Episode 95: Christian Nationalism, Second Coming, Sabbath and Protecting Freedom to Worship

Introduction: A Loving Call to Awareness and CompassionIn a world filled with shifting tides of faith, politics, and identity, it becomes more vital than ever for us to walk together with grace and brotherly love. The movement known as Christian nationalism is one such tide—subtle in its origins, yet powerful in its influence. It touches the very core of how we understand faith, society, government and the sacred calling of every person. In this post, we’ll explore the origin of the Christian-nationalist movement, how it is influencing evangelical life, government policy, the courts, the appointment of judges, social media, and – importantly – how it affects the liberty of conscience, the freedom of choice, the rights of the minority, and our beliefs about the second coming of Jesus Christ. We’ll also consider issues of religious mandates, Sunday-law or blue-law impulses, the Bible, the seventh day Sabbath, and the principles enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. My hope is that you’ll emerge more informed, more compassionate, and empowered to uphold freedom of choice and liberty of conscience for all. Historical Origins of Christian Nationalism1.1 Early roots and colonial AmericaThe idea that religion and national identity are closely intertwined is not new. In the early colonial period in the United States—especially among the Puritans in New England—there was a strong sense that their community was chosen, covenantal, and publicly committed to Christian norms. That impulse laid part of the foundation for what would later be called Christian nationalism: the belief that a nation should reflect Christian values and that the identity of the nation is bound up with the faith. Scholars note that “American Christian nationalism has evolved around the contours of historical circumstances” since the eighteenth century, drawing on themes of sacred land, divine mission, and national identity.Further back, some historians trace the roots of Christian-nationalist ideas to European colonialism, including the so-called “Doctrine of Discovery” which held that European Christians had a divine right to claim civilize non-Christian lands.Throughout colonial and early republican America, tensions abounded: the founding documents such as the Constitution and the Bill of Rights enshrined religious freedom and forbade the establishment of a national religion, yet the mythos of “a Christian people” and “a Christian nation” persisted.1.2 Twentieth-century developmentsIn the twentieth century, particularly during the Cold War, the merger of Christian identity and American identity deepened. For example, Congress adopted “In God We Trust” as the national motto; the phrase “under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. These developments reflected an effort to cast America as both a political and spiritual bulwark against atheistic communism.At the same time, the “religious right” began to organize in earnest. Groups such as the Moral Majority (founded by Jerry Falwell) mobilized evangelical Christians into a political bloc.Scholars of the movement note that while many Christians simply engage politics from their convictions, Christian nationalism distinguishes itself by asserting that the United States is (or should be) explicitly a Christian nation, that itsSend us your questions to be featured on the next podcast!Thank you for being part of the AskGod365 podcast community. We value you and appreciate greatly the time you are spending with us today. Please share your comments and questions at AskGod365.com Listen. Learn. Think. Grow. Together. AskGod365. Answers to life’s difficult questions.

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