From “American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays The Gospel and Threatens The Church” by Andrew L. Whitehead
Another signal of white Christian nationalism is appeals for a bygone era when everyone got along. America’s goodness was unquestioned, people’s roles in society were clear, and Christian beliefs, practices, and symbols permeated our social and civic lives. The assumption is that it was in this time that the United States was clearly fulfilling God’s desires in the world.
Nostalgia for this imagined period – imagined because of course, life in America wasn’t ever quite like this – naturally sets Americans up for a lament of where the country now finds itself. Social strife, criticism of the United States from seemingly all corners, shifting roles, and Christianity no longer being the unquestioned center of culture are clear signs that this country is falling out of God’s good graces. This nostalgia for the “good old days” with an accompanying narrative of decline from those days is a powerful motivator as well. It highlights a loss of power and privilege while activating fear over what is yet to come. It primes people for action. It implants a desire to resist and fight back.
Staying attuned to who is nostalgic and what they are nostalgic for will help Christians recognize white Christian nationalism. Nostalgia for the good old days also raises questions: Were the good old days good for everybody? How accurate are our memories of the good old days? As Christians, we must commit to stay grounded in the truth about who we are as a nation and where we have come from. Because if we are not, how can we claim to be following God’s truth?