Separating Fact from Fiction: What is White Christian Nationalism? Is it a Threat to America?

          The mainstream media has been going on a lot lately about White Christian Nationalism. I first heard the term a couple of years ago and paid no attention. I just assumed it was a new label for people like me and that it was bad. Nothing new. But every major network and newspaper and many universities are putting out dire warnings about this latest threat to America and their voice has been joined by a number of writers who call themselves Evangelical Christians. So I thought I would look into it.

Here is what is being said: 

“Poll after poll and webinar after webinar lays out the data on white Christian nationalism. The facts of this threat to both democracy and faith are well-documented.” “American evangelicals are socialized via homeschooling, Christian schools, churches and the subculture in general to apply the Bible and Christian teachings to every aspect of their lives. That includes attempting to implement a theocratic policy agenda.”

This religious subculture apparently has a number of sinister goals:

·     We want to declare America a Christian nation.

·     We are out to suppress minority voting rights.

·     We are, of course, racists—the all-purpose word the media uses to describe people they don’t like, including black and brown people they don’t like. Go figure.

·     We are a threat to democracy. How we intend to carry out this threat is not particularly clear.

·     We want to Christianize public schools.

·     And we are out to deny LBGQT rights.

So far as I can tell here’s what’s really going on. Let me make eight observations.

1.    Saying are a threat to democracy is absurd. Please name a single election that has been cancelled or even threatened by so-called White Christian Nationalists. Nearly 160 million Americans voted in our 2020 presidential election. I have not heard of a single person denied a ballot.

2.    Please name one American institution that is threatened with takeover from the WCN? Academic community, federal bureaucracy, Hollywood, social media, America’s major religious denominations and their seminaries? How large is the WNC faction in congress? What WCN legislation is about to be passed by congress and signed into law by Joe Biden?

3.    The real definition of a WCN is someone who does not agree with Left-wing politics. Someone who isn’t woke enough.

4.    The alleged dangers of WCN is an excuse for the Left to wield more power.

5.    Two weeks ago I attended a Southern Baptist church service attended by 2,000 people in which the pastor condemned the politicization of Christianity. In my current professional position I interact with pastors a lot. Some have complained about a few members of their congregation wanting it to get more involved in conservative politics but they have all refused. Many of them believe in promoting a more Christian America but I have yet to meet one who believes that’s there chief function.

6.    You are far more likely to hear about wielding political power in a liberal church than a conservative one—I have linked below my video on that topic.

7.    Virtually every European nation identifies itself as a Christian country, has state funding of churches, and Christian rituals for its major political events. Has this been a threat to democracy? Has it made them racist? Hostile to minorities of any kind?

8.    I have spent much of my academic life studying religious fundamentalism and I guarantee one thing: Most of them do not want to take over America. They just want the cultural powers of America to leave them alone.

So, to those Evangelical spokesmen who are wringing their hands over the White Christian Nationalism. You have far more important things to do—like proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, building Christian families, ministering to your brethren. Don’t be distracted by a false crisis. There are enough real crises to keep you busy.

Thanks for listening. May our God bless you this day in a mighty way.

See my video, “The Myth of the Republican Church;” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX92rIqizIg

A critical view of White Christian Nationalism: https://www.au.org/how-we-protect-religious-freedom/issues/religious-racial-equality/white-christian-nationalism/#

Another critical view: https://www.au.org/the-latest/church-and-state/articles/white-christian-nationalists-who-are-they/

And a third: https://rickpidcock.com/2023/03/02/why-arent-we-talking-about-the-theology-that-drives-white-christian-nationalism/

An excellent biblical sermon on this issue from J.T. English, of Storyline Church in Arvada, Colorado: https://www.storylinechurch.net/sermons?sapurl=Lyt5Y2ZyL2xiL21pLytwczVzdnM0P2VtYmVkPXRydWUmcmVjZW50Um91dGU9YXBwLndlYi1hcHAubGlicmFyeS5saXN0JnJlY2VudFJvdXRlU2x1Zz0lMkJoNzZ2Ym5j