Day after day it gets more confounding and exasperating to watch so many white Americanized Christians cast their lots with that which is so clearly in contrast to the life, teachings and calling of Jesus.
This diversion is not over some doctrinal dispute or preference in worship style. It is a clear departure from what it means to follow Jesus.
We know the false gospel of Christian nationalism is being successfully served — once again — when longtime professing Christians celebrate its coopting of religious symbols and language to advance fear, discrimination, untruths and selective cruelty.
Exhibit A is the response to a recent, high-profile memorial service turned political rally in which the very architects of national abuse spewed their familiar themes of hatred, discrimination and retribution toward those unlike them or in their way.
“But they had worship music!” “They mentioned God and Jesus a lot!”
So did the Confederacy, the Nazis and the Klan.
Those who seek to consolidate raw political power for abusive, self-serving ends know an easy target when they see one:
Just identify even the most unethical behavior as “Christian” or “biblical” — laced with unfounded fears, claims of God’s blessings and promises of special privilege — and watch those who’ve longed professed Jesus as savior and lord lap it all up.
For many who proudly and loudly claim to be Christian, apparently, it is enough to hear Jesus’ name repeated — not to hear and heed his call to “Follow me.”
This lack of discernment comes from the absence of running what one hears in the name of Jesus through the actual lens of Jesus’ life, teachings and calling — right there in the red-lettered words of the Bibles they tote and quote.
Jesus was very familiar with the politicized use and abuse of God’s name. He drew words from the prophet Isaiah to denounce it:
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” (Matthew 15:8-9 NIV)
Jesus’ rules, however, are no secret.
Everything required of his followers, he stated clearly, is summed up in loving God with all one’s being and loving one’s inclusively-defined neighbors as oneself.
No add-ons. No substitutions. No free passes due to fear and manipulation.
Why is staying focused on following Jesus so hard for those who’ve been through the baptism waters and confessed him as savior and lord?
Why do those who seek political power know that fear-driven manipulation works best on those who claim a high allegiance to God?
Sadly, the answer is rather clear: Because Jesus’ kind of love is less desirable to many Americanized Christians today than being told their lives matter more than those who look, live and believe differently.
That’s why Jesus is largely absent from white Americanized Christianity — and those who claim to be Christian are the most reliable force behind political operatives who spread lies like grass seed; undermine health care for millions; cover up sex crimes against teenaged girls; and systemically harm the very persons with whom Jesus most closely identified.
Some white Americanized Christians even equate the current resurrection of nationalism with a fresh revival being released in America — though the rhetoric is less about conversion and compassion than retribution and dominance.
Yes, there is a public resurgence of white supremacy — and church people seem most eager to walk the aisles. Or storm the building if they don’t get their way.
Therefore, anyone with common sense and basic decency is right to ask why it’s worth staying onboard and being identified with white Americanized Christians today.
This is simply the latest chapter in professing Christians capitulating to unfounded fears and promised privilege. We’ve seen this tragic show before.
But let’s all praise God today for those political leaders who blend godly language with racist tactics while kidnapping hardworking immigrants without due process and damaging their families.
Lift those lily-white hands to Jesus! Sing another praise chorus while injustice flows down like a polluted river.
John D. Pierce is director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative (jesusworldview.org), part of Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership. Join us for the first Jesus Worldview Conference, October 13-15, in Nashville.