This is one of those books with buzz. Many were anticipating its release and since appearing in early November, it’s been getting a lot of attention, some positive. Douglas Wilson raves, “Wolfe is to be thanked for having the courage and learning to show us our way back [to the approach the US had at its founding].” Moreover, Christian nationalism isn’t just an intramural topic amongst believers. The mainstream media have also seized on it, partially or maybe even entirely, as the whipping boy for the United States Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. It’s worth a critical look.
… What is Christian nationalism? It is “a totality of national action, consisting of civil laws and social customs, conducted by a Christian nation as a Christian nation, in order to procure for itself both earthly and heavenly good in Christ” (p.9). In this book, Wolfe aims “to show that Christian nationalism (as defined) is just, the ideal arrangement for Christians, and something worth pursuing with determination and resolve” (p.9). As far as method goes, Wolfe says he assumes the Reformed theological tradition, and so he doesn’t offer much in the way of interaction with Scripture. He offers both natural and supernatural arguments, often in combination.
…Wolfe argues at length for the responsibility of the Christian “prince” to address public blasphemy. Yet he includes (on p.159) a quote from John Steinbeck in which God’s name is abused. He argues that just as husbands must correct their wives when they perform their duties poorly, so the Christian prince should “correct the lazy and erring pastor” (p.312). He uses a racial slur on p.288. He opposes open immigration since it undermines a nation’s ethnic particularity. Spuriously using a reference to Thomas Aquinas, he suggests immigrants shouldn’t receive citizenship until the second or third generation of residency (p.168). Wolfe argues that America’s policy of open immigration is evidence of tyranny, and this is sufficient grounds for a violent revolution (p.348). In a Christian nation, neither women nor unbelievers would be able to vote or otherwise participate in politics (p.73 and p.392). The author doesn’t believe in limited government – in his Christian utopia, the government can “require the elevation of the pulpit above the Lord’s Table in church construction” (p.317).
Wes Bredenhof | “Dominionism 2.0” | March 30, 2023
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I’d like to comment on Bredenhof’s observation in the last paragraph about the drive for power: I see this as newer reactive form of social justice.
Traditional social justice in the PCA leaned left, distorting the church’s authority and power in the government/world. This swing to the right distorts the government’s authority and power over the church (a prince correcting a pastor etc)
Caveats: It’s not always helpful to generalize, and I have not read this book.
Christian nationalism has sullied name of Christ in the eyes of the public in Canada during the Covid crisis. People fighting for “freedom” while totally disregarding Romans 13.
Christians are under no obligation to obey usurpations of power.
Joel,
Did Nero usurp authority?