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Twenty years ago, I was a student at the Episcopal seminary in Austin, Texas. During that time, I remember spending a long weekend visiting my parents in Ponca City, Oklahoma–the town where I grew up.
Ponca City is what I consider to be the buckle of the Bible Belt. What that means is everyone goes to church, usually several times a week. And most people are evangelical Christians of some kind. The Episcopalians are definitely in the minority.
At that time, my mother worked in a local independent bookstore, a place I had been frequenting my entire life. As a seminary student, I loved going to the bookstore on visits home and especially, spending time perusing the very large religious books section. They had an entire wall of Bibles; small pocket-size bibles, large print bibles, special study bibles, different translations, leather bound bibles, paperback bibles, and special gift edition bibles. It was honestly a little overwhelming.
One day, I was taking in the massive wall of Bibles when one particular edition caught my eye. It had a quote from Psalm 33 on the cover that read, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Okay…that’s a little weird…But wait, there’s more. The cover was a bold print of stars and stripes. That’s right – the Bible cover was the American flag. My head exploded.
In Psalm 33, “the nation” is obviously referring to ancient Israel, NOT the United States. There is no justification or explanation that could in any way connect the nation of Psalm 33 with this country. It’s not even a strange interpretation of the text. It’s just wrong. What I didn’t realize then, that I certainly do now is that there is a branch of Christianity that is dangerous. Christian Nationalism has deep and scary roots in this country having contributed to centuries of oppression. Manifest Destiny in the 19th century perpetuated this myth that the U.S. was somehow divinely ordained to conquer these lands. Manifest Destiny linked Protestantism with national identity, portraying the United States as a Christian nation chosen by God.
And centuries before, the Doctrine of Discovery provided European Christian monarchs with religious justification by papal decree to claim international lands not inhabited by Christians. This idea was central to European colonial expansion as well as directly motivating Manifest Destiny in the United States.
As we see in this perfunctory history lesson, Christianity gets itself into trouble anytime we place something before God. In this case, the alignment of the gospel with patriotism leads to idolatry. We do not worship this nation or a flag, but Jesus Christ. And when we allow anything besides God to become the focus of our adoration and praise, we err and stray like lost sheep. That is what is happening with the Christian Nationalist movement.
Now, to be clear, I am not expressing anti-American sentiments. I am proud of this country and the opportunities it affords, the freedoms we enjoy, and the values of democracy from which we benefit. But I am saying that conflating patriotism with Christianity and the resulting Christian Nationalist movement is very dangerous.
This Sunday is the feast of Christ the King. Pope Pius XI added the feast to the Christian calendar 100 years ago in the wake of World War I. It was a time in which nationalism and fascism were rampant in parts of Europe. He created this day to annually remind Christians that our primary allegiance is not to any earthy ruler or nation, but first and foremost to Jesus Christ.
For the historians in the room, admittedly Pope Pius XI was complicated and like most humans, neither all good nor all bad. He also established this day to counter rising anti-clericalism in the Roman church–to emphasize the power and authority of his own office and the sovereignty of the church.
I also recognize that 100 years later, this designated day and associated terminology may cause some angst. For some, using the word “king” to describe Jesus is uncomfortable or incongruous. The word “king” has baggage. It conjures up images of tyranny, authoritarian rule, and privilege which seem antithetical to how Jesus exercised his authority.
Bishop Craig Loya of Minnesota wrote on this very topic this past week, saying, “Jesus, the New Testament, and the church through the ages knew exactly what they were doing–engaging the subversive act of turning the concepts of king and kingdom on their heads. The point is that Jesus is unlike any and all political and institutional powers in the world. Instead of privileging one tribe, language, or nation, Jesus builds the Beloved Community gathered around God’s feast of love. Instead of making himself big in order to win, Jesus comes to us small and humble. Instead of clinging to his identity with entitlement, Jesus leads by serving. Instead of putting himself first, he lives by dying. That is how the God of all creation presides over the whole cosmos.” End quote.
The feast of Christ the King is a celebration of overturning the structures of power and giving our allegiance to a King who transcends polity and division. God’s Kingdom is not of this world and yet, is in this world, breaking into our existence and experiences when we least expect it.
As Pilate interrogates Jesus in today’s gospel reading, Jesus replies, “My kingdom isn’t the sort that grows in this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my supporters would have fought to stop me being handed over to the Judeans. So, then, my kingdom is not the sort that comes from here.”God’s kingdom transcends each generations’ corruption of power and the atrocities we inflict upon God’s beloved children.
To again quote Bishop Loya, “As we find ourselves in a moment when Christian Nationalism— is again ascendent, that abomination that equates the dominance of a racially narrow understanding of America with the kingdom of God—this feast is as important as it has ever been.” End quote.
We cannot cede the language of God’s kingdom to such a gross distortion, for it is so much more than that. Scripture speaks of Jesus as king and we pray as Jesus has taught us–for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. We must hold onto this language for God and not allow those who would corrupt the gospel of Jesus to take it away.
Several Sundays ago, Doyt preached about how we are to conduct ourselves as Christians in this world. He preached boldly the Sunday BEFORE the presidential election and he did so because how we are to act is how we are to act regardless of who is our president.
He outlined four points- guidelines really – for our work as followers of Jesus.
The first – to have hope beyond what can be seen.
Second – to practice our discipleship.
Third – to care for our neighbor.
And fourth, to courageously speak truth to power.
Calling out the sin of Christian Nationalism requires us to speak courageously and not be ashamed to claim a different way of following Jesus. Christ the King is the king of peace, not division. How do we go about this you might be wondering? We do it with love. I know it may seem like not enough.
The Friday Bible Study group has just finished the book of Romans. This past week, we engaged in a lengthy discussion about Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another.”
What if we lived in a world in which this concept reigned? If our actions were guided by love, rather than revenge, reckless generosity instead of retribution? What if we met hatred and vitriol with love and compassion?
I recommend we start by standing with those whom the world’s kingdoms constantly push aside, the marginalized and the oppressed, the impoverished and the destitute. Be an ally of the trans community. Stand up against hate. Help the poor and unhoused by working alongside those who provide resources. Stand up for people of color and speak out against racism in all forms.
This is practicing our discipleship–walking day by day the way of the cross of Jesus, which brings truth, life, liberation, peace, and joy.
On this feast of Christ the King, let us reclaim the kingship of our Lord, a kingship that is not of this world, but the next. May King Jesus, in all his rebellious glory, inspire us to follow God’s reign of love and justice, until it is gloriously and finally done, on earth as it is in heaven.