America was built on Christian values, but the idea of Christian nationalism has caused a lot of controversy, even while its definition changes from source to source.
Some see it as promoting theocratic oppression, while others, a way to align society with biblical principles to the benefit of everyone.
Idaho pastor and author Doug Wilson recently joined “1819 News: The Podcast” in an overtime segment to make a case for Christian nationalism and explain why it’s so contentious, even among Christians.
“Christian nationalism is simply this: human beings can organize themselves socially, culturally, politically, in three basic ways. One would be tribalism, one would be nationalism, which is how we're largely organized now. Virtually everyone in the world now is a citizen of a nation, is part of a nation. So, nationalism is what we have now, or globalism because those are the three basic structures. Tribalism, nationalism, or globalism… If we have nations, I would like the nations that exist to stop doing the things that make God angry. That’s what I mean by Christian nationalism.”
Wilson said too often Christians rather appease than get involved in the messiness of the culture war, but the time is coming when “turning the other cheek” may not be an option.
“I think there’s just a desire to go along to get along, and I think that’s a function of not realizing what time it is,” Wilson said. “In other words, as the saying goes, you may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you. Christians have the naive belief that if they’re just sweet and nice and winsome that the secularists are going to leave them alone. That’s simply not going to be the case.”
He continued, “I'm mystified that there are some Christians that object to this call to stop making God angry. Where have they been? Do they think that we've not been making him angry? Do they think that we don't deserve his judgment? Do they think that we aren't incurring the wrath of God by how we're carrying on? Well, no, I want Americans to repent and turn back to God.”
Wilson said critics often confuse the issue when arguing against Christian nationalism — like with the separation of church and state — but they do get one critique right.
“If someone says, well, you Christian nationalists want to impose your morality on the rest of us. I would say that's right… But I would then point out that doesn't make us unique. All law is imposed morality. Every law is imposed morality. And so the phrase is an inescapable concept. It's not whether, but which. It's not whether you impose morality. It's which morality you impose.”
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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