Lesson Four: Take Responsibility for the Face of the World

When we see symbols of hate and division, we need to call them out and not embrace them. This means actual swastikas, of course, but also language and imagery that mimics Nazi propaganda.

 This is not about offending people’s sensibilities; it’s about preventing normalization.  

 The official social media accounts of federal agencies are openly promoting both white nativist supremacy and Christian supremacy, and the government is weaponizing the Bible to promote this agenda.

 The U.S. is also threatening the sovereignty of other nations, withdrawing from the global stage, and scapegoating minority groups while war and violence are being glorified. 

 It’s not hidden, it’s in plain sight and being endorsed by Christians. 

 But it’s not Christianity, it’s White Christian Nationalism, it’s American Fascism. 

 Christians need to take responsibility for the face of Christianity. It’s not enough to just whisper under our breath that they don’t speak for all of us. No. This is fascism and it is not compatible with Christianity. It’s not a wing of Christianity. It’s not a doctrinal disagreement within Christianity. Fascism is not the way of Jesus.

 Let me tell you a story…

 There was once a pastor who went into the wilderness to discern where God was calling his church to go. While in the wilderness, he was met with temptation and the devil came to him and showed him a vision of him speaking before thousands in a grand auditorium and a network of churches all following his leadership.

 The devil said to the pastor, “It is written, ‘for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’ Now follow my ways and all this I will give to you.”

 And the pastor did as the devil commanded him.

 The pastor conditioned his followers to embrace authoritarianism within church governance structures then to extend grace to corrupt leaders who exploited Scripture and abused the weak.

 He taught that Jesus was obedient to Scripture, so any passage can be elevated above the teachings of Jesus to support his agenda.

 He taught that Jesus was obedient to God, therefore Jesus subordinate; to follow Jesus, one must also be subordinate to Scripture and to all authority.

 He taught that Jesus is the only way to God; therefore, their way is superior to all others and God’s justice is seen when the ungodly are punished. He scapegoated and dehumanized the ungodly. To love the ungodly is to save them from their place in the world. 

 He taught that prosperity was a sign of God’s favor and power was the language of God. 

 He modernized the facilities and led ambitious building projects while condemning the public school budget. 

 He took them on expensive trips to see how impoverished people in faraway, godless lands were. His people were so blessed to live in America.

 He dismissed anyone who asked questions because questioning his authority was disobedience. Thou shalt obey.

 His church and his following grew, so others followed the same path.

 The pursuit of power became all consuming, so the pastor expanded his influence into other arenas - politics, media, education. The pastor believed that if he could just have control, order would follow, and there would be peace. He was a man of peace after all.

 Year after year, decade after decade, the church moved further away from the way of Jesus and into the hands of Empire. Yet, the people did not know they were led astray. 

 This parable is not intended to reflect any single person, but is a composite of a thousand men, and some women, who pursued the way of Empire as a shortcut to the kingdom of God. In so doing, they rejected the way of Jesus and set the world on the path to destruction.

 Why didn’t those who saw the signs speak up?

 They did.  They were silenced, banished, and demonized.

 And yet, they still speak, not always from stages and pulpits, but from the wilderness places.

 It’s time for the people who follow Jesus to take responsibility for the face of Christianity. Pastors cannot do it alone and they need to know they have your support.

This is part 5 of a series inspired by my reading of On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons Learned From the Twentieth Century, by Timothy Snyder as part of my effort to offer Christian insight to those wondering what to do in this moment.