No Threat of Christian Nationalism
No threat of Christian nationalism surfaced at the Republican National Convention this past week. Despite the dire warnings of books and editorials and blog posts and TV interviews claiming that MAGA Republicans had allied with religious heretics to foist a theocracy on the American nation, no such ideology took traction when the moment counted. No threat of Christian nationalism was even whispered by Donald Trump or J.D. Vance. Or even Franklin Graham, for that matter.
According to Christians Against Christian Nationalism, here is the dragon we should fear.
“Christian nationalism contends that America has been and should always be distinctively Christian from top to bottom – in its self-identity, interpretations of its own history, sacred symbols, cherished values, and public policies – and it aims to keep it that way.”
Among theologians trying to clarify the matter for us is Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Bishop Eaton issues an alert. “Christian nationalism is neither Christian nor patriotic… [It] is a perversion of the gospel.” Blowing within the hurricane of prophets warning us to beware, this bishop advocates religious liberty while denouncing Christian hegemony.
The Kairos Moment at the Republican National Convention
Now we ask: does Christian nationalism dominate the MAGA Republican platform?
If Christian nationalist soldiers within the Republican Party were to march behind the flag of Christian nationalism, we would have heard the trumpet’s blast when Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, took the podium on Thursday, July 18, 2024. If ever there would be a moment to announce plans to turn America into a Christian country, this would be it.
Oh, yes, divine providence favors America, hinted Graham. And God “spared” President Trump’s life in Butler, Pennyslvania. Graham characteristically announced that “God loves us.” But not a sentence suggested that Christianity would become a national religion. Instead of Christian theocracy, Graham praised religious liberty. Get this: religious liberty, not Christian theocracy.
As Graham concluded his prayer, he even chickened out of declaring Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of all of us. In order to respect religious pluralism and promote religious liberty, he concluded with “we pray this in the mighty name of….[pause to find the right words]…my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen.” Not necessarily your or my Lord and Savior. Just his own Lord and Savior.
Whew! That was a close one.
Conclusion
There’s no threat of Christian nationalism here. At least not at the ominous level that should lead us into trepidation.
PS. In a previous post, “Trump, Unity, and the Scapegoat,” I worried out loud about the scapegoat mechanism turning Donald Trump into a sacred sacrifice and unleashing an evil spirit to dominate the Republican Party. Although this sacrificial theme was certainly present during the RNC, it was milder and less threatening than I had anticipated. Whew again! Even so, we must remain on our guard against wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing.
PT 3245 No Threat of Christian Nationalism
Christian Nationalism Resources
▓
For Patheos, Ted Peters posts articles and notices in the field of Public Theology. He is a Lutheran pastor and emeritus professor at the Graduate Theological Union. He co-edits the journal, Theology and Science, with Robert John Russell on behalf of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, in Berkeley, California, USA. His single volume systematic theology, God—The World’s Future, is now in the 3rd edition. He has also authored God as Trinity plus Sin: Radical Evil in Soul and Society as well as Sin Boldly: Justifying Faith for Fragile and Broken Souls. He recently published. The Voice of Public Theology, with ATF Press. See his website: TedsTimelyTake.com and blog site, https://www.patheos.com/blogs/publictheology/ .
▓
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In