly possible that there are still skeletons in Lutheran Social Services’ closet. Anyone who has worked in non-profits for long enough knows that humans are capable of immense stupidity and pettiness when in service to a higher purpose.
But do not be fooled. This is not Elon Musk and the Trump administration attacking a religious organization. This is an attack on an organization that supports all of the marginalized people that President Trump hates.
And we all must stand against that hate.