America First or God first? Why you can’t have it both ways | Opinion

When my finger was on the pulse of all things evangelical, I must admit—I didn’t see this one coming.

As a young adult, I worked in Chicago for the Christian family magazine “Moody Monthly,” under Jerry Jenkins (best-selling author of the “Left Behind” series). Then I became Editor of “Today’s Christian Woman” — the leading evangelical magazine for paid subscriptions.

Back then no one was talking about Christian nationalism. And if they were, I probably would have viewed some aspects as a gift from God. But not today. Today I see something dark and dangerous hiding inside that flag-wrapped package.

I find myself wondering what my favorite evangelical hero would say, and I’d love to ask him, “Do you see what I see?” What happened to the Baby’s goodness and light?

No one loved the Bible more than Billy Graham. But he didn’t make the Book an idol. He worshipped the God who he believed inspired it, the Being behind the Book.

When Billy Graham brought us to a fork in the road, it was followed by an invitation—not an ultimatum. As he would so often say, “God is a gentleman.” Then he would add, “God loves you. God loves you.”

So . . . is it God’s love that compels people to condone violence as the means to an end? To extol violent perpetrators as patriots? Or is it something else, something dark and shadowy. And if that end is an agenda dictated by Christian nationalism, can you really sing, “His banner over me is love?”

Try telling that to the real patriots, the heroes on Jan. 6 who were beaten by American flags used like clubs. Try telling it to the viewers who watched in shock and horror as symbols of Christianity linked arms with weaponized flags to break into our Capitol, to destroy our House of Congress, to threaten the lives of our leaders. Tell that to a watching world who thinks, “If that’s what Christianity looks like, keep your Bibles to yourselves.”

Like the upside-down American flag that signals distress — or revolution — the “Christianity” behind Christian nationalism is an upside-down manifestation, a distressing counterfeit. If Jesus had wanted a throne on man’s terms, he could have had it in a heartbeat (John 6:14-15). Man’s plans are not always God’s plans (Isaiah 55:8).

As I analyze the President’s executive orders, I find some play well in stated goals, others raise eyebrows, and all of them raise questions: “What do you mean by that? How will you do that?”

But If you pore over the wording of those “Presidential Actions,” you will note some troubling language—and the devil is in the details. (Boy is he!)

The tone and rationale read like a diatribe. Any way you slice it, these mandates are based not on loving care for “we the people,” but on personal vendettas.

A “woke culture” is washed away by the baptism of grievances, in the name of anger, resentment, and revenge. “I AM your retribution” has made this one nation, under grievances, dividing families, with liberty and justice for loyalists.

Heroes have been vilified, while villains have been honored—and released.

The unanswered questions are proving far more consequential than the mandates themselves. Loyal voters are thinking, “You didn’t tell us THIS would happen.” And they gave voice to that angst in growing numbers at town hall meetings.

As transparency dims under the savior who vows to rescue democracy from “the dictatorship of the bureaucracy,” so also does any accountability. And an “Aha” becomes apparent . . .That’s really what this is all about, isn’t it? Once you cut the brakes, why pump the pedal?

The executive orders are a show of “promise made, promises kept.” But now we watch, as the one holding our car keys drives us to a place we didn’t want to go, a place not on the map he showed us.

There’s a reason for that. “We the people” handed him OUR car keys.

So I reach for another road map, and it shows me where we are: “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” (Ephesians 6:12, NABRE).

Over the past 50 years, my vision of what it means to be a person of faith has grown. And so have I.

It all comes down to this . . .“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NIV).

The God behind that mandate is the one I serve. And I know I am not alone.

Sharon Donohue is a journalist, former Editor of Today’s Christian Woman, and author of The Bible Clicks, (www.TheBibleClicks.com).