The subjects of Christian Nationalism and antisemitism have grown in stature and urgency over recent days, what with assorted social media blowhards spouting off and the violence against Jews perpetrated by college campus protestors.
MORE: Christian Nationalism Is Not What the Left Says It Is
Time to address the matter in Cephas Hour. The new episode is available to listen to on demand at its website.
Cephas Hour
Episode 124
Release Date: May 3, 2024
As I’ve mentioned before in this podcast, I prefer to avoid political discussion here. The Prince of Peace trumps — no pun intended — politics every time.
Given the current atmosphere of strident social media posturing, even more importance than usual must reside in proclaiming Jesus first, calling all, regardless of political persuasion, to reconciliation and fellowship through Christ. It’s not that politics are unimportant, but sharing a common faith and hope in Jesus supersedes secular and societal concerns. Political views should be — indeed, must be — guided by faith and clear Scriptural directives regardless of whether said statements coincide with our worldview. If there is a conflict, take it to the Lord. If we have to twist or ignore what the Bible says to make our belief system fit, we are the ones who are in error, no matter how lofty our motivations may be. Or, at the least, how lofty we believe them to be.
An expression currently en vogue in political circles is “Christian nationalism.” Elements on both sides of the political divide have seized the expression as a rallying cry for or against their particular viewpoint of whether it is a literal Godsend and the potential salvation of our country or the demonic dictatorial downfall of same. I propose a more balanced view.
Before getting into the matter, a note regarding language. No, not profanity; none of that here. Instead, I note my polite refusal to cede language control to others based on their incessant repetition and abuse. A basic example is how, no matter how often I hear Jesus’ Name used as a swear word, I refuse to speak His Name without reverence as the Name of God because others are not so inclined. Similarly, albeit at a lower level, I refuse to abandon the term Christian nationalism, no matter how either side twists or assails the words.
Christian nationalism’s proper definition is a nation built on the principle that God, not government, grants humanity’s rights. It realizes that given humanity’s fallen nature, laws defining improper behavior and mandating appropriate punishment for transgressions are necessary for an orderly society to thrive. Christian nationalism — genuine Christian nationalism — recognizes that while the government cannot mandate faith in Jesus, it can apply the rules of righteous living as defined by Him. Righteous living is active respect for others. It is helping others without government prompting and working as an individual alongside other individuals for the common good. These are good things regardless of what or how one believes, and it is lamentable that these points are drowning in the current heated rhetoric.
To preface this next point, an excerpt from an article I wrote for RedState in November of 2023.
In 19th century America, and to a lesser degree in other countries, as the traditional prominent Protestant denominations drifted toward a secularly tainted and theologically liberal mindset, the fundamentalist movement took root. Based on beliefs about which believers tolerated no debate — the inerrancy of Scripture, Jesus’ virgin birth, His substitutionary death for humanity and subsequent physical resurrection, Christ’s promised Second Coming, the need for personal confession of sin and direct acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior to ensure eternal salvation — this revolt against worldliness developed into the 20th century evangelical movement. Its high moments include the rise of media-savvy evangelists such as Billy Sunday, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Billy Graham. There was also the “Jesus Revolution” of the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s, in which disaffected boomers turned from both their parent’s nominal but uncommitted religious adherences and the dead-end vapidity of the hippie counterculture to embrace the living Savior.
A keen interest in eschatology, the study and interpretation of Scripture regarding Christ’s Second Coming, has long been a cornerstone of the evangelical movement. Related to this, although not necessarily coupled initially with it, was a complete reevaluation of Christianity’s complex and ofttimes horrific relationship with Judaism. For example, when one of the first, if not the first, things that come to mind when contemplating the Roman Catholic Church and Judaism over the centuries is the Spanish Inquisition, one quickly understands why the 16th century Council of Trent’s declaration that the Jewish deicide belief under which Jews had previously suffered persecution was utterly in error gets short shrift.
Regrettably, there is a movement of antisemitism, under the guise of “America First,” permeating vocal elements in conservative social media circles. I’m not naming names; they are readily available, and I refuse to besmirch this podcast with so little as an ancillary association.
These people claim this country’s leadership comes from American-hating and Christian-hating Jews. These people claim civilian deaths in World War Two bombings were immoral persecution of, and genocide against, Christians. These people claim that Jews killed Christ, and despite this taking place 2,000 years ago, today’s Jews are somehow still culpable in His death.
These are not sane people. They certainly are not Scripturally-savvy people. They are the living embodiment of what Jude mentioned in his epistle:
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm — shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted — twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
Antisemitism must be exposed, scorned, mocked, and ridiculed whenever and wherever it appears. We must not forget the vile atrocities of October 7. We who are followers of Jesus have no option aside from loving and fully supporting our Jewish brethren. Of course, we should hold steadfast in proclaiming that Jesus was the promised Messiah. However, we cannot for one moment end our efforts to purge the church of those who lie, their lies based on unholy hatred of God’s chosen people.
EDITOR NOTE: The video for "OK" by Five For Fighting is age-restricted. It can be viewed on YouTube at this link (https://youtu.be/XDJXo2Gn-ww?feature=shared).
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