Glendale White Supremacy sign
We denounce the acts of the domestic terrorists at the United States Capitol and the ideologies of white supremacy and Christian nationalism that motivate these acts of hate and violence. (Photo Courtesy of Glendale UMC)
As a church, as a nation, we must reckon with the events of this past week. For many in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, what inspired their hate-filled crimes was their Christian faith. These acts of terror were not in spite of their faith, it was inspired by their faith.
The halls of democracy and the capital of our nation was overtaken by White Christian Nationalism. This White Christian Nationalism is not new. It sin that has festered in our nations heart for generations.
We must come to an honest reckoning with this reality: White Christian Nationalism is aided, abetted, even encouraged within the walls of churches across our country and community. White Christian Nationalism has been encouraged by politicians that would rather stir up hate than seek liberty and justice for all. White Christian Nationalism is not just a threat to our society, it is the culmination of the systemic sins of racism, sexism, bigotry, patriarch and xenophobia, all with the false and hate-filled belief that these ideals of White Christian Nationalism are endorsed by God.
We can only move toward peace when we tell the truth and we have to speak the truth even when it is difficult, even if it hurts. We must love one another enough to ensure that justice is done. Think about it like this – if I kick your dog, and you said, “Don’t kick my dog!” But I said back to you, “Now is not the time to be divisive, let’s move forward together, and stop this partisanship.” Is that really moving forward or is that me trying to avoid responsibility for my actions? Is it me trying to avoid consequences under the guise of unity?
Unity for the sake of unity is not a Christian value.
We can move forward, and we must move forward, but not without truth, not without accountability. Unity for the sake of unity gives comfort to the arsonist while it leaves others homeless. That is not a Christian value and there is nothing of Christ found in that guise.
As a pastor I have to say now and for the rest of my life that White Christian Nationalism is not just sinful, it is anti-Christ. It is a movement against the teaching and examples of Jesus Christ. It is wrong, it is sinful, it is anti-Christ.
Evil, injustice, oppression, racism and bigotry far too often get wrapped up in the church, masquerading as Christian values. No more. Bigotry is propped up as a Gospel truth. Never again. White Christian Nationalism is sinful and too often attempts to hide in plain sight, pretending to follow Jesus.
We cannot sit back and assume this isn’t our problem. We have to repent. We have to search our hearts and souls. We have to confront this sin of White Christian Nationalism within us and without because we take a baptismal vow to in The United Methodist Church to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. This is a moment for us to live out our baptismal vow. To show the world what it means to be a people of true grace and peace. So may we rise to this occasion. May we fulfill our baptismal vow. May we be the church that Christ calls us to be by standing up against the evils and the sins of White Christian Nationalism, now and always.
Nate Nims
The Rev. Nate Nims and his spouse, Deaconess Irene DeMaris. (Courtesy photo)
The Rev. Nate Nims serves as senior pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. This article is republished with permission from his statement to the church after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.