The Christian Post recently reported that longtime political strategist James Carville told Bill Maher during a December 1, 2023 HBO interview that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was a so-called “Christian nationalist” – and that his worldview posed a greater “threat” to the United States than al Qaeda.
In response, Speaker Mike Johnson tweeted that “[i]t’s twisted and shameful that a leading Democrat strategist says millions of Christians in America are a greater threat than foreign terrorists who murdered more than 3,000 Americans.”
Carville’s comments echoed those of former Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), who said during an episode of Maher’s show in November 2023 that there was no difference between Speaker Johnson’s worldview and that of the Taliban – saying that both worldviews represent government being “run on religion.”
The Christian Post article may be read in its entirety HERE.
DISCLAIMER – The following contains political commentary.
My brothers and sisters, this writer is beyond tired of hearing about “Christian nationalism” whenever politics becomes contentious. I must admit that I’ve never understood what this term means (as personal views and usages of the term abound), but what seems clear is that the term is always used as a pejorative, somehow asserting that if one has pride for his or her country and professes a deep love for God, then the person is safely presumed to be suffering from the sin of idolatry (or worse).
There seems to be a belief (or a strategically-feigned assertion), by some, that those of the Christian faith who express moral values and political opinions consistent with what many consider a biblical worldview and simultaneously exhibit any appreciable degree of pride for their country, have somehow “crossed a line” and are a supposed danger to society. Those who accuse others of loving or idolizing country and politics more than God sometimes assert that the goal of such persons is for our civil government to operate as a theocracy instead of as a republic (or a representative democracy).
If by “theocracy” one means Christian, God-fearing persons taking the lead in civil government, then count me in; however, that is not the commonly accepted meaning of the term theocracy, which is most often associated with radical and unloving leadership – such as in Islamic countries (e.g., Iran) where human rights violations abound and personal freedom (including the freedom to worship as one desires) is extinguished.
I agree that if a person genuinely considers country and politics to be of more importance than God (i.e., idolatry), then such is sinful, morally wrong and clearly not God’s best for His children. That said, simply having pride in your nation, serving your county in the military, or desiring for Christian men and women to step forward as leaders in our civil governments should be lauded, not frowned upon. Besides, declaring one to have succumbed to the sin of idolatry through a spirit of Christian nationalism requires the accuser to know the other person’s heart – which is not our privilege to judge, nor do others often actually know a person well enough to discern matters of the heart.
In the search to better understand what “Christian nationalism” means, I found a really great explanation on Got Questions[.org].
In part, the article states that “Christian nationalism” is most often used as a derogatory term, used unfairly, to trigger an emotional response. Beliefs require more than superficial connection to biblical faith to be truly “Christian” – just as vague similarities between two ideas do not make them equivalent. Provocative language using words such as communist, hate, radical, racist, fascist, supremacist or traitor are applied to views that don’t reasonably fit those definitions.
Critics will often claim “Christian nationalism” when there is the slightest connection between a person’s faith and his or her political or social views. From that perspective, any desire to see laws reflecting godly morality or protecting Christian expressions of faith in public life is invalid nationalism and should be rejected. The same strategy is often used against pro-life or pro-Israel sentiments, or support for biblical sexuality. At times, any politically conservative stance conflicting with progressive morality is waved away as “Christian nationalism.”
The Got Questions article may be read HERE.
Here is some scripture to consider:
Psalm 24:3-5 (NKJV)
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, [w]ho has not lifted up his soul to an idol, [n]or sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, [a]nd righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
Psalm 109:29 (NKJV)
“Let my accusers be clothed with shame, [a]nd let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, [a]nd lean not on your own understanding; [i]n all your ways acknowledge Him, [a]nd He shall direct your paths.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NKJV)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, [a]nd desperately wicked; [w]ho can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, [e]ven to give every man according to his ways, [a]ccording to the fruit of his doings.”
Romans 13:1-3 (NKJV)
Submit to Government
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.”
1 Corinthians 10:12-15 (NKJV)
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry [emphasis mine]. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.”
2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…”.
Revelation 12:10-11 (ESV)
“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘[n]ow the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of [H]is Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.’”
Praise Jesus forevermore!