LCMS, Christian Nationalism, and the Risk to our Faith
Robert Schmidt
Introduction
Religious nationalism is happening around the world. Netanyahu’s victory in Israel was dependent on a right-wing Jewish extremist party. In India, Modi stays in power with appeals to Hindu nationalists. In like manner, appeals to “Christian” values have impelled Orban of Hungary to authoritarian rule, and Putin enjoys support for war from his Russian Orthodox patriarch. As part of a worldwide movement, Christian nationalism in America fits in quite well.
The attraction of religious nationalism may be due to threats to both capitalism and nation-states. Capitalism is threatened by a loss of cheap labor, as fewer farmers are leaving the farm to seek low wage jobs in industry. Capitalism is also faced with paying for climate change, either through fines, regulations, or taxes. Nations are seeing increasing numbers of immigrants and refugees, the number of good jobs are declining, and national identity is threatened. As a result, nationalism, funded by capitalists, has sought allies in the religious majorities in their nation. By concentrating on the sins of someone else (such as abortion, crime, and LGBTQ issues), they can deflect the criticism leveled against economic inequality, the inhumane treatment of refugees, and anti-democratic moves to gain and sustain power. Though most churches are suffering from a loss of members, the lure of being recognized for their stand on social issues can be quite appealing.
The LCMS
In this climate, the LCMS has finally found a “fellowship” with other Christians, as it joins them in anti-abortion marches and testimony before Congress. LCMS leadership rejoices in the recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and applauds and supports those who refuse to make wedding cakes for a gay couple’s marriage. This past summer, district conventions of the LCMS passed resolutions against the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT), reflecting the concerns of the well-organized and funded “Moms for Liberty.” At one district convention, President Harrison spoke against abortion and criticized the practice of aiding transgender youth who seek surgery, even going into the gruesome details of the procedure.
In these positions the LCMS aligns itself with the mainstream of the Republican party in the U.S. After hearing President’s Harrison’s presentation, one observer commented, “I guess they are not interested in having any Democrats as members.” Even relatively moderate members of the Synod find it hard to take a position contrary to those espoused by the leadership and publications of the Synod. Given the LCMS tradition of not getting involved in secular politics, the Synod, thus far, has not endorsed candidates, or taken up positions on election denial, nor has it yet joined with the advocates of Christian Dominionism, who want biblical laws to govern America.
Perhaps most significant about the Synod’s social stance is its failure to address the concerns of Matthew 25, which might be called “the ethics of the Kingdom.” Since these biblical passages deal with our final judgment, they take precedence over abortion and LGBTQ concerns. Aren’t these scriptural passages related to race, refugees, immigrants, prison reform, and climate change? Yet, one looks in vain for in-depth analysis and passionate advocacy about such issues. Are those too political for the leadership of the Synod? LCMS leaders claim that the Bible is clear about abortion and homosexuality, as they pick out the “slivers” of several passages while ignoring the “logs” of economic inequality in the Year of Jubilee, Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the threat of hell in Matthew 25.
Christian Nationalism
While the position of the leadership of Synod is not aligned specifically with advocates of Christian Nationalism, it has marched with them and, in some cases, agreed with them. More worrisome, however, is the historical example of what has happened to good Christians, whose religious buttons have been pushed to support dictators, violence, persecution, and war. It is interesting that Hitler appealed to “family values” to win over those good “German Christians,” many of whom were Lutheran. Currently, Putin and his patriarch are attempting to do the same in Russia, while devastating Ukraine in the process. Putin is also against the rights of LGBTQ folk.
Because of the capitalist-supported right wing of the Republican Party, efforts have been made to deny elections, gerrymander districts, intimidate voters, threaten opponents, and control elections, all because the GOP is a minority in this country. The wealthy leaders of that party are afraid that the majority of people would tax their wealth to establish greater equality and to move toward a healthier environment. As a result, the GOP needs more voters on its side. Evangelical Christians, conservative Catholics, and even LCMS Lutherans qualify, and they can be motivated to vote “right” if the issues are crafted well. Manipulated by the leadership of the Synod and the right-wing of the Republican Party, even the dwindling numbers of LCMS Christians might threaten the democracy of the United States.
Risk To Our Faith?
The global turn to the right, which has received approval and support from many of the world’s religions, may be the last gasp of the transition of the nation-state system and of capitalism into something different yet unknown. Locked into that system, such a transition may also be a risk to our faith. We will need our faith to meet the challenges of the future. Transition to a new world system will require an alternative to the politics of coercion. Given the huge problems of climate change, world unemployment, poverty, refugees, lack of housing, and war, what is needed is a politics of consensus. But consensus is only possible through loss, sacrifice, and compromise. Instead of blaming problems on the other side, we ought to repent of our sins and apologize for our actions. We then may hear the good news that there is a future beyond the laws that hold up the present system. Redeemed by Christ, we are freed from those laws to embrace what is unknown and to work creatively for what is new, and fair, and just, and beautiful.
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Ed. Note. Readings on Christian Nationalism:
Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, Liveright, 2021.
Paul D. Miller, The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism, IVP Academic, 2022.
Pamela Cooper-White, The Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People Are Drawn In and How to Talk Across the Divide, Fortress Press, 2022.
Angela Denker, Red State Christians: A Journey into White Christian Nationalism and the Wreckage It Leaves Behind, Broadleaf Books, 2022.
Hi Bob!
Again, fine analysis and critique of “Christian nationalism,” which is indeed a betrayal and mockery of the faith. It is most disturbing that our traditionally non-politicized LCMS is now choosing to take an increasingly high-profile political stance in joining with other bodies in support of what are basically the initiatives of one of our two major political parties. LCMS pastors are called to shepherd all God’s people, regardless of their party, and therefore must be discreet in their dealings with politically-charged issues. Having their national body take such clearly politically biased stances as Pres. Harrison has done can only complicate the mission and ministry efforts of our pastors and their congregations. And as you rightly point out, the issues they choose to highlight and champion — like abortion and LGBTQ issues — are not only not biblical priorities, they distract from the much greater biblical concerns that you mention, like justice and care for basic human needs.
Christian Nationalism. Another progressive term invented to dodge their shameful racism (white nationalism and segregation/CRT) and their grooming/sexualization of vulnerable children. The ELCA and other hard core progressive groups keep regurgitating these same talking points thrown out in this article to hide their history of bigotry & hate.
Now let’s get to the LCMS, which has “conservative” and “liberal” members. Although incomplete and warped, your third paragraph makes me proud to be an LCMS member. Of course, you being a progressive, you leave out other Christian work that the LCMS church does, such as, emergency aid to people in need throughout the world and here in America. One example: President Harrison, along with other LCMS Christians, helped Haiti during their earthquake recovery over ten years ago. Famine relief, medical care, and other assistance continue to this day. If there is an emergency we are there to help! And if there is a local food pantry we get busy and support the effort 🙂.
And let’s not forget the spiritual needs that LCMS provides along with material needs. The LCMS churches in the U. S. are out there spreading the Gospel about our Lord and Savior to brothers & sisters – both churched and unchurched. The LCMS missionaries are out there. Keeping God’s word. Spreading God’s word. Clinging to the Bible.
“Clinging to the Bible” I’m sure that got you progressive fellas hyperventilating.
Meanwhile, white nationalist progressives prey upon kids, especially when they are confused & going through puberty. That’s when they can twist children and sneek behind parents to mutilate the kids.
Let’s not forget the millions of kids butchered with dilation & extraction or with a scissors to the back of the head. Especially racial minorities and “handicapped children” that progressives deem inferior. Embrace it progressives!
And when progressives talk about justice don’t believe them. LCMS preaches actual justice – God’s justice. Not “conservative” or “liberal” justice. And certainly not “progressive” justice. God’s justice is feeding the poor. Justice in the courts. Saving children from murder. Saving children from groomers.
All good things.
Let us reason together. Some of your assertions don’t quite make sense. “Capitalism is threatened by a loss of cheap labor, as fewer farmers are leaving the farm to seek low wage jobs in industry.” In what sense do you intend this? The abstraction is not threatened. Perhaps an economy, but whose? And it is not Capitalism that is threatened, but some one’s (or some class’) economic standing which is threatened by a changing status quo. And how does this lead to the appeal of ideas of nationalism or religion? This is followed by “Capitalism is also faced with paying for climate change, either through fines, regulations, or taxes.” Again, it is not the abstraction that pays; nor does capitalism pay anymore than socialism or Presbyterianism for climate costs, as these costs are passed on to consumers. These unclear (but perhaps evocative) statements are followed by another, “…Nationalism, funded by capitalists, has sought allies in the religious majorities in their nation.” Again, “Nationalism” is an abstraction and is not funded by capitalists, nor can it seek allies. Nor are the religions you seem to speak of “religious majorities” in half of the examples you have have cited, and certainly NOT in America where the LCMS has always been out of cultural sync (and roundly criticized for it by progressives).
Finally, you assert, ” By concentrating on the sins of someone else (such as abortion, crime, and LGBTQ issues), they can deflect the criticism leveled against economic inequality, the inhumane treatment of refugees, and anti-democratic moves to gain and sustain power.” Oh, that you were right, and our people in the LCMS were free of such issues as abortion, crime, and sexual confusion & lust, but I can assure you, these are our sins. Perhaps because we do not deny that they are sins troubles some.
On the other hand, is economic inequality a sin? Or is the envy of others, including class envy, the real sin that goes unacknowledged? Is democracy the divinely ordained polity? Or is this a matter where thoughtful Christians may differ? Certainly imposing democratic government in Iraq and Afghanistan is not an experiment that worked out… And while no one is in favor of inhumane treatment, yet what loyalty is owed by immigrants to the countries they left, and what respect is owed to countries (and their laws) which they enter? Again, these are issues where thoughtful Christians might differ.
But non sequiturs follow. “In these positions the LCMS aligns itself with the mainstream of the Republican party in the U.S. ” Surprise! The Republican Party has aligned itself with the positions of Christianity in general. This should be a source of rejoicing, not suspicion. The issue you have overlooked is that Government has encroached upon areas once left to local communities and private institutions. Just as the confessing church had to repudiate Nazi propaganda and policy, so Christians today need to stand up for innocent (by civil law) life against a throw-away culture that chooses to live beyond its means today and allow future generations to pay the price, economically and morally.
But perhaps you are not actually Christian, The vision you hold up- ” Transition to a new world system will require an alternative to the politics of coercion. Given the huge problems of climate change, world unemployment, poverty, refugees, lack of housing, and war, what is needed is a politics of consensus.” – is hardly the Gospel message of peace with God. It is the Marxist vision of classless society, and history shows how they and other idealists achieved their politics of consensus. It is on display in North Korea to this day. And check out Venezuela’s success in dealing with unemployment, poverty, refugees, lack of housing, and war. For an article in a journal that claims to be “Gospel Voices in and for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod,” this none was strangely devoid of Gospel, and oddly political for a criticism of politics in the church.