Pastor Steve Caudle of Tennessee recently made headlines for his sermon in which he criticized Elon Musk, raising concerns over Musk’s influence on government affairs.
His sermon, which included fiery rhetoric, sparked controversy, with some accusing him of advocating violence.

Let me start by saying that this pastor is dead wrong in his sermon. But let me be clear why he is not wrong.
He is not wrong because he was calling for violence—because he was not. But here’s the kicker, if he had indeed been calling for violence for a just cause, that would not be wrong either. Let me explain.

Those Accusing the Pastor of Advocating Violence Are Wrong

Pastor Steve Caudle was not advocating violence. He was merely using very very strong rhetoric to fire up his congregation, very much like what many preachers have done throughout history. “Ah” some may say, “but it was a ‘dog whistle.’” No, because if you listen to his entire sermon, his words are easily attributable to spiritual warfare, not physical combat. Those who are accusing him of promoting violence are misrepresenting his intent.

 And even if a pastor calls for violence, is that necessarily wrong?

Augustine’s Just War Theory, found in his City of God, establishes that violence in defense of justice is sometimes necessary. A war must be waged by a legitimate authority, for a just cause, and with the right intention—not for personal gain or cruelty. The pastors of the Black Robe Regiment called their congregations to arms in the American Revolution, Bonhoeffer took part in a plot to kill Hitler, and Jesus Himself told His disciples to sell their cloaks and buy swords. History affirms that sometimes, resisting evil requires force. We don’t even need to mention the Old Testament and men like Ehud the left handed man.

Why Pastor Steve Caudle Is Actually Wrong
“But, Neil” you may ask “Then why is the pastor wrong?”  Well, he is wrong because he has misunderstood what Musk is trying to do. His sermon misrepresents Musk’s role. Pastor Steve is painting Musk as a villain when in reality, Musk is fighting against the very corruption that has devastated black communities for decades.

Musk is not the enemy—government fraud, waste, and overreach are. By exposing corruption, dismantling regulatory overreach, and challenging censorship, Musk is striking at the core of what has held back the prosperity of black Americans. He is not stopping Social Security—only Congress could do that. In fact, Musk’s efforts to root out fraud could strengthen Social Security, making it more solvent for future generations. When waste and abuse are exposed, the system benefits, not collapses. Christians are supposed to attack evil and corruption everywhere.

Yet, instead of acknowledging that Musk’s fight against corruption will help uplift struggling communities, Pastor Steve is attacking the man who is doing what so many have failed to do—demand accountability from the institutions that hold power. By protecting fraud, the Pastor is sadly advocating for the continued dependency and enslavement of black Americans. This is not just wrong—it is an unintentional betrayal of the very people he seeks to help.

He is standing in direct opposition to biblical principles that celebrate work as a gift—not a curse. Genesis 2:15 affirms that man was created to work even before the Fall. Work is a blessing. And 2 Thessalonians 3:10 is crystal clear: “If a man does not work, he should not eat.” By encouraging dependency rather than self-sufficiency, Pastor Steve is hurting his own people.

History proves that black Americans thrive when left alone. In the 1930s, despite horrible racism, black communities flourished economically, with strong businesses and family structures. Government intervention and dependency programs, not free-market policies, led to generational poverty. LBJ convinced black mothers trade fathers in the home for money. In the 1930s the black marriage rate was higher than the white marriage rate, and the out of wedlock birth rate was higher for whites than for blacks. LBJ changed all that, today over 73% of black kids are born in a fatherless home. This why over 53% of all murders are committed by blacks (mostly on other blacks).

Frederick Douglass himself said it best: “What shall we do with the Negro? Do nothing with him. Your doing with him has already played the mischief with him. Let him alone!”

An Invitation to Pastor Steve Caudle
Pastor Steve, we at Every Black Life Matters (EBLM) have the same goals, alleviation for black plight as you do. So we invite you to a public dialogue about your sermon and these important issues. We would love to discuss biblical principles, economic empowerment, and the role of government intervention in the black community. We hope you will accept this invitation so we can have a productive, Christ-centered conversation. Let’s solve the real problems.

Conclusion
Instead of condemning Elon Musk, all blacks and whites should be advocating for government accountability. We should be encouraging our congregations to support efforts that expose corruption, uplift the community, and fight for economic and personal liberty. We must demand accountability from our leaders and refuse to let misinformation cloud the truth.  Instead of condemning Pastor Steve, we should be encouraging him to fight the true villains.

So, while Pastor Steve was wrong in his conclusion, those who accuse him of promoting violence are also wrong. The real battle isn’t against Elon Musk—it’s against government corruption, mismanagement, and those who seek to keep black communities dependent instead of empowered.

Let’s fight the right battles. Let’s do the right thing.