The current claim of many evangelical leaders is that evangelicals who support Donald Trump are "white Christian nationalist." The term "white Christian nationalist" is a fairly new term in the public-square and it has not, to my knowledge, been clearly defined. It's hard to answer critics of "white Christian Nationalism," it is associated with certain people and political causes. Terms like this that lack definition are euphemisms. They are used to create an emotional response. The term itself is a pejorative, designed to intimidate.
Why the term "white" as opposed to "black, Asian, Hispanic, or native American nationalism." Is a "black, Asian or Native American" Christian who is a conservative somehow disparaged by the term. Those who use this term associate it with whites, or non- white's "sold out" to white establishment, Uncle Tom's. It assigns motives and beliefs to "white" people without support, which by definition is racism. There is an assumption that white people have some inherent evil tendencies or conditions, that are evident in a predominantly white country. Those who disparage "white Christian nationalism" as racist, are themselves casting aspersions based on race.
Often the term is associated with people who support Donald Trump, who is often labeled a racist? Is Donald Trump a racist? Donald Trump was never accused of being racist before he got into politics. In the late 70's the justice department received a complaint from a tenant in a building he owned that their eviction had been based on race and that the Trump's organization discriminated in their tenancy agreement. The accusations were investigated the organization was cleared. Trump went on to hire a very diverse work force and received awards from civil rights leaders for advancing minority hiring in New York.
Trump's rhetoric is sometimes uncouth, and he sometimes makes generalization about illegal immigrants. Some people will say things like "Trump hates" immigrants. Once again, the record shows exactly the opposite. Trump's mother was an immigrant, as were two of the women, he ultimately married. It would hardly seem that he hated immigrants. Trumps generalizations about illegal immigrants are generally true.
If immigrants were of virtuous character and economically secure, they would not need to come into the country illegally. His generalizations are characteristic of the illegal immigrant population. Any person who enters this country illegally, or who comes in on a temporary visa, and then stays does so by committing a series of crimes. If one is living here illegally, he is either receiving services fraudulently, or using someone's identity fraudulently. The fact is that their continuing presence in this country is dependent on a continuing series of frauds and usurpations of service. Yes, Illegal immigrants are criminals and part of a criminal class. It is appropriate to call undocumented people in country illegals, because that is what they are. We may be uncomfortable with Trump's language; it is harshly realistic but does not make him a racist or a bigot.
Trump's policies as President did more to advance the cause of civil rights than any President since LBJ. The idea that Trump is bigot is simply false. But even if it were true, it does not make his supporters bigoted. Any more than Joe Biden's supporters are? Biden's history on race is far more troubling than Trump's. Biden could easily be labeled as the last of the Jim Crow democrats. Despite his record of support for Dixie democrats, and legislation targeted to hurt Black people and repeated use of racial epithets and slurs, black people associate him with civil rights. I've never quite understood, why. White people who support Biden have far more to answer for their candidates record on race than do Trump supporters. So why are so called MAGA republicans called "White Christian nationalists.
The phrase "White Christian nationalism" is red hearing and ad hominem that is simply used to manipulate and ignore the concerns of many conservative people. Just as God told the expatriated Jews to support their country of residence, and to work for its prosperity and progress while recognizing and disclaiming it's pagan practices (Jer 29: 1- 9), Paul commanded Christians living in pagan Rome "to give honor to those things about Rome that were virtuous (Romans 13:7) and Peter commanded believer to pray for those in authority and to acclaim the national heritage (1 Peter 3:13-17). Christians are called to be good citizenship, to advocate policies that advance national prosperity and to be patriotic. Yet, we do not excuse the flaws or sins of our nation. Calling our government to repentance, righteousness, truth and justice, and recognizing that God is a higher authority than the King is compatible with national loyalty and patriotism. I can be a faithful Christian and be patriotic and even nationalistic.
Second, what is the meaning nationalism. The term 'Christian nationalism" is often associated with the similar movements of the early twentieth century where some Christians developed an understanding of Romans 13 and other passage as preventing them from opposing national evil. Many German Christians openly supported Hitler and were complicit in the holocaust because they felt as Christians, they were commanded to support their government, no matter what. This was a perversion of Biblical kingdom theology then as it is now. Nationalism went too far! Some Christians today seem to exercise a kind of benign neutrality toward national evil. They seem to feel the church is to be passive when it comes to the state. Whoever is in power in whichever party we are to call them to repentance, and justice. Christians were under no obligation to follow a government command to close church service when the Bible explicitly commands them to meet regularly for teaching, the sacraments and fellowship. Yet, many Christians wrongly felt they had to obey the government even when it was tyrannical in its policies. On today's political landscape such passivity could be more easily associated with progressive Christians who vote democrat, than with MAGA Republicans. Christianity Today and other evangelicals' leaders told Christians that they could ignore the genocide of the unborn, the anti-Christian homosexual agenda to vote against Donald Trump, and for Biden. Those blatant ignominies could be ignored because of Trump's sometimes harsh offensive personality. The fact that Trump would never qualify to be an elder in a Bible believing church was thought to disqualify him from public office. On what Biblical ground?
What does the government say is to be the role of the believer towards government. Jesus famously said, [21] ...” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25ESV) Clearly explaining that Christian's have responsibility to both God (since the authority of God is relegated to the Church), the church, and to Caesar, the state. There is a degree of respect and even honor Christians are to give their government. The exiles living in Babylon were commanded to seek the economic and political interest of the country where they lived (Jermiah 29:1-14). We are called upon to give honor and respect to governing authorities (1 Peter 2:11-16). We are called to pray for blessing and guidance for our leaders (1 Timothy 2: 1-4). We are called to give honor and regard when it is due (Rom 13;7). While we clearly worship God holding our nation and its leaders in high regard, acting, voting and praying in our nations interest, seeking its prosperity peace and advancement. Is not only appropriate but a responsibility of Christian citizenship.
I can embrace the term "white Christian nationalist." i am all three, proudly and faithfully.
