Davison's Doodle

Christian nationalism is idolatry

It’s times like these you learn to live again
It’s times like these you give and give again
It’s times like these you learn to love again
It’s times like these time and time again

Foo Fighters, “Times Like These.” Roswell, RCA. 2003.

I don’t use words like idolatry or sin very often. Those words were weaponized and still carry destructive power in some segments of Christendom. But, the meaning of those words has been watered down in religious and secular culture that they have lost their sting, stigma, and ability to change persons. Like guilt or regret, sin and idolatry are only good one time to change behavior. After that, idolatry, sin, guilt, and regret are just baggage dragged through life. Sometimes carried as penance with good intention, but instead of changing behavior they create negative self talk and a cycle that takes ever more energy, more outrage, more . . . to break the cycle. It’s times like the last five years that idolatry and sin are the best words to describe what I’m witnessing in secular and religious culture.

I’m not an evangelical christian. It seems to me an argument can be made that the theological commitments historically defining evangelicalism don’t actually apply to what evangelicalism is today. If you use the term “evangelical” as the adjective for your christian faith, I don’t mean to demean your theological perspective or journey in faith. I’m mindful of the log in my own eye. As a liberal christian, striving for consistency, I share a similar experience that the adjective “liberal” has been coopted by consumerism, profit, and politics. As it has always been, the works we do in the practice of our faith say more about our theological commitments and our image of God than our hymns, prayers, praise music, religious symbols, or adjectives that precede “christian.”

I’ve written before that a particular strain of Christianity in America presents more like the Taliban or medieval crusaders rather than followers of Jesus. There is a difference between reigning and governing within a community. Borrowing from Michael Smerconish, we need some “evidentiary thinking” in a times like these. I think an argument can be made that the storming of the Capitol on January 6th was fueled by Christian nationalism and its white identity doctrine of discovery. Christian nationalism is idolatry.

Somehow, religious freedom in this Nation has come to mean the christian right to discriminate in the practice of one’s christian faith commitments in public rather than the simple right to worship god, or not, as your faith leads. Where faith leads is the visible evidence of how one lives in community with others who may not share the same faith or vision of America. Can you imagine an America governed by Golden Rule thinking and leadership? Can you imagine a Christianity carrying the cross of the Greatest Commandment? I think that is what the writer of Galatians means by “fruits of the spirit” (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). Have we seen Golden Rule or Greatest Commandment works from the President or his enablers? Really.

I’m an ordained Protestant minister, going on 30 years, and I celebrate that there is freedom from religion in public spaces and in government in America. The deists and enlightenment thinkers that designed our Nation knew well what mixing divine right, religion, and governing could do to a nation and where it can lead. We are beginning the third decade of the 21st century, and old world struggles continue to hold humanity back. These words from the late, Rev. Dr. Peter Gomes continue to make sense to me.

Depending, then, upon how one reads and interprets, either the Bible is a textbook for the status quo, a book of quiescent pieties and promises, or it is a recipe for social change and transformation. There are churches dedicated to each point of view, each claiming its share of the good news; but what is good news for some is often bad news for somebody else. We will see how this double-edged sword of the gospel makes Jesus’ own preaching and teaching so dangerous, not only way back then but right here and now, and we will see why it is a very dangerous thing to take seriously the question “What would Jesus do?”

Rev. Dr. Peter Gomes, The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus: What’s So Good About the Good News. HarperOne

I’m a cynical GenX’r wondering, “What has become of us? What will become of us?” Care and accountability are necessary. It’s time to get out Pink Floyd’s, “The Final Cut.” The articles below addresses the variants of public Christian response to the mutiny and insurrection of some members in Congress, the sitting President, and citizens of this Nation.

Faith on the Hill
The religious composition of the 117th Congress
Pew Research

Evangelicals must denounce the Christian nationalism in Capitol riots
Opinion | Religion News Service

At the Capitol, evangelicals’ ‘Thou art the man’ moment
Opinion | Religion News Service

The Roots of Josh Hawley’s Rage
Why do so many Republicans appear to be at war with both truth and democracy?
By Katherine Stewart | New York Times

Trump-supporting Christian leaders and their Sunday messages
Mariam Fam, Elana Schor, David Crary | Religion News Service

Christian Nationalism Is Worse Than You Think
Morgan Lee | Christianity Today

As chaos hits Capitol, people of faith respond
Jack Jenkins

an Examen: 2020

The Daily Question at gratefulness.org provides a starting point for an examen for any year, and maybe especially a year like 2020.  This week’s questions.

December 28: What is one thing you’re grateful to have learned this year?
December 30: What have you learned about yourself this past year?
December 31: What new insights are emerging for you?

For what am I most grateful? For what am I least grateful?  These two questions form the spine of the book, Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Give You Life (Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant Linn, Matthew Linn SJ).  It is a version of the daily examen which is an ancient reflection exercise.  It is most likely practiced in some form by many of the world’s religions.  St. Ignatius practiced a form of the examen twice a day and ritualized it into the Jesuit’s daily life.  Taking many forms the simplest way to understand the practice is using the same questions to reflect on a day, a week, or even a year.  With enough time, patience, and discipline the examen becomes like breathing. 

I first encountered a form of the examen in college during a religion course on mysticism.  Dr. Fort led the class through a guided meditation to give one a sample of a contemplative’s practice.  A visit to a Zen temple was part of that class as well.  Buddhism’s meditation as a way to empty oneself, letting go of ego and attachments influenced how I’ve thought and lived.  It made more sense to me than beads, tongues, or other Christian mystical practices.  I am a follower of Jesus who wrestles with Christian faith.  I have many attachments or as Jesus would say, “You lack one thing.” 

Randy, a friend and colleague, reminded me of the examen some years later as a resource for youth ministry as well as personal life.  During the years youth have heard me ask, “When did you feel most connected today?  When did you feel disconnected today?  When are you pretty sure you saw a glimpse of God today?”

The coronavirus pandemic is an eclipse from which it will take a long time to emerge from its shadow. 

The pandemic unveiled how fragile life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is in this republic that tries to practice democracy.  But, I knew that. 

Systemic political and economic accountability doesn’t exist right now.

I have a love-hate relationship with: routine, Christianity, money, and self.  Is that balance? 

Privilege takes many forms.

I’ve been watching, The Mandalorian.  A spin off of the Star Wars universe that reminds me of a Clint Eastwood Western.  Mandalorian is a way of life rather than a race of beings.  Halfway through season one I remembered  this quote from the film, The Kingdom of Heaven.

I put no stock in religion. By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will of God. I’ve seen too much religion in the eyes of too many murderers. Holiness is in right action, and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. And goodness – what God desires – is here [points to Balian’s head] and here [points to Balian’s heart] and by what you decide to do every day you will be a good man…or not.

Ridley Scott, Twentieth Century Fox, 2005.

Late in the film, Balian proclaims, “It is a kingdom of conscious or nothing.”

I don’t know what to make of this American experiment.  There have been moments in 2020 when I’ve seen a collective conscious for the common good.  Selfless nurses, doctors, chaplains, and first responders. Neighbor helping neighbor. Stranger consoling stranger.

You’ve probably seen it too.  There is still good in us. 

The turning of the calendar won’t magically make the change. I’ll have to do the honest examen and make alterations. This is the way.