My first experience with Christian nationalism was around the conflicts over the Ten Commandments being displayed on courthouse lawns.
On the one hand, people of faith I knew and loved were concerned about the removal of these displays, fearing it was a sign that our government systems were rejecting the good, divine principles by which they believed it necessary to promote in order to have and form a society that was pleasing to God.
On the other hand, other people of faith I knew and loved agreed that these displays needed to be removed. They held their faith in one hand and citizenship in t...
Reader Comments(1)
Rob writes:
As a gay Midwesterner who holds a deep faith in God and the teachings of Jesus, I’ve watched with sadness and frustration as Christian nationalism has taken root in ways that divide, rather than unite. Your reflection speaks to the pain many of us feel witnessing this dangerous fusion of political power and religious rhetoric, which has twisted the gospel of love and acceptance into something divisive and hateful. The rise of Christian nationalism has been alarming, especially since the Moral Majority era, where leaders like Jerry Falwell leveraged faith to gain political control. This distortion of Christianity has sown seeds of fear and otherism that directly oppose Christ’s call to love our neighbor as ourselves. Thank you, Rev. Benton, for calling for repentance and unity. It is only through reflection, repentance, and a return to the true teachings of Christ — love, humility, and compassion — that we can hope to heal this deep fracture in our society. I stand with you in praying for all of us to open our eyes to the ways we have contributed to this brokenness, and to work together to live out the true message of Christ.
10/03/2024, 3:51 pm