Leave it to late President Ronald Reagan to give us another memorable line. Reagan said, after a frustrating legislative bout with Congress, “I would hate to see what the U.S. Congress would do with the Ten Commandments!” That’s the feeling that comes over me when some lawyers start to bring up the subject of religion. Take for example Mr. Luther Munford, (“Say ‘no’ to Christian Nationalism,” Northside Sun, 6/26/26). I’m not sure what he would call a “bad idea.” It may be a true case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Look again at the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...Does this part about religion say anything about preventing religion or exercises of religion prayer, worship, discussion, promoting Bible teaching, preaching, etc. anywhere? No, that is simply a one-way street.
That portion is about preventing Congress, namely, to establish a religion, a state church, as occurred in their homeland of England or Italy. I’m afraid my misgivings were realized in Munford. How much of what he labels a “murderously dangerous idea,” is what the Founders “wanted to keep out of government”? He thinks it’s questionable as to what God we are affirming in the Pledge of Allegiance. Be sure, most American citizens and the Muslims know it’s not Allah we are affirming.
Remember, the Left and most secularists make Christian Nationalism the bogey man, including what most conservative and Christian moral prescriptions in society advocate, such as monogamy, prolife advocacy, civic decency in public news and literature, and opposition to same sex marriage. Such boundaries get more than a little uncomfortable for them.
Munford flailed at several things, for example, complaining about a couple of features of the Trump administration, sending previously unvetted illegal immigrants home to protect our citizens (actually the main function of government), and to disallow LGBTQ persons in the U.S. military.
Think of the tradition of Sunday School. Many evangelical churches now refer to it as “Christian Formation,” which has always been its aim. The idea is to “form” Christ in their habits and choices. So yes, that is what Christianity in evangelical churches is all about and it’s promoted everywhere by the Church.
The same is the essence of missionary work: evangelism, education, medical services, Bible translation and maybe a newly minted, written language are to be included in the progression of missionary outreach. All this to secure a holy people who will become some of the most loyal, faithful, productive, and patriotic people, wherever Christianity breathes. No, Jesus was not a “nationalist,” but this is His Kingdom wherever it arises and bears fruit. Unquestionably, this is what our first colonists, many formerly persecuted, and our Constitutional founders, were all about to begin with. There are wonderful histories of all this that I love to read. Where this occurs, “domestic tranquility” is born.
To be sure there certainly are some distasteful features like ethno-racism that marches with some antisemitism, general racism, and a type of superficial Christianity, that seem to go along with their patriotism in Christian Nationalism. To them, their nation expresses God’s kingdom, but in Christian patriotism the Church does. The Church and the state have different roles and lanes, both indispensable. For the Christian, Christ is King overall.
Let us take note of the following as another reason to celebrate our 250th national birthday celebration. Here is Benjamin Franklin’s appeal for prayer on the second day at the Constitutional Convention:
Before I sit down, Mr. President, I will suggest another matter; and I am really surprised that it has not been proposed by some other member at an earlier period of our deliberations. I will suggest, Mr. President, that propriety of nominating and appointing, before we separate, a chaplain to this Convention, whose duty it shall be uniformly to assemble with us, and introduce the business of each day by and address to the Creator of the universe, and the Governor of all nations, beseeching Him to preside in our council, enlighten our minds with a portion of heavenly wisdom, influence our hearts with a love of truth and justice, and crown our labors with complete and abundant success!
Here, here, what could be more wonderful?
Robert Penny lives in Old Agency Village in Ridgeland.
