I commented on a similar Power Line article (
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2024/02/what-is-christian-nationalism.php ) deriding the Progs' "Christian Nationalism" bogeyman:
For personal context, I grew up in the Missouri Synod Lutheran church (LCMS). Unlike John's former church, ELCA
(Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), the LCMS is theologically conservative. Luther's Small Catechism was the sort of textbook for our confirmation classes. This covers several basic Christian doctrines, among them the Ten Commandments. The commandment relevant here is - in Lutheran counting - the Eighth, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Among the things Luther explains are forbidden by this commandment is slander. In light of this, here is ELCA's definition
(from https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Civic_Life_and_Faith_Leader_Guide_Session3.pdf?_ga=2.126660618.645901772.1708557283-187374945.1708557283 ) of "Christian Nationalism", fisked phrase by phrase, in full:
"Christian nationalism: A cultural framework that idealizes and advocates fusion of certain Christian views with American civic life."What are these "certain Christian views"? Laws forbidding murder, rape, theft, kidnapping, perjury, and fraud? Would that these were securely entrenched in "American civic life"! Doctrines such as man's need for salvation or the Trinity? Christians are as free to advocate these doctrines as atheists are to advocate their denial of God's existence. But unlike atheists who try to drive Christians out of public life, Christians do not advocate incorporating these doctrines into Federal or state law.
"This political ideology, whether explicit or not, includes the beliefs that the U.S. Constitution was divinely inspired and enjoys godly status,..."Is ELCA actually claiming this in any kind of seriousness? I've been in Evangelical churches of varying traditions (e.g. Lutheran, Baptist, Campbellite, charismatic) for nearly 7 decades and have never heard "the U.S. Constitution was divinely inspired" or "the U.S. Constitution ... enjoys godly status" (whatever "godly status" means)! NEVER! Humanity being what it is, I assume that if one searched long and hard enough, such a person could be found, but that search would demonstrate the basic falsity of the claim.
"... that Christianity should be a privileged religion in the U.S., ..."Similar to the previous claim, one would have to search long and hard to find someone who believes that. On the other hand, every Evangelical church I've ever attended would say - and sometimes explicitly taught - that Jews, atheists, Muslims, Hindus, etc. have the same constitutional freedoms Christians have. I certainly have pointed out this fact many times in conservative discussion sites.
"... that the nation holds a special status in God’s eyes, ..."Horrors! Many Christians in the US think God has blessed the US? And pray He does? Worse still, I'll bet Christians in
(Name of Country) also believe and pray that God is blessing
(Name of Country)! I'm so awful I think Christians of every country SHOULD pray that God would bless their countries!
"... and that good Americans must hold Christian beliefs."While Christians do, as they are commanded by Jesus, preach and teach Christian beliefs to any who will listen, I have never heard "holding Christian beliefs" equated with being a "good American". Again, humans being humans, I'm sure that a long, hard search ...
"Proponents range from those who believe the U.S. should be declared a Christian nation ..."Ummmmmm, isn't there a US Supreme Court decision in which such a statement was made? Historically and culturally, that has been largely true. BUT very very few (long, hard search) Christians who say that would advocate incorporating Christian doctrines such as the Trinity or Soteriology into US law.
"... (approximately 21% of the U.S. population) ..."Is ELCA really claiming here that some 21% of the US population is therefore "Christian nationalist"?
"... to those involved in more virulent strains that are openly racist..."Historically - and reprehensibly - there have been Christians who have been racist against people of non-European heritage. HOWEVER, by the time I was born (some 7 decades ago) the percentage of such persons was falling, and since the 1960s or 1970s it has become increasingly difficult to find racists of that ilk. Their number have probably declined into "long, hard search" numbers. It should have happened long before, but Christians now living are responsible for seeing that racism does not revive, not for the sins of their grandparents or older ancestors. "There is neither Jew nor Greek" has been in Christian Scriptures for some two thousand years.
"... anti-democratic, or gang like."Democracy is some sort of perfect or ideal type of governance? Does ELCA really believe that? Why, then, does ELCA have episcopal governance? Logs and specks ... practice what you preach, etc.. As for Christians advocating monarchic or aristocratic or theocratic governance, never heard such a thing, but long and hard search ...
"Gang like (sic)"? Seriously? Gang-like? My eyes are rolling so hard and fast that my eye muscles are strained!
ELCA has slandered millions of people, because they disagree with ELCA's leadership. I would not say that casually, because of the Eighth Commandment, but the proof is on ELCA's own website. It is not surprising to me that ELCA has been leaking people and congregations pretty much steadily since the 1988 merger.
