Introduction
Is standing up for your faith always righteous, even if it means breaking the law? The case of Pastor William Dunfee, sentenced for inciting violence at the January 6 Capitol riot, raises uncomfortable questions about where the line between religious conviction and political rebellion lies. Was this an act of persecution for his beliefs, or a dangerous misuse of faith to justify disorder? As Christians, what can we learn from his actions – and are there biblical answers for the tensions between civic duty and divine accountability?
William Dunfee, the 59-year-old pastor of New Beginnings Ministries in Warsaw, Ohio, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the January 6 Capitol riots. Convicted of inciting a mob and participating in civil disorder, Dunfee’s actions have raised significant questions about the responsibilities of religious leaders in times of political unrest. Many Christians and law-abiding citizens got caught up in the insurrection. Some of them had not had any brushes with the law before that incident. They bought into the narrative that was being forcefully spread across the airwaves and around the country that President Donald Trump had won the election and that the Democrats had stolen it for Joe Biden to be president. Of the over 1500 persons charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, incident, more than 900 have been sentenced so far. The charges range from entering a restricted area to seditious conspiracy.
Does the Bible Provide Guidance on Such Matters?
Should Christians or Christian leaders engage in such actions? The answer to that will depend on who you ask. Some people believe that Christians should stand up for what is right even if they are persecuted for their beliefs and in this case prosecuted. There is a distinction between persecution for righteousness and persecution for one’s choices that may go against the laws of the land. 1 Timothy 1:9 (NLT) states, “For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.”
The Bible does not speak to standing up for secular values and beliefs, however, Jesus taught that civic obligations such as paying taxes and adhering to laws are important. In Matthew 22:15-22, the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was right to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, and Jesus responded, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”. The Bible also says that citizens should obey the laws of the government, including taxes, and that tax evasion is illegal.
The Case Against Pastor Dunfee
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ordered Dunfee to report to jail immediately, highlighting the disturbing nature of his actions that day. Using a bullhorn, Dunfee encouraged a crowd to breach police barricades and join in chants such as “Fight for Trump.” He was partly identified by his company-branded jacket, which linked him to his construction business, Cross Builders. Dunfee faced charges stemming from a bench trial where he was convicted of one felony count of civil disorder and a misdemeanor for entering a restricted area. He was also accused of pushing a metal barrier against police who were attempting to defend the Capitol. A second felony charge related to obstruction was dismissed following a recent Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the applicable statute.
It was said that Dunfee directed rioters to the west side of the Capitol, urging them to reinforce the escalating clashes with police. He was also reported to have attempted to recruit others on the east side to help break through the police barricades. According to a sentencing memo filed by prosecutors, several rioters specifically recalled Dunfee’s involvement on the east side. John Douglas Wright and Clay Norris, both from Canton, Ohio, recounted that Dunfee led them and four other men in a coordinated effort to push down the barricades.
“Dunfee asked the six men to assist him in breaching the barricades and instructed them to spread out along the line to overpower the outnumbered officers,” prosecutors wrote. “Dunfee told Wright he would signal the group to start the attack with a prayer. Wright and Norris stood directly next to Dunfee as they breached the barricades together at 1:45 p.m. This marked the first breach of the East Front barricades.”
Consequences Arising from His Actions on January 6, 2021
During sentencing, Judge Walton expressed his disbelief that a man of God would engage in such incitement. “What kind of man of God would do that?” He questioned Dunfee directly, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with his position. Dunfee made a brief statement to the court before he was sentenced. He stated that his conduct was wrong and that it was, “disrespectful to the law and those whose job is to enforce it.” He asked the judge to consider that he has six grandsons. The judge, however, imposed a sentence longer than the recommended 18-24 months, stating that Dunfee posed a potential danger to the community amid the current political climate. The January 6, 2021, riot and attack on the U.S. Capitol disrupted the peaceful transfer of presidential power.
59-year-old Dunfee was sentenced on September 19, 2024, to 30 months in prison and will serve three years of supervised release and pay fines totaling $12,000. The case was presided over by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton. He was sentenced on one felony offense of civil disorder and a misdemeanor offense of entering and remaining in a restricted building of immediate detention was deemed necessary to ensure public safety, and he will remain at the D.C. Jail until assigned to a federal facility. His family and friends present in the courtroom were said to have been surprised that he had been taken into custody immediately and one supporter shouted, “Thanks for standing for Jesus. Thanks for being a man of God.” That comment goes to show that some people have no understanding of how serious the January 6 insurrection was and its wider implications. Was Pastor Dunfee standing up for Jesus or was it for someone and something else?
Federal prosecutors had requested a four-year sentence, arguing that Dunfee’s direct incitement was particularly egregious, as he bypassed the “Stop the Steal” rally and went directly to inciting the crowd. His statements to the police revealed a mindset of entitlement and aggression, insisting on a confrontation over the election outcome: : “Mister police officers, we want you to understand something,” Dunfee was reported to have told police. “We want you to understand something. We want Donald Trump and if Donald Trump is not coming, we are taking our house! We are taking our house! … Give us Trump or give us our house!”
Lessons for Christians
Dunfee’s conviction serves as a serious reminder that Christians should be discerning and follow the teachings of the Bible. We are told that as Christians we are in the world, but we are not of the world. In matters like these personal choices and godly choices are our options. Some Christians who participated in the January 6 riots were convinced, based on information they had been given, that they were standing up for what was right and just. Was this a lapse of judgment on their part, a case of sheep being led to the slaughter, or was it a case where people allowed themselves to be deceived others?
In the King James Version of the Bible, Revelation 22:15 states, “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie”. Revelation 21:27 also mentions those who “make a lie” and says, “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life”.
Christians must rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit for discernment and the use of the Bible as our compass regarding all matters. The interaction between faith and political activism raises important discussions about the ethical responsibilities of leaders within the community. As Christians, we have to choose what we stand for and who we stand for. In an increasingly secular world, these types of issues will become more and more important, and Christians will need to know where to draw the line between standing up for righteousness and getting involved in unlawful and ungodly actions that can have serious consequences.