The 17:6 Podcast Episode #23 - Christian Nationalism

[@martinsonderegger5903]

Huge huge problem with it. Religion has no foundation but a unfounded claim of eternal truth as every religion. This leads to a situation that it does not need to justify itself but puts itself even above any law. A leadership could justify anything by this (racism, homophbic, nationalistic etc behaviour) Not even inside their own religion there is one clear one vision of the religion. So no checks and balances. With a secular state the gouvermant has always justify it's action But in addition it can base it's action by science and logic = the foundation has a foundation that is for everyone the same. Christian nationalism on the opposite will always be tyrannical and believers could become so idiologs that destroy their own indepence if one thinks it is in the "vain" of a believe"

[@4jeffinseattle]

rushdoony and christian reconstructionism (Wikipedia)

[@dblev2019]

This is a topic I’ve thought a lot about, and i believe it’s been misunderstood and poorly defined. These are my thoughts regarding Christian Nationalism and why I as an evangelical oppose it. We often find a contradiction in terms when Christian Nationalism is defined. Those on the left will define it in a way to slander politically active Catholics and Evangelicals, yet rarely apply their definition to politically active Progressive Churches. Those on the right rarely challenge the imposed definition from the left. Before we surrender language to those who use the term Christian Nationalism inconsistently, a reassessment is in order. Thomas Jefferson was not merely a deist, he attended weekly services and devoted years of his life compiling the moral teachings of Christ in a chronological volume. This speaks immensely regarding the influence Christianity had even among our Deists founding fathers. In the Declaration of Independence Jefferson wrote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”. Jefferson, the “wall of separation” president, claimed that our rights come from God, and that governments are Instituted, not to grant rights, rather to secure those rights which come from the Creator. Not only do governments lack the authority to grant rights, but their power is limited by those whose rights they secure! Under communism rights come from the state, and any moral authority which challenges the will of the State must be reined in. This can be done by framing its doctrines as hate, banning religious materials, or through regulation. The true Christian Nationalist is likened to China’s three-self patriotic movement. While terms like Sinicization of Christianity are not used in the west, it does not mean attempts aren’t being made to Nationalize Christianity. The 2024 revision of the United Methodist Church’s Social Principles no longer focuses on the core tenants of the faith, instead they now mirror the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The doctrines that define the faith have been replaced with climate change, environmental racism, food justice, colonialism, euthanasia, reproductive health, restorative justice, migration, and gender identity. In December 2023 the Chinese Communist Party released their new five year plan for the Sinicization of Christianity. The following is a translated statement from that document: “19. Reinterpret the concept of social services from the perspective of the Sinicization of Christianity, and actively participate in social service work in the fields of medical and health care, helping the disabled and the poor, post-disaster relief, epidemic prevention and control, and environmental protection in accordance with the law, and establish a good image.” Like in the People’s Republic of China we are seeing the development of two radically different Churches in America. A Church which mirrors the goals of the State, and a Church committed to the long standing doctrines of the faith. The later is under siege in both countries! The former is where you will find the Christian Nationalist. The end goal of the Christian Nationalist is to remake Christianity in the image of the State, to nationalize it. Thus any higher authority which challenges the States end goals must be controlled or eliminated.