By Ron Friesen / Herald Forum
I grew up going to churches that had two flags at the front: a Christian flag and an American flag.
The significance of those two flags in the front of church strikes me the same then as it does now regarding Christian nationalism: We need to pay attention this election year.
My church said the United States was a “Christian” nation. OK. But as I grew up, I studied and questioned. My public school education raised questions. I learned our country was founded by men (not women, who were not allowed leadership in the church) and they adamantly opposed an official religion in America. Thomas Jefferson even edited his own bible, cutting out all the parts he did not like or disagreed with. The “Jefferson Bible” is an excellent example of how to cherry-pick the Bible. This example remains today, just with different cherry pickers who claim to know God’s will for everyone. No need to ask; they will tell you. And send money!
Our Constitution says nothing about a Christian nation. Even the word God is missing! And only “creator” was used in the Declaration of Independence, which is the term Native Americans use for God, as do many religions.
We have the freedom to choose our religion, including not having one, much like most of our founding fathers. Alas, I learned this in public school to the consternation of my parents and church. Turns out those two flags were significant after all.
When I started asking about the flags in church, I got puzzling answers. “We are honoring our country which gives us the right to worship as we wish.” OK. But then I wanted to know if the flags were part of worship, since they were on conspicuous display at the front. I had also been taught that idols were forbidden. I asked if the flags were idols. I was promptly admonished for asking an impertinent question.
After working in recent years to build support for our public schools, I ran into an “invisible wall,” demanding singular support for Christian religion, or levies, bonds, and board members would not be supported. I was puzzled at first.
Back in the 1980s, Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority nudged my attention a little. But I didn’t get it. What’s wrong with Moral Majority? That movement, supported by white, Southern, conservative, evangelical churches, morphed into today’s Christian nationalism.
I encourage skeptics to take a closer look at what has happened, and what is being planned. Christian nationalism has infected our Supreme Court by narrowing women’s reproductive rights and granting presidential immunity for “official acts.” Project 2025 and the Republican platform mirror Christian nationalist priorities.
Finally, the character of a leader doesn’t matter, only prejudged outcomes. The end justifies the means.
Jesus taught the opposite, but so what?
We are watching the birth of American authoritarianism, integral to a Christian nationalist game plan, with MAGA as its enthusiastic partner. Election officials and volunteers are threatened. Lies are “truth.” Our Capitol was assaulted by MAGA extremists with more threats if their candidate for president loses again.
Many Christian churches and their members still believe in separation of church and state, value our country’s freedoms and adheres to Christ’s message of love, respect and acceptance, yet they are silent.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a famous speech called the “Four Freedoms”: freedom of speech; freedom of worship; freedom from want; and freedom from fear. Christian nationalism threatens to remove all four of these freedoms.
The public school lessons of what happened in Germany prior to World War II carried the reminder of “Never again!” This deadly pattern we were warned about can happen again. Pay attention to the flags.
Ron Friesen is a Marysville resident, a retired music teacher and community and church musician and is committed to community improvement.
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