The Word in Focus with Dr Larry Taylor

Empowered by the dragon, the sea monster joins forces with the land monster to deceive the nations.

Christian nationalism is not Christian, unless by “Christian” you mean something other than following Jesus. In fact, so-called Christian nationalism is the antithesis of following Jesus.

Nationalism is the belief that one’s country is superior to all others. In God’s eyes, nationality is irrelevant. To gain and hold power, nationalism weds itself with religion. Religious nationalism has been the center of every empire. Empires are the domain of the satan according to Matthew 4. All empires are exploitive and violent. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God, not “make Rome great again.” 

Christian nationalism is the weaponization of religion in the name of jingoism. Historically, it has been responsible for the Crusades, the Inquisition, the persecution of Anabaptists, burning women alive accused of being witches, the genocide of indigenous people, the enslavement of Africans and their decedents, lynching of African-Americans, Jim Crow racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and innumerable instances of violence and hatred. 

American Christian nationalists:

1. Believe the nation is ordained by God
2. Believe the nation has a special divine calling in the world
3. Believe the nation is favored by God above others 
4. See the nation’s founding documents as sacred, almost on the level with scripture
5. Believe that all those who die for the nation are heroes, martyrs.
6. Believe it is a citizen’s duty to die for the nation
7. Believe the nation’s wars are honorable and just
8. Believe the nation’s leader is appointed by God (if that leader is white, male, & conservative)
9. Pledge allegiance to a national flag and sing patriotic songs in church
10. Decorate houses of worship with national symbols
11. Equate God and country as if they were inseparable 
12. See citizens as superior to noncitizens
13. Open sports events with the national anthem
14. Insist everyone stand for the national anthem and pledge of allegiance
15. Pledge their allegiance to a flag rather than to Christ
16. Imagine that modern nations, especially Israel & the USA, are referred to in the Bible
17. Think the USA has a special place in prophecy
18. Promote public prayers during national holidays
19. Identify as an American citizen rather than as a citizen of the Kingdom of God
20. Try to control educational, political, religious, familial, scientific, entertainment, and media institutions that serve a pluralistic populace
21. Use power and coercion to impose morality on others
22. Promote violence from the pulpit by conflating spiritual warfare with physical warfare

For the first three centuries of Christianity, followers of Jesus did none of the things listed above. They refused to kill under any circumstances, refused military service, refused to pledge allegiance to Caesar, and did not participate in the myth of Roman superiority. They were noncoercive. They were not inclined to control the government. Instead, they loved, served, healed, took in strangers, orphans and those who were sick, and forgave all who trespassed against them. They lived by the Sermon on the Mount. They were despised and persecuted. They were the happiest people on earth.

If we imagine that God is pleased with policies that separate families, criminalize and deport refugees, destroy the environment, ruin public health, contradict the clear conclusions of science, enrich the rich, disenfranchise black, indigenous and other people of color, ban books, and whitewash history, we are sorely mistaken.

If we imagine that God was ok with the genocide of native people, stealing their land, enslaving Africans, and building an economy on stolen land and stolen people, we don’t know God at all.

If we think racism no longer exists, or that white American Christians are being persecuted, or that God hates LGBTQ+ people, we are not followers of Jesus.

If we assert that moral corruption is tolerable in a president, supreme court justice, or congressperson, we are not on God’s side.

If we conflate love for Jewish people and Jewish heritage with support for the secular nation of Israel’s warmongering government (which does not have the support of the majority of Israelis), we are grossly misguided.

If we support wars, militarized police forces with goon squads, inhumane prisons, and block efforts to regulate and control gun ownership and accessibility, we have nothing in common with the Prince of Peace.

If we demand that a version of the Ten Commandments be posted in every classroom but not the Beatitudes, we are less than Christian. 

If we believe and spread lies, we are not following the Christ, who is the truth. 

If we justify ourselves with out-of-context scripture and ignore the Sermon on the Mount, we are mistaken in claiming to be Christ-followers.

Christian nationalism is idolatry.