“No one likes violence,” Rev. Steve Caudle, who pastors Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church, told his congregation. “But sometimes violence is necessary.”
Continuing his sermon, which touched on national politics, Caudle then defended his comment about violence by accusing Elon Musk and his DOGE of hurting people. “When Elon Musk forces his way into the U.S. Treasury, and threatens to steal your personal information and your Social Security check,” the pastor said, “there is a possibility of violence.”
The pastor went on to read from Matthew 11:12 where Jesus states, “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
That portion of Caudle’s sermon, 1 minute and 26 seconds in all, went viral Monday after it was published by Woke Preacher Clips, a popular X account that features controversial, odd, and outlandish behavior by church pastors.
The X channel also linked to the pastor's sermon on YouTube.
Public outrage over the clip has been swift and fierce, including a comment from Musk himself. “This tells me that he is trying to hide MASSIVE fraud,” Musk wrote in a X post that now has a whopping 11 million views.
Rev. Caudle's sermon was also condemned by Weston Wamp, Hamilton County's mayor, who said the pastor used the pulpit to "justify violence" against Musk.
Wamp also wrote on X that DOGE and Musk, and their effort to make the federal government more efficient and accountable, have the "overwhelming support" of Hamilton County.
Soon after the clip was published on X, American Family News was able to reach Rev. Caudle at his church in Chattanooga. He told AFN the X clip was under two minutes long while his sermon was 35 minutes, insinuating it was taken out of context.
“It’s really kinda funny,” he continued. “It’s from the Sunday school lesson.”
Asked to clarify if he was claiming his comments were taken out of context, the pastor said it was. The sermon was about “spiritual warfare” and was not referring to physical violence, he told AFN.
Rev. Caudle has since published a YouTube video, on the Greater Second channel, in which he attempts to put his comments in the context of the “entire sermon” about spiritual warfare.
Back in his sermon, however, the Reverend makes it clear he was taking a stance on national politics. Without naming Trump, he warns the Greater Second congregation about “madness” that is “attempting to take over this nation.”
“In this nation,” he states, “I am worried that we are on the verge of bloodshed.”
From there the church pastor, reading from his sermon notes, condemns Musk by name and claims the billionaire is a danger to the country.
However, Trump's overwhelming Nov. 5 election victory included record-breaking support from minority voters, including blacks and Hispanics. The Republican candidate swept key battleground states and also won the popular vote, the first time a Republican president had done so since 1988.
Trump also won Rev. Caudle's state of Tennessee 64%-34% over Kamala Harris. Hamilton County, where Greater Second church is located, voted for Trump 55%-42%.
'I'm more Martin than Malcolm'
In a conversation with AFN about violence versus non-violence, the topic turned to the late Dr. Martin Luther King and his call for peaceful protests. The church pastor said King was wiser than Malcolm X, and the pastor quoted Malcolm X’s famous comment about picking up a gun to defend yourself.
“I’m more Martin than Malcolm,” the church pastor insisted.
Asked by AFN where he was informed Musk is endangering people’s Social Security income, Rev. Caudle did not provide a source for that alarming claim despite warning his congregation the country is “on the verge of bloodshed" because of President Trump, DOGE and Musk.
Rev. Caudle also told AFN Musk is a “private citizen” who has no right to look for waste and fraud in the federal government. After AFN pointed out Musk was hired by President Trump to work for his administration, much like Tom Homan was named border czar, the pastor did not back down.
“My understanding is that’s the job of Congress,” Rev. Caudle, referring to Musk and DOGE, replied.
The church pastor also praised a federal judge for blocking Musk and DOGE from gaining access to federal agencies and their records. “That seems to be inappropriate,” he commented.
In a comment to AFN posted on X, Woke Preacher Clips said the 1 minute, 26-second clip was more than fair to Rev. Caudle.
"I bend over backwards to make sure I don't clip things out of context," the channel's owner wrote.
