Andrew Whitehead: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel
Aug 15, 2023
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Leading scholar on Christian nationalism in America, Andrew Whitehead, discusses how Christian nationalism betrays the gospel. Topics include the idols of power, fear, and violence, racism and xenophobia as violations of core Christian beliefs, confronting Christian nationalism, engaging power as Christians and Americans, and exploring a discipleship program focused on self-emptying love.
Christian nationalism betrays the teachings of Jesus and is characterized by fear, violence, and a pursuit of power.
Engaging with people entrenched in Christian nationalism requires building relationships, gentle challenging, and highlighting shared values within Christianity.
Opposing Christian nationalism involves supporting marginalized communities, challenging narratives, and using privilege to benefit others.
Deep dives
Christian nationalism undermines the gospel and threatens the church
Christian nationalism, characterized by fear, violence, and a pursuit of power, goes against the teachings of Jesus. It is important to understand the historical context and interconnected nature of racism, xenophobia, and patriarchy that support Christian nationalism. Instead of villainizing those caught up in this ideology, we should seek solidarity with the marginalized and offer a different perspective. This can be done through embodying the witness of standing with the oppressed, engaging in conversations that challenge harmful beliefs, supporting causes that uplift marginalized communities, and using our platforms to bring about truth and understanding.
Overcoming fear and misinformation in confronting Christian nationalism
Engaging with people entrenched in Christian nationalism requires a different approach than simply presenting facts or arguing with them. It is essential to build relationships and engage in conversations that challenge their beliefs gently and empathetically. By asking questions and highlighting alternate perspectives, we can encourage critical thinking and help people reconsider their deeply held convictions. It is also crucial to demonstrate solidarity with the marginalized and emphasize the shared values within Christianity, such as love, compassion, and justice.
Personal actions in opposition to Christian nationalism
As individuals, we can oppose Christian nationalism by taking action in various ways. This includes using our resources to support causes that uplift marginalized communities, engaging in research, teaching, and writing to communicate the dangers of Christian nationalism, challenging narratives that perpetuate fear and violence, and actively seeking out relationships and conversations that humanize and promote understanding. It is essential to recognize our own privileges and continually evaluate how we can contribute to dismantling systems of oppression and promoting a more just and equitable society.
The Problem with Opting Out of Social Issues
Opting out of social issues is a privileged position that contributes to the harm that marginalized groups face. It allows the perpetuation of supremacy cultures and equates protesting injustice with doing injustice. Those who can opt out often do so because they are not directly affected by these issues. Christians should practice neighborly love and use their privilege to help marginalized groups access the benefits of living in America.
Different Forms of Power and Opposing Christian Nationalism
The difference in power lies in whether it is self-interested power that benefits a particular group or power used to benefit others. Christian nationalism supports power that privileges a certain group, while Christians should strive to use power in solidarity with marginalized and oppressed groups. Examples like the civil rights movement demonstrate how power can be used to open up the democratic process for everyone and benefit all, rather than privilege a select few.
Power. Fear. Violence. These three idols of Christian nationalism are corrupting American Christianity.
Andrew Whitehead is a leading scholar on Christian nationalism in America and speaks widely on its effects within Christian communities. In this book, he shares his journey andreveals how Christian nationalism threatens the spiritual lives of American Christians and the church.
Whitehead shows how Christians harm their neighbors when they embrace the idols of power, fear, and violence. He uses two key examples--racism and xenophobia--to demonstrate that these idols violate core Christian beliefs. Through stories, he illuminates expressions of Christianity that confront Christian nationalism and offer a faithful path forward.
American Idolatryencourages further conversation about what Christian nationalism threatens, how to face it, and why it is vitally important to do so. It will help identify Christian nationalism and build a framework that makes sense of the relationship between faith and the current political and cultural context.
Andrew L. Whitehead (PhD, Baylor University) is associate professor of sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, where he codirects the Association of Religion Data Archives at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture. He is the coauthor of Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, which won the 2021 Distinguished Book Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. Whitehead has written for the Washington Post, NBC News, Time, and Religion News Service and speaks frequently about Christian nationalism.
