The bastardization of the Christian faith commonly regarded as “Christian nationalism” may have breathed its last. It may not be obvious right now, but it’s clearly headed for the scrapheap of history.
I say that for two reasons.
One, many of its institutional supporters are — just as in
the 1980s, with the TV evangelists — victims of scandal because they wouldn’t
police themselves due to their drunkenness on power. Most recently, the pastor
of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Mo. was revealed to have
abused a number of younger female members of that congregation, which has
supported the heretical “seven mountains of culture” doctrine that suggests — with
no biblical support — that spiritual revival will come when Christian “take
dominion” over those pillars of society.
The problem, of course, is that evangelism, character
development and service, the things that grow people in the faith as well as
congregations, take a back seat.
The “prophetic movement” in some charismatic circles as a
rule has ignored this basic truth, focusing more on outlandish predictions than
a scriptural understanding of God’s intent. That’s why it’s making fools of
itself and God in doing so, especially in insisting that Donald Trump was a
shoo-in for reelection four years ago; and, even now, saying that he’ll return
to the White House in 2025.
Which leads to another complication: The SCOTUS’ Dobbs decision obliterating Roe v. Wade.
Much political evangelicalism has believed for decades that
making abortion illegal would mark another step in such revival. It never
considered, however, that the pro-choice side would mobilize as never before, with
six states passing laws or even ballot referendums to keep abortion legal. And
rather than Trump thundering about it, he’s gone on the record calling it a “mistake”
but also that it should be a matter for the states to decide.
Well, which is it?
his supporters are asking. That’s the point, because one thing Trump wants is
worship and a continued focus on the abortion issue threatens that. He’s now
sounding like of one those mealy-mouthed politicians talking out of both sides
of his mouth — indeed, one of the reasons the Christian nationalists supported
him in the first place is because they believed that his anti-abortion stance
was genuine (even though he’s flip-flopped on the issue). And they clearly don’t
have the votes in Congress to enact a nationwide ban on their own.
Yes, the theory of “Christian nationalism” is dangerous. But
as a practical matter, it never had much chance of being implemented. And God
Himself would see to that.
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