How does American Democracy Handle an Internal Threat to its Existence?

 Dr Bill Leonard: They'll Know we are Christians by our What?

The fact that terminology defining Evangelicals and even the use of the term Christian is changing into something that it has never been before is the point of the linked article by Dr. Bill Leonard, who is professor emeritus at Wake Forest University Divinity School.  Leonard, a Baptist theologian, uses a Christian anthem from the Jesus movement days in the 60's to illustrate how American Christianity has changed.  The song, "They'll Know we are Christians by our Love," written by Peter Scholtes, a Catholic priest at St. Brendan's Church in Chicago, was based on John 13:35 where the words of Christ are recorded, "By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."  

Contrast that with the words of speakers at Re-Awaken America events, where Trumpism meets Evangelicalism, somewhat anyway, who advocate for elimination of their enemies by violence and murder.  A quote from Tennessee pastor Greg Locke, recorded by an observer at a recent event, said, "We should use our second amendment rights  if the government won't respect our first amendment rights."  Roger Stone and Mike Flynn, both pardoned criminals, help push the theme of these rallies away from any Christian virtue, things that Jesus said like "love your enemy," and "turn the other cheek."  

These are not people who wait around for God to answer their prayers, since his answer might not be what they want to hear.  They choose to get their mission accomplished by the use of political power, to heck with God.  And yet, Christians who claim to believe in the inerrancy of the Bible will go along with some of this craziness without any idea of what the Bible says, or how to interpret it.  

Leonard says that in the public square, even the term "Christian" is changing inherent defititions.  People now associate the words "Evangelical" and "Christian" with White Christian Nationalism.  There's a leadership crisis occurring as sincere believers leave churches with pastors and leadership that pushes the nationalist theme and crowds out orthodox, Biblical faith.  Pastors have to decide whether they will continue to preach the gospel or cater to those who want to hear political doctrine.  Christian nationalism can't succeed unless it squelches biblical Christianity.  

White Christian Nationalism exists because religious liberty in this country lets it compete in the marketplace of ideas.  Most Christians, the vast majority of them, actually, are relatively ignorant about the principles and doctrines that make up their faith, and are easily convinced.  For people who proclaim belief in a Bible that is inerrant and infallible in its content, they are surprisingly easy to fool by twisting a few words around and abandoning the rest.  

Defeating it must happen at the ballot box.  And in order for that to occur, people who know better must vote.  The other way is information.  People who know better must also stand up to error being preached in their churches, and confront it with the truth.  I am encouraged by seeing the presence of an army of such error correcters show up on Twitter and in other parts of social media.  That's what we do here, too, so feel free to share this blog in a way that it reaches Christians who are falling into heresy and apostasy.  It's never easy to confront someone who is falling into bad ideology 

Leonard's point is "to reclaim Jesus from his chuch, his meaning that of those like fundamentalist Jason Graber, a pastor in Spokane, Washington who publicly advocates for executing LGBTQ persons and for "putting a bullet in the back of the head" of parents who would allow transgender surgery to be done on them and then string them up on a bridge so the public can see the consequences of this kind of behavior."  They'll know we are Christians, indeed.  And exactly how does that fulfill the mission and purpose of Christ's gospel or make the world a better place?  

We need to be bold and aggressive, when we are the majority and have control of the lawmaking apparatus, to do the right thing then.  We need to pass laws that last and then make sure we appoint justices that enforce them.  We should never again take the right to vote casually, and fail to show up for elections at all levels, even school boards and city councils.  Ask about every candidate's ideology.  Be the voice of reason.  

Leonard is probably the strongest advocate for traditional Baptist freedoms, and most particulary the separation of church and state, and has written some powerful books about it.  His point, that the church should be a redemptive presence without the aid or interference of state legislatures, Congress or the Supreme Court.