“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12, CSB)
“Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead.” Vice Admiral David Glasgow Farragut uttered those immortal words during the American Civil War at the Battle of Mobile Bay (Mobile, Alabama) on August 5, 1864. Farragut fought for the Union, and his opponent was Admiral Franklin Buchanan, the only man to achieve that rank in the Confederacy. Both men had a collective 100 years of navel service under their belts.
As morning dawned, Farragut’s wooden-hulled screw sloop Hartford approached Mobile Bay while Buchanan awaited on board the formidable ironclad CSS Tennessee within the bay’s confines. The Confederates had strategically narrowed Mobile Bay’s entrance by installing obstructions and then placing mines (aka torpedoes) in the water to force incoming vessels into a line of sitting ducks. These torpedoes (when they worked) proved fatal to any ship foolish enough to stray off its very narrow course.
Such was the case with the Union’s Tecumseh, which struck a mine and went down to Farragut’s starboard side. (That’s the right side to all you land-lubbers.) To Farragut’s port side (yes, that would be the left), Capt. James Alden’s vessel, the Brooklyn, had also come dangerously close to the buoys marking the minefield. As the Union vessels were squeezed to the left, the only path left for the Union Navy was through the minefield.
With the Tecumseh slipping under the surface and Alden at a stop, Farragut took charge and ordered the Hartford to break from second place, pass the Brooklyn to port, and head straight through the minefield.
“As Farragut passed the Brooklyn, Alden called across to him to point out the torpedoes in the water dead ahead. To which Farragut purportedly replied, ‘Damn the torpedoes!’ The phrase has gained immortality in the 150 years since, but, in fact, Farragut had little choice at this point but to go ahead. He could not stop under the guns of Fort Morgan, and he could not back down with a column of ships behind him, so he went ahead.” The remaining Union ships followed Farragut’s brave lead and successfully entered Mobile Bay, being “careful to stay in his wake.”
The rest is history. After sailing through the Confederate defense line, Farragut’s forces disabled Buchanan’s Tennessee, forcing a Confederate surrender. Despite the threat, Farragut pushed on and won the day. For those of you who are Civil War geeks, you can read about the riveting naval clash here (https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/damn-torpedoes)
Ignore the threat and press on. That’s how you confront those who oppose you.
I bring this example up because the United States is once again engaged in a civil war, a softer, less deadly kind, a cultural civil war. Call it what you will – Right vs. Left, Conservatives vs. Progressives, Patriots vs. Marxists, God-fearing vs. God-disdaining – the battle lines have been drawn, and the conflict is heating up.
The United States has seen this conflict coming since the first verbal shots were fired in the 1960s. Since then, the 60s radicals have successfully taken hold of every institution in the U.S. and used the levers of power to crush their opposition wherever and whenever possible. The American Marxists use both overt and covert weapons in their quest for victory and total domination.
As for overt weaponry, the Left has skillfully deployed lawfare (Big Legal), government threats (Big Government, the DOJ, and the Alphabet agencies), blatant censorship (Big Tech), debanking (Big Finance), and other institutions to inflict excruciating damage on those who dare oppose them. Using our Civil War example above, these weapons can be likened to the Confederate warships stationed in Mobile Bay.
However, the Left has a more insidious form of attack that lies in wait under the surface, just like the mines/torpedoes of Farragut’s battle.
These mines are smears the Left deploys tactically to intimidate opponents from engaging them in a battle of ideas. The “smear torpedoes” include false accusations, innuendos, groundless claims, and defamations based on sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, and patriotism, intended to slow or sink their opponents should the Left find itself under polemic attack.
You know.
Conservative: “Let’s talk about illegal immigration.”
Leftist: “You’re a racist.”
Conservative: “Let’s talk about abortion.”
Leftist: “You’re a sexist, and you hate women.”
Conservative: “Let’s talk about…”
Leftist: “You’re a straight white Christian male, so you’re a gay-hatin’, racist, religious bigot who hates women.”
Annnnd, they’re done. They walk away with the self-satisfied smirk often seen on the Insane Stream Media talk shows.
You see, rather than face their opponent’s weapon (the truth), the Left strikes the ship (the person speaking the truth). Their goal is to delegitimize their target and thus degrade and minimize the truth that would quickly and easily destroy the Left’s argument, which in many cases is weak. Therefore, they seek to take down the messenger before they ever have to confront the message.
While the Left’s overt weapons are offensive (and they most certainly are offensive), their covert weapons are defensive. The Left singles out particular traits – again, sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, and patriotism – and stigmatizes those traits as automatic disqualifiers, as illustrated above.
Here’s the Left’s latest Super Anti-Christ Boogeyman smear: Christian nationalist.
While our nation has long endured the smears about how toxic straight white males are, the Christian nationalist smear has become increasingly popular, especially during President Trump’s era.
What is a Christian nationalist or Christian nationalism? Let’s take it at face value. First, a Christian accepts Jesus as their Savior and lives His teachings. There’s nothing wrong there. Second, nationalism is “loyalty and devotion to a nation” (merriam-webster.com). An added dimension to nationalism is that “while it refers to loyalty and devotion to a nation, tends to imply the placing of that nation above others” (Ibid.). In other words, a Christian nationalist is simply a Christian who loves their nation and thinks it’s better than other nations, for whatever reason.
Sounds pretty harmless, no?
Well, there is a type of Christian nationalism that is close to crossing the line of what’s acceptable under our Constitutional Republic, philosophical foundation, and even biblical mandates. This unacceptable Christian nationalism “seeks to create or maintain a legal fusion of Christian religion with a nation’s character. Advocates of Christian nationalism consider their view of Christianity to be an integral part of their country’s identity and want the government to promote—or even enforce—the religion’s position within it” (britannica.com/topic/Christian-nationalism).
For the record, while I’m educated enough to know that Christianity is an irrefutable part of our nation’s foundation and identity, I’m totally against the government promoting Christianity because that’s not its job, and certainly not enforcing it as that violates our Constitution’s First Amendment Establishment Clause. I reject that kind of Christian nationalism.
But let me point out the torpedoes Britannica.com floats in the “Christian Nationalism” definition waters.
Britannica.com, which is supposed to be an impartial transmitter of facts, should have stopped with what was quoted above. Sadly, Britannica.com slides into the Leftist sphere of smear, revealing its bias.
“Among the government policies a Christian nationalist might desire are the display of Christian symbols on public property (oh, the horror!), the dedication of time for prayer in public schools (which would take time away from Drag Queen story hour), government funding for religious institutions (allowable under the Constitution), a Christian interpretation of history in public-school curricula (rather than an exclusively Leftist reinterpretation of history), the outlawing of abortion (What? How dare we stop killing babies!), restrictions on non-Christian immigration (you racist anti-immigration religious exclusivists!), and the policing of what some Christians consider to be immoral behaviour, which almost always includes the suppression of LGBTQ+ people (because the more perversion, the better). Regardless of the policy, the goal is to privilege Christianity in the public square.” (Ibid., italics and comments author). Do you see how every one of Britannica.com’s points is distinctly Leftist in agenda and creates a very narrow definition to be applied broadly to conservative Christians?
Another example of the smear torpedoes thrown into society’s waters comes from MSNBC’s Joy Reid. Joy’s (a misnomer) smarmy disdain for Christianity and Jesus’ followers is nauseatingly evident in a segment targeting only the Europeans’ guilt over the terrible transcontinental slave trade (thankfully abolished by the blood of nationalists since the Civil War over 150 years ago. You’re welcome, Joy.).
She caps her introduction with, “And right now in this country, religious extremism mixed with white nationalism and that Trump cult of personality are straining our society and our democracy to the breaking point.” What Joy Reid refers to is her racist idea of what Christian nationalism is. She continues, “What do we do about it?… It should not surprise you that the base of support for far-right policies on banning books and distorting history, on abortion, on LGBTQ issues, even support for cults like QAnon and the cult of personality around Donald Trump, are grounded in religious extremism” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnn7SkKxkPk).
For the record, what Joy and the rest of the Left really want is their own version of an extremist religious nationalism with its values and laws imposed on the citizenry, forcibly if necessary. Secular humanism is a religion that undergirds the core beliefs of Marxists and the political Left. Yes, secular humanism is a religion, and the courts ruled it as such in 2014 (thegospelcoalition.org).
What the Left describes as Christian nationalism is not even biblical. It’s a created boogeyman, a straw man to attack their opponents, specifically Christians who love their nation and its Christian heritage, and the profound influence Christianity had on our founding values and principles in conjunction with the Enlightenment era’s ideas.
Rob Reiner’s propagandistic movie is telling (trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MFQ2uESrjU). The Left defines proper or improper Christianity only if it lines up with the Left’s man-centered philosophy and agenda. If not, “Christian nationalism!”
In truth, there are relatively few Christians who desire the unconstitutional version of Christian nationalism. Most Christians want our Left-leaning government to follow the Free Exercise Clause for Christians and stop violating the Establishment Clause as it applies to secular humanism. Judging by our institutions, there’s far more Secular Humanist nationalism than Christian nationalism going on. Remember, the Left always accuses you of the very thing they’re doing.
The Christian nationalist smear is simply a mine, a torpedo, a subsurface threat designed to keep you, the Christian who loves the United States, from daring to enter the Left’s philosophical harbor and blasting their “iron-clad” arguments to shreds with the truth.
Are you straight? Boom! Deligitimatized, demonized, and disqualified.
Are you white? Boom! Ditto.
Are you male? Boom! Ditto.
Are you Christian? Boom! Ditto.
Are you a lover of the United States? Boom! Ditto.
Therefore, you have no place at the discussion table. Sit down and shut up, you straight white male Christian nationalist.
You’ve been torpedoed.
Well, damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead.
The unfortunate part about all this is that the Left is clever. Very clever. They set up the Christian nationalist straw man to get U.S.-loving Christians flailing about in self-defense over a concocted accusation. At the same time, they make a flanking maneuver with their offensive weapons, blazing their way to victory via our institutions.
But you don’t have to take the bait. Plus, Christians have a perfect counter-maneuver.
Christian nationalism is not the answer. A nation of Christians is.
The wrong kind of Christian nationalism, the version with which the Left is trying to smear all Christians and of which there are few adherents, will always fail because its goal is to create change from the outside. Even the newest Christian knows that real change only starts inside the individual. Actual spiritual change begins within and works outward, eventually changing a person’s behavior. Changed behavior ignites the “light” – revealing Jesus in the flesh, our flesh – and shakes out the “salt” – a Christian’s godly influence on a prone-to-decay society.
Imposing laws to create a Christian society is ridiculously useless if the heart is not there to obey them. This is especially true as it applies to the foundation of our legal system, our Constitution. As President John Adams wrote, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Our Constitution is built on biblical principles. That must be the reason the American Left wants to overthrow, nullify, or change it so badly. Biblically-based values and laws mean little if God and His Word are not valued.
Let’s be clear. It’s without question that the United States was founded by predominantly Christian people familiar with, and mainly dedicated to, biblical principles as the foundation of their Christian faith. Take a moment to read this excellent article from 2011 for a reality check; “Did America Have a Christian Founding?” (https://www.heritage.org/political-process/report/did-america-have-christian-founding). But being a nation with Christian roots doesn’t give any Christian permission to fall into the Left’s pejorative version of Christian nationalism.
Again, that unacceptable version seeks to impose Christianity on every area of life as an external mechanism to control the inner wild beast of our desires, and we all know how well that works. Israel’s ancient history is a prime example of how hard it is to stay faithful to God with purely external controls. Yehovah lamented through Moses, “If only they had such a heart to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that they and their children would prosper forever” (Deuteronomy 5:29).
A nation of Christians knows that the inner spiritual transformation, followed by a personal life guided by the tenets of scripture, creates values that Christians express as they live. Righteous laws are obeyed and enforced from that foundation, while unrighteous laws are struck down or never passed.
The difference between the wrong version of Christian nationalism and a nation of Christians is the heart.
The Left misses that point. They’ve created and now push the illusory Christian nationalist boogeyman because they don’t understand that true transformation must come from the inner person. They evidently think that Christians are who we are because we’ve been convinced rather than convicted, rehearsed rather than regenerated, and indoctrinated in thinking rather than transformed by the renewing of the mind. That inner transformation, working its way outward through word and deed, is how a nation of Christians can actually move a nation toward godliness.
Try as they might, the Left can’t stop the Holy Spirit’s work.
Try as they might, they can’t control a regenerated person’s thinking.
Try as they might, they can’t override Jesus’ influence on a follower’s life if that person is learning God’s Word and guided by the Holy Spirit.
Try as they might, a nation of Christians will be far more influential and impactful than a small group of Christians attempting to impose Christian values on an unregenerated society via laws. It just ain’t gonna happen.
America’s Marxist Left can’t stop, and the Christian Nationalist can’t do what only the Holy Spirit can do – transform an entire nation into one that honors God and lives His way. That’s why we need a nation of Christians instead of Christian nationalism. However, that won’t stop the “Christian nationalist” smear campaign. But neither will that campaign stop genuine Christians from impacting society by being salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).
Ultimately, though, the problem lies with Christians. We have a lot of professing Christians in our nation but not many dedicated students of Christ. As G. K. Chesterton wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
Do you want to see change in the United States? Do you want to win the cultural civil war that rages within our borders right now? Be the follower Jesus wants you to be. Learn His Word and ways and live them!
Oh, were you just called a Christian nationalist? Don’t fret. That person is just dropping a torpedo in the water to frighten you. They’re just trying to shame you into submission and silence.
Were you just called a Christian nationalist? If it’s because you’re living like Jesus, it’s a commendation, not a condemnation. Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18), and “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
Be brave! Press on! Where we go, others will follow just like the remaining Union navel ships followed Farragut into Mobile Bay to score the win.
I am a Christian.
I love my nation.
I want to see Christianity influence the hearts and minds of every person via the Holy Spirit’s work because only He can.
I want to see the U.S. as a nation of Christians whose lives shine bright with the revelation of Jesus burning bright within them. The detractors and smear merchants may try to stop God’s work but won’t succeed.
Besides the Christian nationalism epithet being raised increasingly, so is the claim that we’re approaching a violent 2nd Civil War. I pray not. But we’re certainly in an uncivil war of words where one side pushes toward total victory.
We’re a divided nation—no doubt about that. Can the divide be bridged? Columnist Dennis Prager recently observed, “If you still think the left-right divide is bridgeable, it is only because it is too painful to confront the tragic reality of contemporary American life: Today’s left-right divide is at least as great as the North-South divide before and during the Civil War. The only thing that remains the same is that it was the Democratic Party that opposed freedom then, and it is the Democratic Party that opposes freedom today” (Prager).
And as the political wing of the Left, the Democratic Party will continue to use smear torpedoes as its first line of defense. But be encouraged by Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).
Damn the torpedoes! Full Speed Ahead!
Sources:
Christian Nationalism Is ‘Single Biggest Threat’ to America’s Religious Freedom, americanprogress.org/article/christian-nationalism-is-single-biggest-threat-to-americas-religious-freedom
Joy: Religious extremism mixed with white nationalism is straining our democracy to breaking point, youtube.com/watch?v=jnn7SkKxkPk
9 Things You Should Know About Secular Humanism, thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-secular-humanism
Federal Court Finds Secular Humanism a Religion, edweek.org/education/federal-court-finds-secular-humanism-a-religion/1987/03
The Seven Mountains Mandate urges Christians to take control of seven areas of society: family, religion, government, education, arts and entertainment, commerce and media, axios.com/2024/02/28/poll-christian-nationalism-americans-reject
John MacArthur vs Christian Nationalism, juicyecumenism.com/2024/03/05/john-macarthur-vs-christian-nationalism
An excellent article comparing Christian nationalism with Christian conservatism. “Christian nationalism is distinct from conventional Christian conservatism. The former are typically post-liberals who want some level of explicit state established Christianity. The latter have been and largely still are classical liberals who affirm traditional American concepts of full religious liberty for all. Both groups want a “Christian America.” But the former want it by statute. The latter see it as mainly a demographic, historical and cultural reality.” Christian Conservatism vs Christian Nationalism, juicyecumenism.com/2024/02/22/christian-conservatism-vs-christian-nationalism
Damn the Torpedoes! The Battle of Mobile Bay, battlefields.org/learn/articles/damn-torpedoes
‘Damn the Torpedoes – Full Speed Ahead’: Navy’s First Admiral Was Hispanic Hero, navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2347790/damn-the-torpedoes-full-speed-ahead-navys-first-admiral-was-hispanic-hero
Why the Left-Right divide is not bridgeable, https://www.wnd.com/2024/03/left-right-divide-not-bridgeable/, March 5, 2024.
Shining the Light of God’s Truth on the Road Ahead
Pastor Jay Christianson
The Truth Barista, Frothy Thoughts