Evangelical pastor and theologian Timothy Keller recently reviewed Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry, Taking America Back to God: Christian Nationalism in the United States.
Here is a taste:
. . . Second, we must recognize that Christian Nationalism in its most pure form is indeed idolatrous. It looks to political power as the thing that will truly save us. It identifies a particular set of social policies as the Christian viewâall others are not just mistaken, but evil heresies. It assumes that America now has replaced Israel as the chosen people and the worldâs âRedeemer-Nation.â It is true that these ideas are not usually stated out loud, but they dominate the movement as often unspoken assumptions, as unquestionable ââgivens.â And they must be rejected as unbiblical and idolatrous.
Third, we must be prepared that if we oppose Christian Nationalism, especially from inside the church, we may, like Rev. Hill, be branded a Marxist or a Communist. When people were leaving his church because he was branded ânot a true patriot,â Mr. Hill did not go to the newspapers or to the radio to defend himself, even though he could have done so. When he saw people refusing to send their children to his Christian school because it was racially integrated, when they called him names that were the equivalent of âsuper-wokeâ today, he ignored the slurs. He knew that refusing the Christian-White American fusion would be unpopular and he would be attacked. Iâm sure it hurt, but he didnât flinch. He was willing to pay the price of usefulness to his Savior. We should be willing to do the same.
Fourth, Christian Nationalism, to the degree it is influential, means the death of Christian witness.The ethos of Christian Nationalism is to not in any way try to persuade, win, or evangelize their opponents. Their attitude toward unbelievers is: âThey are evilâwhat does their opinion matter? Sure they hate youâjust hate them right back. Own the libs.â The motivation of witnessâa desire to see all people come to know Christâhas been completely eradicated in Christian Nationalism, which proves that it is not ultimately a religious movement at all, just one more political movement using the power of religious language.
I just listened to Keller talk about Christian nationalism and the book on the Church Leaders Podcast.
Here is a taste:
