Recently, an acquaintance tossed out the term Christian Nationalist when we were discussing the Biblical foundations of America. Since I was accused of being one, I asked what that meant. I did not receive a response. Therefore, I owned the title because I am a follower of Christ, and I do love my country. Still, there was no response. That led me to research why the label is so freely tossed about and considered derogatory.
It is interesting that the term Christian Nationalist originally included the disambiguator “white” in the title. However, when Colonel Alan West, Larry Elder, David Harris, Jr., Carol Swain, Candace Owens, Che Ahn, David Rodreguez, and many more came forward supporting nationalism, skin color was inconvenient. So, now, if you love Jesus and your country, you are a run-of-the-mill Christian Nationalist…whatever that means. But the more significant concern to me is why are there labels at all? The terms fascist and nazi have been assigned to Trump, but a quick review of definitions and recent examples completely dispels an intelligent application of those terms. Racist is another label everyone loves to throw around with no intelligible application. If I am white, I am a racist? Check-in with friends and colleagues of mine and tell me how that works out for you.
The entire labeling effort of our government, democrats, republicans, and media appears to be aimed at the more conservative and/or those of us who hold a Biblical worldview. The process of labeling a particular group of people has been used throughout history to divide cultures and bring hatred to the forefront, attempting to split cultures based on economics, sex, skin color, creed, religion, etc. This gives the government and media the common enemy language to paint a foe. Marx, Saul Alinsky, and others used this labeling method to “create disunion” and move groups to align against others. Mr. and Mrs. Obama used several turns of phrase to split the country. Our own CIA has used this technique on the citizens of the US in rolling out Operation Mockingbird and the use of media and Hollywood to attack those the government wants to marginalize.
If we hold to a Biblical view of marriage, we are bigots and intolerant. Dare I point out that those labeling us are intolerant of our position and, by default, bigots? Why not just accept the fact that we have different views? You express yours, and I will express mine civilly. When it comes to legal and legislative matters, yes, I will work to pass laws that align with the Bible. You have every right to try and get laws passed that fit your worldview. Where I will work most diligently is on the sanctity of life because you do not have the right to kill anyone in the womb or outside the womb. I will work equally as hard when you try to take my child or grandchild to a cultural indoctrination camp in their school. You do not have the right to forcibly change their sex, nor do you have the right to do anything with them without parental consent.
Also, yes, I am a male. I have my God-given X & Y chromosomes and married a lovely woman with two X chromosomes. That is all there is, and the legal marriage of one woman to one man is the only marriage recognized by the Bible. If you want to fight for legal representation of homosexual marriage, have at it. I will do the same in the opposite direction because that is not a marriage accepted by God. If laws are passed that permit the marriage, I will follow the law but work to change it. I will also maintain that they are American citizens with the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else. They do not have the right to “special” privileges. They are not a class protected by the Civil Rights legislation. Those choosing that lifestyle—and yes, they chose it as scientifically proven by the Genome—need to deal with the legal, cultural, and social impact. Do not expect businesses to pay for special healthcare to assure you have a baby or to change your sex. You are forcing your lifestyle on me. If you want to live that way, I will not force you into anything different. Don’t try to force me to accept this anti-Biblical, anti-science, cultural debasing as normal. Under the First Amendment, I have the right to express my thoughts verbally or in writing. You have the same right. I am responsible to God for expressing my thoughts like Christ would, with love. I am not commanded to accept their sin. I will treat all civilly, and we can agree to disagree.
Church and ministry leaders need to embrace Ezekiel 33:1-6. We are the watchmen on the wall. It does not matter what label culture attempts to assign us and how culture tries to shame or belittle us. Our job is to sound the warning. God tells us that if we see the danger and sound the alarm, but the people do not heed the warning, their blood is on their own heads. But if we see the danger approaching and do not sound the alarm, God will demand our blood from us. We are in the 4th watch, the last watch on the wall before dawn. It does not matter if people leave our churches, stop donating, or label us with all sorts of cultural labels. As leaders in the Ekklesia—church—, our responsibility is clear and unreproachable: tell the world of Christ and His love. Ensure they know the disaster that awaits them if they continue down their current path. Christ angered and offended many with His words and His love. We are being called to follow Him. Be strong and very courageous (Joshua 1:9).