Conversations on Race and Faith This Sunday, January 14 at 1pm

This month we look at Christian Nationalism. Christianity Today magazine tells us “Christian nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way. Popularly, Christian nationalists assert that America is and must remain a “Christian nation”—not merely as an observation about American history, but as a prescriptive program for what America must continue to be in the future. Scholars like Samuel Huntington have made a similar argument: that America is defined by its “Anglo-Protestant” past and that we will lose our identity and our freedom if we do not preserve our cultural inheritance.”

According to Dr. David W. Scott, Methodist historical researcher and the Director of Mission Theology at the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, “Christian nationalism identifies the nation with God’s will and action in the world; conflates national and Christian identity; and identifies service of the nation with service of God. Christian nationalism gives moral cover for actions, even unseemly ones, taken in pursuit of national or political goals.”

This is not a new concept. The ideology of American Christian Nationalism was first espoused by Gerald L. K. Smith in his magazine “The Cross and The Flag” which began publishing in 1942. Christian Nationalism fused his beliefs on Church and State, racial and religious superiority. He summarized them in his “Christian Nationalism’s 10 High Principals”

https://thecrossandflag.com/videos/speech_in_late_1950s.html

As you watch this ask yourself,

· As a Christian, what do you think Christian Nationalism’s implications are for issues of race, non-Christian religions, and immigration?

· Have you seen some of these philosophies at play in 21st century America?

As the movement becomes more popular in the US, let us see a CNN interview Amanda Tyler, the executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and the lead organizer of the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign she discusses the modern Christian National movement

Baptist leader speaks out: ‘Christian nationalism is not Christianity’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZukWuT9lcA

· Is Christian Nationalism religious, ethnic, racial, political or economic?

· As people of faith or even as political pragmatists, is there justification for Christian Nationalism?

· Do you think Christian Nationalism is Christian?

We hope to see you on Sunday, January 14 2024

This month we look at Christian Nationalism. Christianity Today magazine tells us “Christian nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way. Popularly, Christian nationalists assert that America is and must remain a “Christian nation”—not merely as an observation about American history, but as a prescriptive program for what America must continue to be in the future. Scholars like Samuel Huntington have made a similar argument: that America is defined by its “Anglo-Protestant” past and that we will lose our identity and our freedom if we do not preserve our cultural inheritance.”