Exploring Christian nationalism
Review of "American Christian Nationalism" by Michael W. Austin.
American Christian Nationalism: Neither American nor Christian
Michael W. Austin
Eerdmans, 2024.
A few years ago, Christian nationalism was not well known, but now headlines regularly remind us of its centrality to the MAGA agenda. Christian nationalism insists that Christian precepts ought to be law and enforced by the state. Advocates believe that the Founding Fathers intended to establish the United States as a democracy whose ultimate authority rested on Christian principles. Critics claim that Christian nationalism engenders bigotry, discrimination, inflamed rhetoric and violence – thus hamstringing Christian witness.
Such starkly differing views demand further scrutiny. Because of the influence of Christian nationalism among some Americans in the Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRCNA), there are Christians in the Canadian CRC arguing that the binational denomination should be divided along national lines.
Understanding Christian nationalism
Michael Austin’s subtitle, “Neither American nor Christian,” summarizes his central thesis: American Christian nationalism contradicts central American ideals. More importantly for Christians, American Christian nationalism is harmful to the church and our life together as followers of Jesus.
Austin’s criticisms are perceptive and free of liberal bias as he claims to hold “theologically and politically conservative views.”
A professor of philosophy, Austin provides a five-fold summary of Christian nationalist ideology and then counters each claim: America was founded as a Christian nation; government should promote Christian culture; American Christians ought to pursue political and cultural power in order to exercise dominion; American Christians prioritize American interests over the interests of other nations; and American and Christian identities are fused.
Austin dismisses the notion that the U.S. was founded as Christian. Most serious historians would agree. He demonstrates how Christian nationalism fails to live up to American ideals of liberty, equality and service to the nation.
Austin further contrasts a life governed by love of God and neighbour to one that emphasizes love of country above all else – which is a deadly conflation of national interests with divine purposes. He holds that Christian virtues of faith, humility and love contradict Christian nationalist realpolitik. This brought to my mind vice-president JD Vance’s invoking the Catholic concept of ordo amoris (rightly ordered love) to justify the Trump administration’s policies favouring “American family” needs over others. Such emphases undermine a more universal application of Christian charity modeled on the Good Samaritan (a parable the author cites at length).
The beloved community and Christ’s dominion
Austin offers Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea of a “beloved community” as something for people of all faiths. Such a community would be demonstrated by Christians for everyone’s benefit: a living embodiment of faith, humility, love and service that partakes of the best characteristics of government and religion. Austin advocates Christian witness, not coercion, to challenge autocracy and toxic nationalism.
In 105 pages, this book serves as a brief, yet useful, introduction to a complex topic. It offers a warning against distorting Christian faith for the sake of political gain or dominance.
