Curated topics for a disillusioned church
From Ken Peters, founder of Patriot Church in Knoxville, TN, who believes that Americans are about to lose the country we have "always known" to pastor Franklin Grahm who believes Christians are under attack CBS News profiles a handful of Christian Americans who believe the country was founded as a Christian nation. Historian John Fea provides the historical context in a short documentary that asks the question, what does it mean for religious liberty if Christian nationalists get their way?
Preaching from Mark 1 and centering on the theme of repentance Paul Sannerud of Blair Lutheran Church (Blair, WI) says that the ideology of Christian nationalism perverts the gospel in three key ways. First, the nation is seen as the "savior" of history. Second, it embraces power and greatness to save the world. And third, it believes Christians are persecuted when we can't impose our will on other people.
Simply put, American Christians have been seduced by the conflation of the American dream with the Christian gospel. Many Christians, although using Christian language, cannot distinguish between the two belief systems that are diametrically opposed to each other.
In a succinct and meaty conversation with host Marty Duren Georgetown University professor and author Paul Miller first defines his terms, such as classical liberalism, nationalism, patriotism, and conservatism, before discussing the dangers of nationalism shaping Christians instead of the other way around. Miller concludes the conversation with some advice for pastors addressing Christian nationalism from the pulpit.
At one point in his life author Joe Forrest thought if we had more Christians in the world then the world would get better, but the current iteration of Christian nationalism has him abandoning his theory. The idolatrous mixture of nationalism and religion has birthed Christians who simply think, believe, vote, and fear like themselves. Self-critique is blasphemy and demonizing those we disagree with is a virtue. Forrest points out that this idolatry is doomed to fail and is a major reason why the 15 books of the prophets in the Bible focused so intently on idolatry as humans are prone to worship things other than God.
In an illuminating hour hosts Jesse Eubanks and Rachel Szabo trace religious nationalism to the gospels (Matthew 3) while weaving interviews with Samuel Perry, a sociologist who developed a Christian nationalism scale, and discussions with three Christians who fall on different ends of the spectrum.
A question and answer article that presents the definitions and differences between patriotism, nationalism, Christianity, and Christian nationalism in addition to why Christian nationalism is a dangerous ideology.
By Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry | Time.comPublished in October of 2020 SUMMARY: Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry, authors of…
Read More ARTICLE: The Growing Anti-Democratic Threat of Christian Nationalism
How did the Republican party and white evangelicals become synonymous? Has abortion always been the focus of the Republican party and white evangelicals? In a tight, accessible 140 pages, author Randall Balmer traces the roots of the Religious Right and its wedding to the Republican party from the 1830s through the 1970s before linking the movement to its current iteration in the 21st century.
Many American Christians have bifurcated their lives into the secular and the sacred. We have divorced divine meaning from our mundane tasks and everyday jobs as we have adopted the rhythms, beliefs, and postures of the world. As a result, there is little difference between how Christians and non-Christians live their lives. Americans of all ages are leaving the church while depression, hopelessness, and suicide continue to climb. Author and priest Tish Harrison Warren says it doesn't have to be this way.
Sunday to Saturday 
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