Sons of Patriarchy How to Talk to Your Christian Nationalist Friends and Family (and Those You Don't Like)
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Jan 22, 2026 Caleb Campbell, lead pastor at Desert Springs Bible Church and author of *Disarming Leviathan*, shares insights on engaging with Christian nationalists. He reflects on his pastoral experiences amid political unrest and the role of church dynamics in shaping beliefs. Caleb discusses the importance of understanding belonging before ideology and emphasizes hospitality over confrontation. He offers practical tips for tough conversations, urging listeners to prepare spiritually and approach dialogue with curiosity. This is a must-listen for navigating challenging relationships.
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Pastor's Congregation Fractures Over MAGA Turn
- Caleb E. Campbell describes watching long-time congregants adopt MAGA-style vitriol and leave his church between 2016 and 2020.
- He links pastoral heartbreak to seeing friends embrace xenophobic, othering speech and political religiosity.
Ex-Skinhead Background Shapes His Approach
- Caleb shares his teenage involvement with neo-Nazi skinheads and why he left that scene.
- He emphasizes that belonging came first, ideology followed, and leaving required disentangling social ties.
Belonging Comes Before Belief
- Campbell argues belonging precedes ideology for many who join movements like Christian nationalism.
- He says the core problem is heart-level fear and anxiety, not merely wrong facts.
