Christian Nationalism is an unholy union of American exceptionalism, White supremacy and Christian identity parading across stages at rallies and worship services.
Many people, especially traditional believers are confused and left wringing their hands about how to respond? Is this just a temporary merging of the political right and politics facilitated by leaders who will leave the scene after elections are over? Or is it something more permanent in our confused and complex American belief system.
During the past six months NPR has presented a number of in-depth stories on Christian Nationalism. Here is a link to a 25 minute report from July 9.
This week Presbyterian Outlook told the story of three Seattle area church ministers working together to develop a faithful and reasonable response to this distortion of the denomination’s historical Christian doctrines.
How do we keep our sanity amid a chaotic political-religious climate?
On July 7, 2024 Dr. Matthew Taylor spoke on this growing influential force in our social and political discourse. His talk was called Christian Nationalism, the Capitol Riot and the Rising Threat to American Pluralism.
It was presented as part of the summer speaker series at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. His approach is analytical with multiple examples to document his major points. Because his talk is almost an hour, here is a brief outline.
- The Christian Nationalist presence and role in the January 6th events was neither accidental nor incidental. He provides numerous photos and videos showing this involvement.
- These seemingly independent mega churches and evangelical charismatic movements are networked together in an “ecosystem” of social media, round tables, and shared view of the five roles of church leaders. The prophetic and apostolic roles carry the highest authority.
- The churches believe in “strategic spiritual warfare” with a mandate for their followers to achieve leadership of the seven mountains of American society.
Every part of his analysis is documented including the leaders’ original outreach to Trump as a candidate in 2015 and then subsequent involvement in his administration.
Dr. Taylor’s goal is to call attention to this growing force which is counter to the historical American openness to diverse points of view whatever the topic. He shows how the group’s symbols are becoming increasingly mainstream embraced by the current House Speaker and a Supreme Court Justice in their display of the Appeal to Heaven-Flag of Liberty- a prominent symbol seen on January 6 in the Capitol riot.
He cautions these people are “true believers” not temporary cynical hustlers after money and power. He observes that these coordinated efforts might appear bigger than each of us, but not bigger than all of us.
I believe this factual and historical presentation of this movement is vital as it seeks to impose their vision for all of America. Movements started with pure intent, can become distorted, even perverse. Leaders can use their collective resources gathered for one vision, to expand to a much greater goal: power over others.
It has happened before in other countries, when democratic processes are used to support authoritarian prescriptions and then veer into fascism.
Awareness is the first goal in setting bright lines for the freedoms America provides the entire spectrum of believers or non. Christian Nationalism is a step too far away from an open, diverse and tolerant society.