A senior pastor at Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church of Chattanooga made the case during Sunday’s service for violence and fighting over the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) work to root out and cut wasteful government spending.
The pastor, Reverend Dr. Steve A. Caudle, made the remarks during a Sunday School morning service on February 9.
This tells me that he is trying to hide MASSIVE fraud https://t.co/VMC4LmYnwG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 10, 2025
Caudle, insisting that “we live in a world that is violent,” first cited the military conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine before turning to DOGE’s work to eliminate federal spending.
“Fact of the matter is, we live in a world that is violent. You don’t believe me all you have to do is turn on the television set this afternoon and you’ll see Gaza where every building has been leveled by bombs and then shooting and killing. Children bleeding out. All you have to do is look at what’s going on in the Ukraine and it’s the same thing,” Caudle said.
“In this nation, I’m worried that we are on the verge of bloodshed. This is an attempt to take us back to a day that we do not want to go and we will not go. Therefore, there will be conflict,” Caudle added.
Caudle then went on to call out billionaire Elon Musk, claiming that the special government employee, through his work in DOGE, is “forcing” his way into the U.S. Treasury and “threatening” to steal Americans’ personal information and Social Security checks.
“No one likes violence, but sometimes violence is necessary. When Elon Musk forces his way into the U.S. Treasury and threatens to steal your personal information and your Social Security check, there is a possibility of violence,” Caudle said.
“Sometimes the devil will act so ugly that you have no other choice but to get violent and fight,” Caudle added.
On Monday, Musk commented on Caudle’s remarks, writing in a post published to X, “This tells me that he is trying to hide MASSIVE fraud.”
Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church’s mission, according to its website, is to “develop a multi-racial community church committed to the social, economic, and spiritual renewal of the Eastdale community through seed sowing evangelism, gospel preaching, workshop education, youth mentorship, charity outreach and justice intervention.”
Prior to joining Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church, Caudle graduated from Lane College, Jackson, TN with a Bachelor of Science degree before taking a job as a loan officer at the American National Bank of Chattanooga.
Caudle went on to receive a Master’s of Theology Degree before working at a Presbyterian church in Texas and received his Doctor of Ministry degree while working at a Baptist church in Florida.
As stated in his biography, Caudle has also worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and is a founding member of Polk Ecumenical Action Council for Empowerment (PEACE) – a tax-exempt, congregation-based organization which seeks to “hold systems and those in power accountable for justice.”
Watch Caudle’s full remarks:
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Image “Dr. Steve Claudle” by GSMBC Sunday School.
He’s preaching to his flock that’s scared they’re going to stop receiving those social security checks intended for all of their dead relatives.
Paul writes in Ephesians we are to put on the full armor of God to resist Satan, but these are all defensive measures. We are never, ever to confront Satan or his minions, or speak to him. In Jude, even archangel Michael would not speak against Satan. Getting “violent” and “fighting” against Satan is un-Biblical. God is the only avenger, we are not equipped to fight demonic forces.
As long as they are “not a threat to themselves or others” they cannot be imprisoned. Such talk is not considered a threat until action matches the speech.
The reverend exhibits many of the traits of a neo-democrat. In one sentence ho abhors violence, then in the next calls for violence in the streets. And let me remind him that the democrats are now in bed with the military-industrial complex.
Why would he be against rooting out graft and corruption in the federal government? As we are finding out, those who scream loudest have the most to loose. His church’s mission statement gives us a clue as to where he stands and his biography also gives us a clue to where he gets his marching orders.
President Trump and Elon Musk and his Musketeers have every legal right to be doing what they have been tasked with. The donks keep trotting out far left judges to attempt to block or slow down the search for graft and corruption through lawfare. That ploy isn’t going to work any longer. We are too far down the road to turn around now.
Chattanooga should never be OK with promoting violence. Anyone who condones this kind of behavior should have a meeting with law enforcement.
People like this alleged pastor or exactly what we do not need in our city and he should be stripped of any kind of city job or benefits immediately.
Tax dollars should not be donated to non-profit organizations. Every penny the federal government spends should be subject to audit.
Every member of that “church” needs to find a new place to worship. Seems to me this guy has a few screws lose or perhaps he himself has something to hide.
What an angry man, what a poor representative of the clergy and the Baptist denomination. Given his hate, no public money, not one penny should be sent his way.
Tell me you’re an activist democrat who worships at the altar of MSNBC without telling me you’re an activist democrat who worships at the altar of MSNBC
I’m sure if a Republican minister had called for violence against the previous regime, well, we can guess the outcome of that. Remarkable how these so-called “clergy” seem to be defending the devil himself.
Follow the money.
This guy is off his medication, he is the poster child for Democrat lunacy. How much of the government dole does he and his buddies get every year? What ever happened to the little white trucks with the guys in white uniforms that picked people like this up with jackets with sleeves that buckled in the back?