Christian Nationalism

[RxCowboy]

This reminds me of a sermon I heard about once. Not really a sermon but a dramatization. It’s anecdotal bc I didn’t see it but was told about it by a pastor who heard about this. He said he had been preaching on Mathew 25. Specifically the parable about the king who tells the subjects away from me. You did not feed me when hungry. Give me drink when thirsty.

So the preacher preaches. Takes the next week off. For two weeks he doesn’t shave or shower. Finds old clothes and keeps them in his trash for two weeks. Goes out Sunday morning and runs dirt all over his hair face and hands. Gets dressed in the smelly filthy clothes and pulls a hoodie down over his unshaven face. Prior to service he goes to the front steps and w a cup to beg for change. He gets in peoples bubbles to make the unconfortable. Just grunts doesn’t ever make eye contact or look up. Sometimes lays across the steps. Any way service starts and it’s time for him as pastor to walk in and take the pulpit. But this Sunday he comes in the front door. Hoodie down head down. As he walks down the center aisle he starts peeling the layers of filthy smelly clothes keeping his head down. The hoodie was under a jacket and some oversized tshirts. He gets to the front, walks up to the sop step of the stage and sits down. Raises his head and removes the hood to his sweatshirt. They now know their pastor was the beggar. He dumps the cup on the ground for dramatic effect to reveal a little more than a dollar in change.

Silence from the entire sanctuary. He opens his Bible to Mathew 25 v42. Reads 42-45. Closes his Bible. Stands up and walks back out the center aisle. When he gets to the back doors of the sanctuary. He opens a door doesn’t look back and shouts “See you next Sunday.” Gets in his car and goes home.

Says he doesn’t know what happened after he left, but in the months and year that followed their pantry, local food/clothing outreach and prison ministry saw more growth than ever before in his ministry. And all bc of a sermon wo a word. He felt more kindness from the congregation.

Your post made me think of this bc our actions taking religion out of it reveal our heart. Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or atheist. We can spout spiritual words or kind words but our actions are what tell people who we are.

I had a prison ministry when I was in Mississippi. Technically, it was a ministry of my church, but I was the only one who always went. I did it twice a month for two and a half years, until I moved from Mississippi to Oklahoma. The last time I was there were tears. One of the congregation told me, “I know you care about us.” Me, “why do you say that?” “You were always here.”

I don’t know what it is, but there is some kind of ministry calling me after I retire from pharmacy and it will be to the underserved.

 

[HacklemanPoke]

I had a prison ministry when I was in Mississippi. Technically, it was a ministry of my church, but I was the only one who always went. I did it twice a month for two and a half years, until I moved from Mississippi to Oklahoma. The last time I was there there tears. One of the congregation told me, “I know you care about us.” Me, “why do you say that?” “You were always here.”

I don’t know what it is, but there is some kind of ministry calling me after I retire from pharmacy and it will be to the underserved.

There is no worship like prison worship.

1st time I went I was crapping down my leg. Get inside worship starts and my pastor friend nods at one of the singers and asks if I recognize the one on the end. I didn’t. He said. That’s the kid that blocked your layup from behind in the state tournament quarter finals. It was a true “get that weak shite out of here” sports center top ten moment. After service we were introduced and I asked him if he remembered that play. He just grinned real big hugged me tight and started retelling that play to his fellow inmates. Needless to say I was humbled in more ways than one that night.

If you move back to Oklahoma and are interested in prison ministry dm me and I can hook you up w my friend. He still goes. My other friend who humbled me on two nights has been released. Last I heard his life was turned around and no more problems.

 

[PF5]

 

[osuwhit]

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[RxCowboy]

There is no worship like prison worship.

There were two things that got me into prison ministry. The first was a prison minister who came to our church and said "I thank God I went to prison because if I hadn't I wouldn't have gotten saved." The second was a prison minister who ministered to death row inmates in McAlester, Big Mac. He told about the lack of pretense among the inmates, the honesty. They are who they are. "They light up right there in the chapel."

 

[steross]

 

[RxCowboy]

View attachment 18278

It's even worse than that. It's not just an identity fusion. It's a spiritualization of support for immoral leaders, a spiritualization of support for the party. Way back in summer 2016 I had a Facebook discussion with my pastor's wife. She made a statement on FB, "God can use Trump despite his flaws." I asked, "Why isn't that statement equally true of Hillary?" Her response, "It just isn't." My response, "Doesn't that make God less than omnipotent?" She never responded to that question.



A favorite verse of the evangelical right is Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. But the authority here doesn't necessarily mean the person wielding the authority and authority can certainly be wielded falsely and inappropriately.

 

[RxCowboy]

P.S. where on earth do I fit now in that Venn diagram? I am a conservative Christian and a political conservative who no longer identifies as either evangelical or Republican specifically because of the conflation of the two.

 

[UpGrayedd Double Dose]

P.S. where on earth do I fit now in that Venn diagram? I am a conservative Christian and a political conservative who no longer identifies as either evangelical or Republican specifically because of the conflation of the two.

Maybe this belongs in the religion thread, but honest question, what do you mean when you say evangelical? I have seen you post multiple times that you no longer identify as an evangelical, and I want to make sure I understand you correctly.

I belong to a denomination that would identify as evangelical, but whenever someone asks me about my beliefs I have never said I am an evangelical Christian, I simply say that I am a Christian. To qualify my "type" of Christianity has never crossed my mind. With that said I still believe that the tenets of evangelicalism are true. However, evangelicalism and Christian Nationalism are not the same. Christian Nationalism is not true Christianity and any "Christian", evangelical or otherwise, claiming that it is, is mistaken.

 

[RxCowboy]

Maybe this belongs in the religion thread, but honest question, what do you mean when you say evangelical? I have seen you post multiple times that you no longer identify as an evangelical, and I want to make sure I understand you correctly.

I belong to a denomination that would identify as evangelical, but whenever someone asks me about my beliefs I have never said I am an evangelical Christian, I simply say that I am a Christian. To qualify my "type" of Christianity has never crossed my mind. With that said I still believe that the tenets of evangelicalism are true. However, evangelicalism and Christian Nationalism are not the same. Christian Nationalism is not true Christianity and any "Christian", evangelical or otherwise, claiming that it is, is mistaken.

There are generally four core beliefs to evangelicalism:

1. The primacy of scripture as the ultimate guide to faith and practice

2. Personal conversion, the necessity of being “born again”.

3. Salvation through Jesus alone.

4. Evangelism, the Great Commission.

My objection is that denominations that identify as evangelical have become overtly political and the two have become conflated. As I’ve also said, my core beliefs and values have not changed. I also still belong to a church that is evangelical, though you never hear politics from our pulpit.

 

[UpGrayedd Double Dose]

There are generally four core beliefs to evangelicalism:

1. The primacy of scripture as the ultimate guide to faith and practice

2. Personal conversion, the necessity of being “born again”.

3. Salvation through Jesus alone.

4. Evangelism, the Great Commission.

My objection is that denominations that identify as evangelical have become overtly political and the two have become conflated. As I’ve also said, my core beliefs and values have not changed. I also still belong to a church that is evangelical, though you never hear politics from our pulpit.

Thanks for your answer and I agree in part. Many churches have become overtly political and I find it disgusting. I have also found that the pastors in those churches are more interested in fleecing the flock rather than feeding them, but I don't believe this problem is limited to evangelical churches. I would also argue that these churches aren't really evangelical despite what they may claim.

I recently moved and I had to look around for a new church home, because I refuse to attend a church that cares more about politics and Trump than they do about Jesus and the gospel message. Fortunately, I belong to a denomination where the local church is autonomous so it was easy to find a gospel centered evangelical church.

 

[RxCowboy]

Thanks for your answer and I agree in part. Many churches have become overtly political and I find it disgusting. I have also found that the pastors in those churches are more interested in fleecing the flock rather than feeding them, but I don't believe this problem is limited to evangelical churches. I would also argue that these churches aren't really evangelical despite what they may claim.

I recently moved and I had to look around for a new church home, because I refuse to attend a church that cares more about politics and Trump than they do about Jesus and the gospel message. Fortunately, I belong to a denomination where the local church is autonomous so it was easy to find a gospel centered evangelical church.

What is important to me is a church that is reaching its community and I have certainly found that to be true in my current church.