Chris Lange, FISM News

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) weighed in on two pro-Jesus ads that aired during Sunday’s Super Bowl game, saying that Jesus would not support what she claimed was an effort “to make fascism look benign.”

The Christian group He Gets Us reportedly spent $20 million on two Super Bowl ads that featured powerful images of love and grace as well as heartache and strife to convey the message that the love of Christ transcends divisions and that his grace extends to everyone. The ad campaign is funded in part by the family behind Hobby Lobby as well as Christian groups and individual donors. 

“Something tells me Jesus would *not* spend millions of dollars on Super Bowl ads to make fascism look benign,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a tweet.

One of the ads to which she was referring featured images and video clips of children expressing love and kindness toward one another. One clip showed a big sister comforting her sibling who was ill from chemo treatments. Another showed two toddlers running to hug one another; one little boy was black and the other was white. The ad was captioned: “Jesus didn’t want us to act like adults.”

A second ad included images of disputes between people over racial justice, pandemic mandates, and politics, advising viewers that “Jesus loved the people we hate.”

Both ads direct viewers to a website that offers Bible readings and resources, including live chats with volunteers ready to talk about the transformative love of Jesus.

How the New York Congresswoman managed to equate the ads to a thinly disguised plot to promote fascism remains a mystery, as she did not expound further on the theory in her post.

Multiple Twitter users called the Progressive Caucus member out over the remark.

“It’s sad to see when you find people spreading the word of [G]od and you have to find some way to be divisive about it,” a user wrote. “We need God back in this country and you hate that it’s the one thing [that] could bring us all together in an instant.”

Another tweeted: “Love your enemy equates to Fascism? You’re brilliant!” in a post that included a laughing emoji.

One person, responding directly to Ocasio-Cortez, wrote: “He gave so much more than millions of dollars to show His love for us. Read John 3:16.” 

Phrases like “Christian nationalism” and “white nationalism” appeared in posts from a handful of users who expressed support for Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks.

“There is a difference between religion and relationship with Christ,” one user philosophized. “These so-called Christians who are white nationalist are religious and know not the God of the [B]ible.”

The “He Gets Us” campaign was launched in March 2022. Fox News recently reported that the group plans to spend $2 billion over the next several years to continue to bring its message to the masses.

He Gets Us explains on its website that there is an important distinction between addressing injustice, which Jesus did, and today’s efforts to denigrate and dehumanize those who may have a different viewpoint.

“Expressing outrage at injustices, being a voice for the voiceless, and boldly representing your values and identity are important parts of the human experience. Jesus did all these things. But how often do our conflicts devolve from a dignified defense to a dehumanizing hate for others?” the group asks. 

The site goes on to point out that the media and social media platforms have amplified this hate.

“It’s systemic. It’s diabolical. And it works,” the group states before posing the question:

What if we tried to love our enemies the way Jesus loved his? How would it change the tenor of our conflicts and our conversations? What would the world look like if we all resisted the temptation to defend our self-interest at all costs and loudly proclaimed together that the love for others, the compassion for another’s lived experience, the empathy for their position, and the respect for their dignity were the most important values we all could hold?

The group invites visitors to “explore the story, teachings, and mission of one who lived that way.”