For those raised to believe America was God’s chosen nation—this is an honest reckoning with the story we were told. A brief history from the Cross to Donald Trump.
You’ve named what many of us were handed in Sunday School and called “truth” — when it was really just empire in a choir robe.
Christian nationalism is the greatest magic trick in church history: turning the Sermon on the Mount into a Second Amendment rally with fog machines.
They told us Jesus died for our sins — but never told us he died because he challenged theirs.
They made Rome the villain of Holy Week, then built the church to look just like it.
And now, the same religion that began with a brown-skinned refugee killed by the state for preaching love… is waving flags for the state and calling asylum seekers a threat.
You’re right: this isn’t betrayal — this is revelation.
The curtain is torn. The myth is exposed. And if there’s any holy fire left in our bones, we’ll use it to burn down the golden calf of Christian power and rediscover the wild, wandering Jesus who still haunts the margins.
This was brilliantly written as usual. I was also raised republican, but have since stopped voting for the candidate on the ballot when Trump entered the race all the way back it 2016. I've finally stopped believing the lie that says the 'right' candidate will 'save' America. But I didn't stop voting in some way Republican until this past election. (Wrote in Ted Cruz in '16, chose a Libertarian woman candidate whose name I sadly can't remember in '20 and ,had Kennedy not been shut out of the Democratic ballot, I would have voted Democrat for the first time ever.) All of this has lead me to desire re-registering as Independent before the next presidential election.
Thank you Joe. I am an Australian and the picture you paint is as clear as day looking on from outside. Just even that one insoluble mental connection between being a Christian and needing to vote a certain way is jaw dropping for us. I do remember being many years ago of realising something is definitely weird about printing “In God we trust” on your money. “Sounds about right” I thought!
Outstanding! I wasn't raised evangelical, and ironically I don't remember ever being explicitly taught the whole God and country schtick. But nevertheless, once I became an evangelical (out of anglicanism) as a teenager, I picked it up by osmosis. But even so, there was something in me that resisted the concept of empire. I remember when I took my first pastorate that I didn't like having the American flag on my right hand as I preached. And some friends had their kids in an early homeschool program called ACE. When they wanted to ask a question, they had to put a small American flag up on top of their desk. I've watched the growth of Christian nationalism with dismay and have lost more than one friend over my opposition to it.
Thanks for sharing it! I’d love to hear how it lands with folks in the UK.
Historically, Southern Democrats used Christian language to justify segregation and white supremacy well into the 20th century—many of the same churches that supported Jim Crow were part of the Democratic coalition before the party realigned.
More recently, there’s been critique of how some progressive politicians invoke Black churches mainly for votes, especially around election season, without sustained engagement or investment in those communities the rest of the time.
We are seeing the popularist Nigel Farage and his company (not political party) called Reform winning more seats. They call for a reset of the country to return to the past, when we were a Christian country....sound familiar?
Fantastic Joe. Intrinsically and with deep intuition I've known that the simple truth of Jesus's message and teachings have been perverted and twisted by man throughout the centuries but have not known the historical background the way you have beautifully laid out with this teaching. Thank you so much. This is very powerful.
Thanks Joe, I come from a little different background than you. I was raised Catholic and then became Protestant in my late 30’s early 40’s. I never really fully understood what some of my fellow Christians believed until the Pandemic. Lines were drawn and things became clearer to me. I knew something wasn’t quite right but I never could quite put my finger on it.
I had to deconstruct a bit to understand it all. I’m not finished, I don’t think I’ll ever be. I still have a strong faith, probably stronger. Im learning more each day from a variety of sources. Thank you for being one of them.
Brilliant. A cruciform gut check.
You’ve named what many of us were handed in Sunday School and called “truth” — when it was really just empire in a choir robe.
Christian nationalism is the greatest magic trick in church history: turning the Sermon on the Mount into a Second Amendment rally with fog machines.
They told us Jesus died for our sins — but never told us he died because he challenged theirs.
They made Rome the villain of Holy Week, then built the church to look just like it.
And now, the same religion that began with a brown-skinned refugee killed by the state for preaching love… is waving flags for the state and calling asylum seekers a threat.
You’re right: this isn’t betrayal — this is revelation.
The curtain is torn. The myth is exposed. And if there’s any holy fire left in our bones, we’ll use it to burn down the golden calf of Christian power and rediscover the wild, wandering Jesus who still haunts the margins.
Let the empire mourn. The kingdom is rising.
—Virgin Monk Boy
Preach!
This was brilliantly written as usual. I was also raised republican, but have since stopped voting for the candidate on the ballot when Trump entered the race all the way back it 2016. I've finally stopped believing the lie that says the 'right' candidate will 'save' America. But I didn't stop voting in some way Republican until this past election. (Wrote in Ted Cruz in '16, chose a Libertarian woman candidate whose name I sadly can't remember in '20 and ,had Kennedy not been shut out of the Democratic ballot, I would have voted Democrat for the first time ever.) All of this has lead me to desire re-registering as Independent before the next presidential election.
❤️
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
:)
"They didn't come to coexist"
Damn. Succinct and sharp. A needed article.
thank you
Thank you Joe. I am an Australian and the picture you paint is as clear as day looking on from outside. Just even that one insoluble mental connection between being a Christian and needing to vote a certain way is jaw dropping for us. I do remember being many years ago of realising something is definitely weird about printing “In God we trust” on your money. “Sounds about right” I thought!
haha. yeah...
This 💯
:)
Thank you Joe!
Such important work, thank you!!
🙏🏼
I think Augustine’s City of God was very influential in shaping the relationship between church & state. I might have missed that in your essay.
I’m a big believer that Trump is better described as an economic nationalist & not a Christian nationalist. But that’s a matter of interpretation.
I love that you always find the things I left out 😜
It was a great essay! Or blog. Or whatever the kids call it. You paid attention in the History of Christianity!
Outstanding! I wasn't raised evangelical, and ironically I don't remember ever being explicitly taught the whole God and country schtick. But nevertheless, once I became an evangelical (out of anglicanism) as a teenager, I picked it up by osmosis. But even so, there was something in me that resisted the concept of empire. I remember when I took my first pastorate that I didn't like having the American flag on my right hand as I preached. And some friends had their kids in an early homeschool program called ACE. When they wanted to ask a question, they had to put a small American flag up on top of their desk. I've watched the growth of Christian nationalism with dismay and have lost more than one friend over my opposition to it.
❤️
Excellent. Shared to UK church folk. Love to know from a UK perspective how Democrats have misused/abused Christianity.
Thanks for sharing it! I’d love to hear how it lands with folks in the UK.
Historically, Southern Democrats used Christian language to justify segregation and white supremacy well into the 20th century—many of the same churches that supported Jim Crow were part of the Democratic coalition before the party realigned.
More recently, there’s been critique of how some progressive politicians invoke Black churches mainly for votes, especially around election season, without sustained engagement or investment in those communities the rest of the time.
We are seeing the popularist Nigel Farage and his company (not political party) called Reform winning more seats. They call for a reset of the country to return to the past, when we were a Christian country....sound familiar?
Indeed it does...
Fantastic Joe. Intrinsically and with deep intuition I've known that the simple truth of Jesus's message and teachings have been perverted and twisted by man throughout the centuries but have not known the historical background the way you have beautifully laid out with this teaching. Thank you so much. This is very powerful.
Thanks Jill 🙏🏼
Now that we know the history, what do we do about it? See this link for strategies: https://www.thewaywesee.com/confrontchristiannationalism/overview-of-christian-nationalism/outline-of-a-good-strategy-to-change-hearts-and-minds/
Thanks Joe, I come from a little different background than you. I was raised Catholic and then became Protestant in my late 30’s early 40’s. I never really fully understood what some of my fellow Christians believed until the Pandemic. Lines were drawn and things became clearer to me. I knew something wasn’t quite right but I never could quite put my finger on it.
I had to deconstruct a bit to understand it all. I’m not finished, I don’t think I’ll ever be. I still have a strong faith, probably stronger. Im learning more each day from a variety of sources. Thank you for being one of them.