PHOTO CREDIT: Robin Klein | The inscription of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (15 December 1791) in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
On January, 2016, Donald J. Trump said, “ We will respect and defend Christian America.” He went on to say, “Christianity will have power (in the United States).” His message to Christian nationalists was a direct hit.
Who are Christian nationalists? Those who believe that God is partial to Christians, that Christians are God’s chosen people in this country! They are convinced that America has always been a Christian nation and always will be. Therefore, not only should Christianity be enshrined as our nation’s true religion, the government and the laws of this country should reflect and mostly be guided by the will of Christians.
As time has gone by, people of other religions, other cultures have entered into the mainstream of American life so powerfully that Christian nationalists feel under attack and marginalized. Thus, they are increasingly angry, fearful and desperate.
Where were the Christian nationalists on January 6, 2021? They were heeding the call of their President of Christian power. They headed for the Capitol like “Onward, Christian soldiers - marching as to war.” To be like a spear thrust at the heart of nation!
Christian nationalists constituted the long shaft of the spear. Probably lots of good intentioned, God-fearing believers. But at the point of the spear, they hosted their friends who were carrying Nazi symbols, Confederate flags, weapons and absurd conspiracy theories. Together, the Christian nationalists and their friends intended to kill American leaders and destroy our democratic republic.
The Founding Fathers of our country had seen all of this religiously motivated violence before in Europe. The last thing that they wanted was Christian nationalism. That is why the first words of their first Amendment to the Constitution was to guarantee that no religion would ever be the established religion of the United States of America.
The second impeachment of Donald Trump will either vindicate Christian nationalists or validate the First Amendment.
