I am not and never will be a Christian nationalist. If you take Jesus seriously, you should not be either.
Being a Christian requires one to adhere to and follow the teaching and example of Jesus. Christian nationalists do not follow Jesus.
Christian nationalists desire to establish an earthly political kingdom. In Matthew 4, when Satan tempts Jesus by offering him all the kingdoms of the world, Jesus bluntly rejects the offer.
Later, John's gospel records the encounter between the Roman governor Pilate and Jesus. Pilate asks Jesus whether he is a king, and Jesus answers: "My kingdom is not of this world."
Clearly the path of Christ does not lead to establishment of earthly political power. Christian nationalists ignore Jesus' own desires, replacing them with a personal lust for political power. This is not following Jesus; this is denying him.
Christian nationalists also claim we are a Christian nation. Again, let us look at the testimony of Jesus.
In Matthew 25, Verse 31 begins a section called "The Judgment of the Nations." Some Christian nationalists, such as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, argue this section applies only to individuals.
This is a common tactic of Christian nationalists: twisting Scripture to support their unscriptural ideas.
Jesus understood nations are collections of people, and his judgment is both individual and collective. What does Jesus say is required of nations? Feed the hungry, give the thirsty something to drink, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit the prisoner.
A truly Christian nation would build a society that cares for the weak and marginalized, provides medical care for all, feeds the hungry, welcomes immigrants and treats even prisoners with dignity.
How do we measure up?
We reduced SNAP benefits, cutting the poor off from food. We neglect children's welfare. Medicaid has been slashed, Affordable Care Act subsidies have been eliminated, and our public health system is being dismantled. Increasingly, the poor and marginalized are being forced out of our healthcare system.
Immigrants are lied about, dehumanized, rounded up without warrant, murdered by ICE, imprisoned and deported, breaking up families and communities. This cruelty is pointed to with pride and this inhospitality celebrated.
The Bible says in Ezekiel 16 that Sodom's sins were social injustice, arrogance and failure to help the poor. Not exactly the company with whom I want to be compared.
Christian nationalism embraces injustice and celebrates material wealth while codifying an uncaring attitude toward the poor. They arrogantly claim righteousness when all they do and all they promote is unholy.
Lastly, Christian nationalists and their cohorts claim their belief in the Bible.
This in itself is a form of idolatry.
They use the Bible to avoid the teaching of Jesus. They champion posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms, but do you ever hear them speak of the Beatitudes - Jesus praising the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers?
No, because those things do not fit with the god they have created in their own image.
Yet they claim they just want to follow the literal words of the inerrant Bible. What they mean is they want to use the Bible to baptize their misogyny, justify their cruelty and sanctify their hatred.
Christian nationalists see Scripture as only a tool to whitewash their hate and justify their ungodly crusade. Jesus' name is taken from Scripture and he is recreated in their own despicable image.
Christian nationalism is a despicable lie. At its heart is the idolatry of self and nation, judgmental bigotry, and long-seething racism.
They seek a society that enshrines their twisted ideology, eliminates their perceived foes, and is reserved exclusively for those who meet their narrow definition of who may be included.
Sadly, they are part of the long history of charlatans and evildoers who have twisted religious faith toward their own ends and duped the unsuspecting masses to follow. They prey on a society that knows the name of Jesus but is ignorant of the heart of Jesus.
Christian nationalism is an insidious evil preying on a society that is losing its way.
History will bear the final judgment. Based on past and present attempts to marry zealous and misguided faith with political power, history will not judge us kindly if we follow the path of Christian nationalism in our day.
There is no middle ground. Christian nationalism must be rejected.
Yes, they come wrapped in the flag, toting their Bible and spewing their belief in a white, male, authoritarian, narrowly defined society as the way of Christ.
But let us hear and heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:15-16:
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits."
Kevin Boyd of Fort Wayne is a retired Presbyterian minister.boyd