(More Bible Studies Available @ marktabata.com)
It is written:
Acts 25:11-For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
One of the ways that Christians advocate for change within government is by using our rights and privileges as citizens. Paul did this when he appealed to Caesar. It was the right of every Roman citizen to appeal to higher levels of government if he felt that he was being unjustly treated by lower courts. Availing himself of his rights as a Roman citizen, Paul advocated for the Gospel and fair treatment of Christians.
In the same way, Christians living in America have certain privileges available that we may utilize to share God’s Word and make petition legally for those who are mistreated. This is an email that I sent to Representative Thomas Massie.
I encourage every Christian to likewise contact your Representatives and make your voices heard.
Let us stand up together for the mistreated and abused, while speaking against the wickedness that is being manifest in our government without shame.
The Honorable Thomas Massie
U.S. House of Representatives
2371 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
October 6, 2026
From: Mark Tabata (Gospel Preacher)
Corbin, Kentucky
Phone: 606-216-1757
Email: markatabata@gmail.com
Dear Representative Massie:
I am a Gospel preacher working with churches of Christ throughout the beautiful states of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. Let me say at the beginning of this letter that I pray for you and your family—for your health and well-being, and for your continued strength and courage in standing against the wickedness that is being espoused and practiced at the highest levels of government within the United States of America.
When I first heard that Mr. Donald Trump was running for President of the United States, I was not certain what to think. I reserved judgment until I could learn more before making any decision about supporting him. The Bible, after all, admonishes us:
Proverbs 18:2 — “A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.”
Proverbs 18:13 — “He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.”
It was not long before I began noticing some things that deeply concerned me. One early example occurred when Mr. Trump appeared by telephone on Fox & Friends and, while discussing terrorism and civilian casualties, stated that his policy for dealing with terrorists includes actions that would “take out their families” (https://youtu.be/I1eXRXL0nkk).
I could hardly believe that a man running for President of the United States would advocate such a policy.
My concerns have only increased through the years. They include his conduct surrounding January 6, 2021, and his later decision to grant sweeping clemency to more than fifteen hundred convicted domestic terrorists which included over a hundred acts of violent offenses against many police officers.
I am also deeply troubled by the President’s rhetoric regarding war and civilian populations. Recently, while speaking about Iran, I, along with the rest of the country, heard the President say, “let them take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.
There are other statements and actions that I find deeply disturbing, including claims that he is “loved as the Second Coming of God,” and should be welcomed as “the rightful King of Israel” (@realdonaldtrump, August 21, 2019). Later, he shared a video to his “TruthSocial” account in which he claimed to be the Divinely appointed Caretaker of God’s planned paradise (with a picture of the Earth spinning when this was said in the video), and that he was the “shepherd of all mankind who would never leave or forsake them” (https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117242970009727578). We also remember the way that he posted an AI image of himself pretending to be Jesus Christ. (While Trump later deleted that post, it is available here: https://www.trumpstruth.org/statuses/37729).
Mr. Massie, I have seen firsthand examples of corruption in government and law enforcement. Over the years, it has nearly destroyed my faith in politicians generally.
Yet I have watched you take positions that appear to be motivated by principle even when doing so has brought you criticism from members of your own political party, and sadly from many Christians. In particular, I have appreciated your efforts regarding transparency surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein records.
I am deeply concerned about allegations surrounding powerful individuals associated with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as questions about whether all relevant records have been disclosed to the American people. I believe allegations involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of children must be investigated thoroughly and impartially, regardless of the wealth, political party, influence, or position of anyone involved. As we know, the few members of Congress that we know of who have been allowed to view the unredacted Epstein files have said that they depict President Trump in images of sexual actions with children (https://youtu.be/f13HINY_6RY?si=6I7beXKxvKhPLVnV). We also know that in those unredacted files, searches for Trump’s name returned over a million results (https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/trump-epstein-files-jamie-raskin-unredacted).
I am also troubled by President Trump’s record concerning women. A civil jury found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll. Despite his denials and legal recourse, numerous judges have upheld those rulings. There are also numerous other women have publicly accused him of sexual misconduct. We should also add here the accounts of Katie Johnson (https://youtu.be/jR_6AoFJqWk?si=aYvw6TqjMstYv265 ) and Sascha Riley (https://lisevoldeng.substack.com/p/dont-worry-boys-are-hard-to-find?r=e32y8&utm_medium=ios), two adults who maintain that Trump sexually abused them when they were minors.
Taken together with my concerns regarding the handling of Epstein-related records, these matters reinforce my conviction that Christians should not excuse serious wrongdoing merely because the person involved belongs to a preferred political party.
As a Christian and Gospel preacher, I cannot in good conscience support conduct that I believe is wicked. At the same time, I pray for the President and for his repentance.
The Bible commands:
1 Timothy 2:1-7 — “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”
But I must also speak against what is obviously evil and advocate for those who are abused and oppressed.
Isaiah 1:17 — “Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 — “Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
At the same time, I cannot in good conscience support candidates who endorse abortion. I believe that both Scripture and biological science demonstrate the reality of human life developing in the womb from the moment of conception.
Scripture declares:
Psalm 139:13-16 — “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”
Jeremiah 1:5 — “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Ultimately, as with all things, I will place my faith in God and His governance over the kingdoms of the world (Psalm 22:28), while doing what I can to share His Word and, as the saying goes, “bloom where I am planted” within my own small sphere of influence (Psalm 138:8; Mark 13:34).
With that in mind, I would like to share the threefold purpose of this letter.
First, I would like to encourage you spiritually.
I do not know the details of your spiritual background or whether you identify as a Christian. If you are not a Christian, I would sincerely like to invite you to visit with a congregation of the churches of Christ near where you live. I believe they would be blessed to have you, and I hope that you would be blessed by being with them.
I also have many Bible-study materials available free of charge on my website, www.marktabata.com, and I am always available if you would ever like to talk about the Bible, Jesus Christ, or the Gospel.
Second, I want to thank you for your courage.
I hope you know that there are Americans who appreciate public officials like you who are willing to take principled stands even when doing so comes at a personal or political cost.
Many Christians are deeply concerned about wrongdoing within government but are hesitant to speak openly about it, particularly when that wrongdoing involves political leaders whom people within their own religious communities support. Your willingness to challenge members of your own party has demonstrated that doing what is right transcends political allegiance and party politics.
Finally, I ask you to continue standing against corruption for as long as you are able.
I do not know all of the legislative and legal avenues available to you as a member of Congress, but I respectfully implore you to make use of every lawful and honorable means available to promote transparency, accountability, constitutional government, and justice.
Please continue speaking for people who have no political power, wealth, influence, or platform of their own.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter.
Please know that I will continue praying for you, your family, your health, your safety, and your continued strength in doing what is right.
With Deepest Respect,
Mark Tabata
Gospel Preacher
Corbin, Kentucky
606-216-1757
markatabata@gmail.com
www.marktabata.com