Capitol Insurrection Aftermath

January 6, 2021, is a historical day in America. Normally, in early January our presidential elections are certified and when necessary the peaceful transfer of power is solidified. However, in a Trump America, almost nothing is “peaceful” including the certification of our election. 

I have no interest in rehashing the details of the insurrection by 30,000 Trump supporters at the Capitol building. If somehow you missed the details of the day’s events you can check out a few articles here:

1 shot dead, Congress evacuated, National Guard activated after pro-Trump rioters storm Capitol

Updates: Capitol breached by pro-Trump protesters, woman shot inside dies

Violent pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol

Flags, Signs, and Symbols

I almost never watch cable news. As a matter of fact, I hardly watch TV at all. This day was an exception because I was interested in finding out about the runoff election results in GA between David Perdue and John Ossoff. As attention went from election results to a mob gathering and barging into the Capitol building the first thing I noticed were the flags and signs. In the sea of Trump and American flags was the sprinkling of Confederate flags. Then I saw a yellow sign with the phrase “Jesus Saves” written in black letters. As I was mentally trying to reconcile Confederate flags and “Jesus Saves” signs being raised to the sound of Trump chants I could feel the rage and anger well up inside me. 

Not too long after I saw the sign there was footage of a group of folks raising a large wooden cross in front of the Capitol. That wouldn’t be the only wooden structure erected before the insurrection ended. Shortly after the wooden cross was raised a wooden gallow was constructed, noose and all. 

I bring up these symbols because they are not the result of chance or coincidence. Rather, they are the result of a poisonous ideology that is a lethal mix of the gospel, nationalism, and racism. This lethal toxin has come to be known as white Evangelicalism. In his book White Too Long author Robert P. Jones explains this phenomenon:

“Underneath the glossy, self-congratulatory histories that white Christian churches have written about themselves—which typically depict white Christians as exemplars of democratic principles and pillars of the community—is a thinly veiled, deeply troubling past. White Christian churches have not just been complacent or complicit in failing to address racism; rather, as the dominant cultural power in the U.S., they have been responsible for constructing and sustaining a project to protect white supremacy. This project has framed the entire American story.” 

At every turn in American history white Christianity, specifically, evangelicalism, when given the opportunity to course-correct, away from nationalism and racism, has instead doubled down on their allegiance. January 6, 2021, was no different. My wife shared this analogy with me the other night and I commend it to you now. She said,

“It’s like white evangelicalism is a three strand rope. One strand is the gospel, another is nationalism, and the last strand is racism. Because we’ve braided the 3 strands together we’ve created a rope that only continues to strengthen as it intertwines. The rope strengthens as white evangelicalism refuses to disassociate itself with the nationalist and racist strands and return to its Christ exalting witness.” 

Republicanism As a Test of Orthodoxy

For much of the 2016 election season, while serving in a majority affluent-white mega-church, I was inundated with propaganda from an elder and fellow co-worker on how the only Christian option was to vote for Trump. My day was regularly filled with PragerU videos, Ben Shapiro episodes, and an endless supply of articles. For the handful of “edgy” leaders, they would concede that as a Christian you could write in a candidate but they definitely had to be a conservative. 

As I had one-on-one convos with a few leaders they shared how they had been told if certain elders ever heard they voted for a Democrat they would be fired. Some tried to laugh off the comments and argue it was made in jest. Whether done jokingly or not the point was clear. Republicanism equals orthodoxy, anything else is heresy. 

Even in my own ministry story I vividly remember a word of warning I was given during my first pastoral job as a youth pastor. The senior pastor (an older white man from Missouri) at the church I served in called me into his office one day to warn me, “if anyone ever found out you voted Democrat you would be disqualified from ministry.” What was shocking to me was the seriousness in his tone. We never once talked about the value of character, biblical qualifications of a deacon or elder, the need to focus on healthy marriage and home life, or even the need to hold tightly to an orthodox view of the gospel. The only time I was warned about being disqualified from ministry was in the context of voting for anyone other than a Republican candidate. 

In my experience and observation in white evangelical spaces, I have learned that to be anything other than a conservative Republican means your political convictions must be closeted. Tied to the idea of Republicanism is the unquestioned faithfulness to the “American” way. To be Christian and conservative means you’re pro- militarism, capitalism, individuality, closed borders, and life. These are all roots of the same tree and cannot be parsed out.

The Weapon of Choice

Of the political issues, white evangelicals hold to prove their orthodoxy none is weaponized more than the pro-life issue. Throughout both of Trump’s presidential campaigns, any argument not to vote for him was immediately met with some version of, “well that’s not as important as caring for the unborn.” 

In 2016 we had to vote for Trump because we needed to win the majority in the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. We’ve had two new justices appointed by Trump to the Supreme Court and Roe still stands. Overturning Roe doesn’t mean abortion is made illegal it simply goes back to being a state’s rights issue. This essentially makes it possible to have zero restrictive laws in some states, while it could be illegal in others. Furthermore, in 24 of the last 40 years Republicans under Reagan, both Bush’s, and Trump have had enough of a majority to push for reversing Roe v. Wade, but never have. Have you ever asked yourself why? Because it would be political suicide. The Republican Party knows so long as they tout themselves as the “pro-life” party they are guaranteed to get the white evangelical voting bloc. 

The more I’ve thought about it and had conversations with other Christians the more I believe to be pro-life within the Republican Party is actually to be anti-abortion. Sadly, this distinction has at least two implications:

1. Being anti-abortion makes being pro-life about the lowest common denominator. Christians don’t have to actually pursue relationships with the demographic of women most likely to have an abortion. We don’t have to sacrifice in any way to leverage our time and resources to pursue a relationship with or care for a family considering an abortion. We don’t have to hold the men involved in the creation of life to a higher calling through helping raise the child. No. To be pro-life simply means you push a button every 2-4 years in a voting booth. So long as you vote Republican you’ve done your pro-life duty.
2. Being pro-life only extends from the womb to birth. Once the children we care so dearly for in the womb are born we no longer care for that child or their family. This is especially true for the impoverished and black and brown babies.

The truth is neither Republicans nor Democrats have a monopoly as the “pro-life” party. The reality is both have differing pro-life tendencies. I agree with Pastor Bob Roberts Jr. who recently tweeted;

“40 years we Christians focused on law and government to change abortion in our country - for Republican Party it’s a way of holding us as a large constituency - what if we shouldn’t instead win people’s hearts and minds? What if it’s a ‘people’s lives campaign’ to the masses from abortion to refugees.” 

Make America White Again

One of the worst kept secrets of Trumpism is the base he has always played to are white people who feel like “their” America is being taken by minorities, immigrants, and refugees. Even the slogan “Make America Great Again” has primarily been used as a dog whistle to rally angry and frustrated white people, specifically men, to his cause. Speaking of “Make America Great Again,” did you know in 1933 Adolf Hitler ran for Chancellor of Germany with the slogan, “Make Germany Great Again.” Don’t believe me? Check out this article.

Yes, Adolf Hitler Really Said He Would ‘Make Germany Great Again

 In 2016 Van Jones said of President Trump’s election, 

"This was a white-lash against a changing country.” "It was a white-lash against a black president in part, and that's the part where the pain comes. And Donald Trump has a responsibility tonight to come out and reassure people that he is going to be the president of all the people who he insulted and offended and brushed aside."

The last four years have only affirmed Trump’s playing to his white supremacist base. What the insurrection of January 6th revealed is that within this base are literally thousands upon thousands of supporters who not only affirm white supremacy but also see it as tied to their Christian faith. Think about that…For some, this insurrection was seen as part of their Christian duty. Here’s the reality, the same people waving confederate flags, holding Jesus Saves signs, and setting up gallows with nooses are sitting in our pews. They are tithing members in good standing. In a non-COVID America, they may be small group leaders, serve on Sundays, or teach classes. More than a few are probably deacons and elders. What makes matters worse is white evangelicalism’s infatuation with nationalism and racism has encouraged these protestors’ behavior. We’ve done so by saying Trump is the only Christian choice, the only pro-life option, the only… We’ve done it from our pulpits. We’ve had our celebrity pastors and denominational figureheads say it. I would argue the only thing worse than churches pushing this propaganda are the churches that have stayed silent and have said nothing of the poison white evangelicalism has become to the kingdom of God. 

To be clear, I am not suggesting that the only option is for all Christians to become Democrats. What I’m arguing for are white evangelicals to use this insurrection as a wake-up call to get back to our identity as God’s multi-ethnic kingdom ambassadors. I’m arguing for this insurrection to be a flag in the ground. For God’s people in America of every ethnicity, economic status, and political affiliation to say enough is enough. To repent of any form of nationalism and racism and seek to redeem our priestly, justice-minded, and prophetic voices. This day of reckoning has led to a crossroads. Will we continue down this path of destruction, disunity, and division as Christ’s body in America? Or will we turn and choose the blood-bought path toward kingdom living, unity, and seeking the flourishing of all people “on earth as it is in heaven?”

“Don’t be misled - you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:7-9, NLT)

We’re in a day of reckoning for white evangelicalism, what will they do?