Opinion: Christian nationalism is only espoused by a minority of Americans
The new Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives apparently has Christian nationalist views. Christian nationalism is the name of a particular perspective espoused by a minority of Americans, who have the mistaken belief that having the nation declare itself “Christian,” or pass “Christian laws,” will strengthen the nation. We might ignore this minority perspective within America, except for the bad influence it can have on Christianity and the nation, especially when it is held by people who are sure of their own righteousness and exercise power in some office of government.
The founders had all lived under oppressive governments with state religions that gave preference to Christianity and they did not want that kind of government. Therefore, they inserted a clause in the Constitution which states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”
This statement rules out any special recognition of Christianity. Christians should also remember that Jesus walked away from any temporal or political power when the people wanted to make him king (John 6:15). Jesus also did not encourage His followers to seek political power.
The exercise of physical power is a main function of civil governments, not Christianity or any religion as such. Nation states are able to exercise coercive power, especially physical coercive power through police and military. Christianity’s aim is to exercise transformative power. The church is the gathering of God’s people. The church does have its own administration for organizational purposes to accomplish the mission it has been given, but it has no coercive power apart from the rules it makes for itself.
People may call a nation a “Christian nation,” but this would be because there is a large number, perhaps a majority, of the population who are professing Christians in that nation. It may be because the leaders of the nation chose to associate their nation with Christianity in the past so that churches were welcome to build houses of worship, schools, hospitals and various other institutions. But the best terminology for nations that have a history of close association with Christianity would be a “Christian-influenced nation,” not a “Christian nation.”
Christians should not want to form a “Christian nation.” In many cases, nations that have sought to be known as Christian have often brought harm to Christianity. Constantine legitimated Christianity in 313 CE and it was made the official religion for the Roman Empire by the end of the century. Persia then became anti-Christian because it was the deadly enemy of Rome. It happened again during the Colonial Era when Western nations expanded into the world. Growing up in China, I saw the result in the anti-foreign spirit among the people, which was combined with an anti-Christian spirit because so-called Christian nations had mistreated China and forced them to buy opium. Even where Christianity has been influential, as in the West, it has turned people against itself by exercising coercive force. Although Christians at first supported science through belief in a rational God, some Christians later opposed important findings of science, such as evolution.
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The Christian church has its hands full with tasks it needs to do, from feeding the hungry, healing the sick, housing the homeless and helping the world be a place where people can live in freedom with dignity. Christianity has a message of salvation for all people, but most of all Christians should be known as followers of Jesus Christ. Christianity welcomes work with others of good will, including in other religions. It needs to be known as standing for justice and lifting people, and not simply standing on the side of the wealthy and powerful. Unfortunately, that is how Christianity became known to some peoples primarily because of the many years of colonialism from the West. This hid the message of Christianity.
Christianity, as envisioned by Christ and his apostles, should be a force for good in the world, through its transformative power, but not through the coercive power of the state. It is dangerous for any religion to control the levers of governmental power, as this power includes physical coercion through the police and military. It is necessary for the state to have such power, but dangerous for a religion to possess it. We should let the United States be a force for justice and order with freedom for all religions to practice faith, hope and love for the benefit of all people.
Rev. Robert L. Montgomery, Ph.D., lives in Black Mountain.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Christian nationalism is espoused by a minority of Americans
