By Jim Hannah
“Christian nationalism is not Christian.”
This assertion by Pastor Donna Simon opened a gathering Aug. 5 at St. Mark Hope & Peace Church, Kansas City, MO, to explore the growing influence of “Christian”* nationalism in US politics and policies. Indivisible Kansas City sponsored the event, a teach-in.
Pastor Simon cited the book Baptizing America as a resource for understanding the history of “Christian” nationalism, noting that as far back as the era of Civil War Reconstruction, mainline denominations were complicit in fostering what has become today’s assertion by a growing number that America is divinely ordained to be a Christian nation. She further recommended the text Jesus and John Wayne to better understand the 75-year history of how evangelicalism is fostering a patriarchal, “muscular masculinity” version of Jesus, rather than Jesus’s model of compassion and mercy.
Guest speaker Doug Shafer described “Christian” nationalism as “bad theology, bad policy, and bad biology,” zeroing in on the social constructs of race and whiteness that set the stage for white “Christian” nationalism beginning with the African slave trade 500 years ago. An elder in Community Christian Church and a MORE2 (Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity) board member, Shafer described ways that his church and MORE2 are combatting racism through a Jail Bill of Rights and through efforts to create equity in the way Brush Creek is maintained east of Troost as well as west of Troost (Troost being the historical dividing line of segregation in Kansas City).
Laurel Burchfield of Mainstream Coalition detailed the 30-year history of that organization’s efforts to resist the Moral Majority and the Religious Right. Today’s “Christian” nationalism, she said, is not essentially a religious movement, or even a cultural or social movement, but is instead a political movement “that co-opts and corrupts Christianity,” with “the ultimate goal of power.” She cited the Seven Mountain Mandate held by some “Christian nationalists—a mandate for “Christian” dominion over the seven pillars of US society (government, business, family, religion, media, education, and entertainment). Reports indicate 46% of the goals of the Project 2025 agenda—parallelling much of the “Christian” nationalist agenda—have already been achieved under the Trump administration. See https://www.project2025.observer/en.
The 40 or so attending the Aug. 5 event were urged to educate themselves about “Christian” nationalism, and join efforts to resist the movement’s trend toward an authoritarian theocracy—both locally, and in support of national organizations such as Christians Against Christian Nationalism.
*NOTE: The quotations used in the term “Christian” nationalism reflect the author’s view that much of that movement’s efforts to remove the long-held “wall of separation” between church and state is more a reflection of a desire for political power than it is a desire to follow the loving Way of Jesus Christ.
—-Jim Hannah serves on the PeaceWorks Communications Team.
