Christian nationalists are in the news again, although still not nearly enough, because CNN recently did a profile of Doug Wilson. He is a proponent of Christian reconstructionism, hyper-patriarchy, and setting up a theonomic state. Wilson has long been on the radar of Christian historians and other researchers of Christian nationalism. His views, like those of all Christian nationalists, are theologically spurious at best and absolutely reprehensible at worst. From a secular standpoint, they are openly hostile to democracy, hence their focus on either insisting that America has always been a Christian nation and should return to Christ or that America should be made into a Christian theocracy regardless of what the majority of Americans believe and want their government to be. The establishment clause of the first amendment is often dismissed altogether or Christian nationalists pretend that it actually means that Christianity should be protected and privileged over other faiths. Both of those notions are of course ludicrous and ahistorical.

While the white Christian nationalists like Wilson, who is an extreme Reformed Calvinist, may differ on many theological points with the dominionists from the New Apostolic Reformation, their goals for creating a Christian theocracy overlap. Both types of theocratic authoritarians rely on shoddy history and proof-texting biblical passages to build their flimsy case for making America an overtly hyper-conservative Christian nation with dominionists running amok and forcing everyone else to conform to their views — none of which look anything like what Jesus taught, or Paul for that matter.

In his introduction to Christian history, Anglican theologian and historian Alister McGrath notes that the use of proof-texting arose during the 16th century as Lutherans and Reformed Calvinists argued about whose views were biblically correct and whose were false teachings. Each group had statements of faith that influenced how its members read the Bible. Proof-texting according to McGrath is the practice of taking “isolated, decontextualized verses of the Bible” in order to substantiate their views on “often controversial confessional positions.” (McGrath, 198-199). The more things change, the more they stay the same, as Americans are currently learning as the current regime attempts to illegally fast-track Christian nationalism as policy.

A prime example of a popular Christian nationalist proof-text is 2 Chronicles 7:14. NAR dominionists like Lance Wallnau love to pretend that this verse in applicable to all people, all nations, and all times rather than allowing it to be contextual to when and why it was written to begin with. The verse states: “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” For dominionists, this verse is inexplicably about America in the 21st century despite all evidence to the contrary. Wallnau in particular loves to use this verse as justification for his theocratic ambitions. But what is the verse actually about?

1 and 2 Chronicles are chronicles of the Israelite monarchy. In some ways they read like monarchical propaganda highlighting the achievements of Kings David and Solomon and how they found favor with God during their reigns. Specifically in 2 Chronicles chapters 2-7 the writer focuses a lot of attention on the construction, accoutrements, and then the eventual dedication of the first Temple during Solomon’s reign as king. Gary N. Knoppers notes in his NOAB 4 NRSV ed intro to 2 Chronicles that, “As the home of the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle, the Temple represents the continuation and fulfillment of earlier Israelite religious institutions. The careful attention given to the Temple and its worship reflects the importance that the Chronicler ascribed to this institution in the postexilic era. For the author, the Temple is the divinely sanctioned place for both sacrifice and prayer (6.1-7.22), a view also present in the book of Kings.” (NOAB 4, p. 617)

Melody D. Knowles in her commentary on Chronicles in Theological Bible Commentary provides further context about about 2 Chronicles saying that it “portrays a God who is particularly interested in religious practices that are centered on the Temple in Jerusalem. God chose the site (1 Chr. 21:18,26) and accepted it as the dwelling place for the divine name (2 Chr. 6:10; 7:16). God’s connection with this geography means that the secession of the northern kingdom in 2 Chronicles implies not only a rejection of the Davidic monarchy, but also a separation from worship in Jerusalem, and thus true worship of God.” (Knowles, pp. 150-151)

The above historical context shows that 2 Chronicles has absolutely nothing to do with the United States of America and it is not a broadly applicable verse for all times and peoples. That verse highlights a theophany during which God spoke directly to Solomon after the dedication of the Temple. It is specifically about the Israelite people during Solomon’s reign during the first Temple period and the practice of ritual sacrifice in the Temple. The U.S. is nowhere to be found anywhere in the Bible, it is not a special nation in God’s eyes, and the people of God referenced in 2 Chronicles 7:14 are the Israelites, not American dominionists. They are not Christians of any kind. They are not anyone living in the 21st century.

The above context for that verse doesn’t stop theocrats from making it a general statement from God to Christians everywhere. Wallnau does this on his website with that verse emblazoned across a distressed looking American flag and in his so-called “prophetic” messages. He claims that it relates only to the “saved” and not the “unsaved” and that the saved will be spared God’s wrath. This is wildly anti-Jewish because Wallnau centers certain types of Christians as the ones who god called “his people” rather than the ancient Israelites in context and modern Jews to whom the Hebrew Bible continues to speak. Perhaps Lance thinks the Temple is really in Washington, D.C. and that animal sacrifice should be brought back.

Doug Wilson in noting that when former V.P. Mike Pence was sworn in with the Bible opened to that passage stated that this was a testament to those who believe in Jesus and not merely “a whitewash for a humanistic religion.” Wilson too, takes the verse out of context to apply it to Christians. He also makes his total disdain for American democracy plain stating that: “First, we must distinguish the Christian faith once delivered from a generic American civil religion. That is foundational. We must have nothing to do with a faith in secular democracy, decked out and festooned with certain Christiany decorative elements. American civil religion is in fact a thing, and it is a religion that we are required to have absolutely nothing to do with. Unbaptized Americans are not part of that biblical phrase thy people. The claims of Jesus Christ are total, and they are exclusive.” Alas, Jesus never once claimed that anyone should set up a theocratic government in his name nor did he say that people should be forced to believe in Calvinism. Perhaps Doug should move out of the country…I’d be happy to help him pack.

Christian nationalism is heretical. The theological and historical arguments used by dominionists to support their desire to create an American theocracy are flimsier than a house of cards in a hurricane. There is nothing in the Biblical canon to suggest that America is a special nation with a divinely sanctioned mission to proselytize through the means of government backing and Christian civil magistrates. There is however plenty in the Bible about the abuse of political power, the dangers of accumulating wealth, and the evils perpetuated by militaristic empires that have much to teach American Christians. The sooner they learn those lessons, the better.

If you enjoyed this post, check out my books here: Dillon’s books and the podcast I co-host with Desimber Rose: The God Squad pod

Peace be with you.