The Capitol Fallout: Two Quotes Regarding 6 January and Christian Imagery

https://apnews.com/article/christianity-capitol-riot-6f13ef0030ad7b5a6f37a1e3b7b4c898

The Christian angle to this story has generated a lot of discussion. At one time I would have said the 'Evangelical' angle but in recent years even this is changing. In terms of the socio-political sphere the Evangelical and Right-wing Catholic lines are increasingly being blurred.

Even this phenomenon isn't easy to describe. One could say 'Traditionalist' Catholic, but that too could be misleading as many Traditionalists want little or nothing to do with Evangelicals. And yet other Catholic 'conservatives' (another problematic term) or perhaps more properly Right-wing Catholics are finding common cause with Evangelicals and the two movements have formed a functional bloc – especially finding their unity in the form of Trumpism.

Some of these Christians believe the media focus on them is conspiratorial, part of the Biden-led plot to clampdown and suppress the larger Evangelical movement. They fully expect that the Left is 'coming for them' and that they are on the verge of facing a sweeping purge in terms of social media, cyberspace, the airwaves, and perhaps even in the realm of finance and tax exemption.

But we've heard these fears voiced before – in 2008, and in 1992. And in virtually every case, they've been proven wrong – as are many of their other social and political predictions. Right now there are rumours circulating of communist plots – even though there aren't actually any communists in the US government or even within the US political spectrum. In Catholic circles there's talk of a Bergoglio-Biden conspiracy as Biden has touted his Catholicism and tried to identify with Francis. However, as others have pointed out, Francis and some of his clerical allies are more than a little uncomfortable with the association as they do not support many of Biden's policies.

If only we could all see the world through the infantile eyes of Birchers and Trumpites.

In reality it's a terribly complicated moment that few can agree on but certainly everyone acknowledges that critical Rubicon-like lines are being crossed.

Some have tried to downplay the Evangelical-Christian angle to what happened on January 6. Indeed the QAnon figures that have made the news were not particularly associated with Evangelicalism – many have nothing to do with it. But you can't sever all associations. There are both quiet and palpable connections and the Christian iconography interspersed at the event cannot be denied. Were these people just dupes being used by the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers? Perhaps, and yet even then – there's some overlap. Christians have in some cases joined with these groups and some members have associations with Christian leaders and organisations. There are connections to both the larger Evangelical movement and these groups all run in some of the same political and media circles. They're at the same meetings. In other cases they have the same financial backer and they work for some of the same organisations. It's a labyrinth to be sure but not one that Evangelicals can simply dismiss.

Not all are 'fringe' either in their theological associations. Not all are part of 'extreme'-type churches. Marjorie Greene the 'QAnon Congresswoman' from Georgia was reportedly baptised at Andy Stanley's mega-church in Atlanta – hardly known for political its extremism.

The truth is the movement has permeated the Christian Right and the larger Evangelical community. It's not universal but its operating everywhere and it's generating a crisis – and will continue to do so. Church leaders who ignore this are derelict – as are the leaders of my congregation. We have people in the church who were at the January 6 event and have attended Trump rallies. They bulldoze into church (usually late) and ignore all the protocols (and all decency). Covid is a myth as far as they're concerned and they are dismissive and disdainful of anyone who even appears to take it seriously. These people need to be called out, publically rebuked, and called to repentance. This kind of thing ought to be happening throughout the Evangelical sphere – but it's not, or at the very least the cases of it are rare.

It's not going away either. Wishful thinking will not make it so. It's simmering to a boil and I'm afraid many leaders, congregations and para-church organisations are going to be ripped apart by these forces over the next couple of years. Some are going to say they didn't see it coming. If so, they're blind. This is not just a political issue. Because of the dominant theology (which in reality fosters worldliness) it is also very much an ecclesiastical issue and it's not just leaders who need to wake up and pay attention. Even the regular folks in the pews need to think deeply and give special heed. For some people it may be time to leave your church. In other cases, you should have left years ago.

Reading the AP article about Christians at the storming of the Capitol, I keep coming back to two quotes. The first is from the Southern Baptist Russell Moore:

“I was enraged to a degree that I haven’t been enraged in memory. This is not only dangerous and unpatriotic but also blasphemous, presenting a picture of the gospel of Jesus Christ that isn’t the gospel and is instead its exact reverse.”

I remember Moore from the early 2000's. He was solidly Right-wing, flag waving, a champion of Bush, the Patriot Act, the Iraq War and so forth. I didn't like him and associated him with the Christian Right – and with the misguided commentary and positions of figures like Albert Mohler. In my book they were Right-wing people and yet not nearly as conservative as they pretended to be and lacking in both Biblical knowledge and wisdom. I still view many of these people as dangerous both to the Church and even the larger world.

Moore (it would seem) was alarmed by the ugly forces unleashed by the election of Barack Obama and he's undergone something of a shift. The Bircherite-Trumpite crowd (heretics all), view him as some sort of Left-wing communist which is an absurdity. They grew particularly angry with him when he rightly insisted that no Christian could vote for Donald Trump in 2016. In particular he drew forth the wrath of the corrupt Trumpite Franklin Graham who denounced him. It was probably Moore's finest hour.

For the Trumpites and Dominionists who have absolutised power (and mammon), this denunciation of Trump was itself heresy and tantamount to an endorsement of Hilary Clinton. Apparently their Christian 'worldview' was limited to the binary choice our corrupt and rigged political system offers us. Thinking outside the box was (and is) apparently not an option and thus for them, to not support Trump was to support Clinton – which is itself a fallacy on many levels.

I would hardly describe myself as a fan of Moore. I don't agree with his lobbyist position within the SBC, nor with even half of what he does or says but on occasion he has produced some solid quotes – and this is certainly one of those occasions. His comment regarding the 6 January attack was spot on.

The other quote comes from Jemar Tisby, someone I am not familiar with and yet whoever he is, his statement rings true enough:

“Christians who want to divest of Christian Nationalism may find themselves leaving their churches because the ideology is so deeply ingrained that meaningful change is not on the horizon,” 

This is a true statement and a reality many (if not most) of us face. It's a somber and sobering moment to be sure and I pray for wisdom. As I said, our congregation has people in it that were at the 6 January event and to be candid – I cannot in good conscience take communion with them. We are not labouring for the same Kingdom and though they come in the name of Christ I don't believe they know either Him or His word.  Practically speaking I don't want to be associated with these people. I believe doing so would destroy my Christian testimony even as they are labouring to destroy the testimony of Christ's Church. And the leaders are impotent – clearly afraid to address any controversial issue. Were they to do so, the already struggling congregation would probably quickly be halved and risk collapse.

At that point it must be asked – just what do we have then? I don't know. It's amazing how in just a short time a congregation can be laid bare – weighed and found wanting, exposed as a form with but little substance.

Now just where does that leave us? I honestly don't know. I am in a state of anguish at present. I knew this was coming but the day has arrived rather suddenly and in a way unforeseen – all of these questions exacerbated by Trump, the 2020 election, and Covid-19.

The cancer is already present in many churches. These outside factors (or what ought to be outside factors) have caused it to grow, metastasize, and in some cases become terminal.

I keep coming back to Tisby's statement – meaningful change in not on the horizon.

If you have a congregation that hasn't been affected by this, be thankful. But also don't be blind. I have talked to friends and others that admit it's there but like in my congregation – it's being ignored. No one wants to touch it. That's not a solution and I would go further and say it's unethical.