Christians Against Christian Nationalism, and dumping the LGBT. What the Dallas Morning News didn't tell you.
An effort about saving Christianity and really not involving the issue of Christian nationalist attacks on the LGBT.
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Christians against Christian Nationalism article in the Dallas Morning News (DMN).
This article recently, 1/23/2024, appeared in the Dallas Morning News (DMN) about the appointment of an organizer against Christian nationalism.
This is the link to the organization.
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/
Their Tiktok
https://www.tiktok.com/@endchristiannationalism
https://www.instagram.com/endchristiannationalism/
This article will get back to discussing Christians Against Christian Nationalism, but first lets discuss Christian Nationalism and homophobia.
Christian Nationalism and homophobia.
Homophobia is widely and academically recognized as being a driving force for Christian nationalism.
In this Univ. of California Berkeley article discussion Christian nationalism and homophobia is part of the story.
https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/news/crisis-faith-christian-nationalism-and-threat-us-democracy
This article, “Christian Nationalism and LGBTQ Structural Violence in the United States,” Journal of Religion and Violence, by Sophie Bjork-James a professor in Anthropology, Univ. of Vanderbilt.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26949536
Another academic article, “A More Perfect Union? Christian Nationalism and Support for Same-Sex Unions,” Sociological Perspectives, by Andrew L. Whitehead, Clemson Univ., and Samuel L. Perry, Univ. of Oklahoma.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44290121
Whitehead and Perry are authors of “Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States,” Oxford Univ. Press. Homophobia is part of the issue.
https://academic.oup.com/book/33661/chapter-abstract/288203054
It is also recognized what the impact of Christian nationalism might be when applied to societies as observed elsewhere.
For example the chapter, “‘Comprehensive Sexuality Education is Satanic’: Homosexuality, Politics and Christian Nationalism in Ghana,” in the book, “Global Perspectives on Anti-Feminism,” Univ. of Edinburgh Press.
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781399505413-005/html
Outside the academic press, articles have discussed what American Christian nationalists are doing in Africa.
This is a recent article by David A. Love, professor at Temple, “What Christian nationalists are exporting homophobia and pushing antigay laws in Africa.”
Boston University’s Radio station WBUR has had a program on Christian nationalism and homophobia is part of the phenomenon.
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2023/11/06/the-influence-of-christian-nationalism-in-american-politics
Liberal Christian Sojourners recognizes that homophobia is an element in the politics of Christian nationalism.
https://sojo.net/articles/christian-nationalism-alive-and-well-america
https://sojo.net/articles/6-warning-signs-christian-nationalism-us-politics
It is fairly clear to multiple scholars that homophobia is one of the important driving forces behind Christian nationalism.
Christians Against Christian Nationalism ignores the issue of homophobia.
So I looked exhaustively through the website, I put the link here again, and didn’t find anything on the subject of homophobia at their website. Maybe it is mentioned somewhere in some way, if you find it, let me know in the comments.
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/
There is no mention of homophobia or the LGBT in their “Sign the Christians Against Christian Nationalism Statement.”
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/statement
If you start going through their resources you find discussion of racial prejudice, religious prejudice, anti-immigrant views, science in the public schools, sexism, but you won’t find anything about LGBT.
This is the lead item they have for “What is Christian Nationalism?”
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/learn-more
They have a “Stand Up Against Christian Nationalism” statement as a resource. It is a pdf at this page.
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/church-community-resources
I did find something on their Instagram. This would be for the young people. These Gay related posts are recent and only 2 out 159 posts. They are recent. None of this makes it to their webpage.
However, on their website I am not finding anything.
This is the search at Advanced Google search.
This is the result.
What is up with Christians Against Christian Nationalism?
The issue seems to be that the Christians who are against Christian nationalism aren’t always against homophobia. Some of them are wiffle waffing on it.
In the 2nd page there is a section which is, “a sampling of the groups represented.” You will see Southern Baptist Convention, Greek Orthodox Church, and Assemblies of God, among others. Denominations which are homophobic.
Looking at the endorsers of the effort is instructive.
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/endorsers
There is Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and her denomination is not sure about same-sex marriage or ordination of LGBT. They are however, big on sugary statements.
There is Dr. Jeffrey Haggray is the Executive Director of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, which is part of the American Baptist Churches, USA. There is Rev. Dr. Lee B Spitzer, former General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA.
A variegated mess when it comes to LGBT.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Baptist_Churches_USA
Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Director, Office of Public Witness, Presbyterian church (USA). His church is a sort of variegated mess also when it comes to LGBT.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_(USA)
There is Jim Wallis, Founder of Sojourners, with his and the publications iffy history regarding LGBT. Yes, it is in the past, but I feel that some people are just dragged along by history.
https://academic.oup.com/north-carolina-scholarship-online/book/21071/chapter-abstract/180649548
This one, dated to 2013, is titled, Jim Wallis Now Supports Same-Sex Marriage.”
https://www.christianpost.com/news/jim-wallis-now-supports-same-sex-marriage.html
Then there is Bishop W. Darin Moore, Presiding Prelate of the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church on same-sex marriage. Bundled up with the usual Christian sugary statements is their opposition to same-sex marriage.
However, it is the endorsers, Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne, founders of the Red Letter Christian Movement which I think basically represent the spirit of Christians Against Christian Nationalism.
The article is against violence against LGBT, with this reasoning.
That really should be a wake-up call for us as Christians. Regardless of where we stand on the rightness or the wrongness of being gay, none of that matters much when people are dying. We can argue over what the Bible says about homosexuality, but one thing is utterly clear: Jesus clearly teaches us to love people, not to hate them,
With friends like this, you don’t need enemies.
https://www.redletterchristians.org/what-does-jesus-think-about-homosexuality/
I would like to suggest a different theological viewpoint to Shane and Tony, “If your religion is homophobic, it is a stupid religion.”
There is this article by a Tim Otto who is Gay, which tells you what type of Gays are involved with Red Letter.
One evening, sitting at a restaurant with friends, I found myself on the receiving end of an angry lecture by a young woman whose goal was to help students at her seminary become more sensitive to gays and lesbians. I admitted to her that I, a gay man, after years of diligently studying the issue, was sympathetic to both sides.
This homosexual Christian, it really isn’t right to call him Gay, is so typical of Gay Christians.
https://www.redletterchristians.org/better-way-talk-homosexuality-church/
So what is Christians Against Christian Nationalism.
It is an effort to save Christianity, it isn’t an effort to protect or fight for LGBT. It is an effort which as decided that dropping LGBT issues is part of their strategy.
Regardless of what they might say, what dances they may prance, what songs they might sing, what hoopla that might be forthcoming, tearful statements they might speak, when push comes to shove, LGBT are shoved off the boat.
If the LGBT want to have security they need to organize their own defense. The support of liberal Christians is iffy and conflicted and tentative and very little and not dependable.
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