As Christian nationalism gains traction in the UK, churches find themselves at a crossroads. They must balance fostering theological literacy within their congregations while remaining attuned to the voices and concerns of their members.
During a webinar hosted by the Evangelical Alliance, the topic of Christian nationalism and its intersection with far-right and populist ideologies was explored. The event featured Rev Dr Helen Paynter, who leads the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence at Bristol Baptist College. She expressed concerns about the use of Christian rhetoric in nationalist rallies, specifically the invocation of a “religious war” and the exclusion of all religions except Christianity.
Dr Paynter highlighted the shallow use of Christian symbols and slogans, describing it as “thin theology.” She differentiated between those with patriotic sentiments, who might be worried about immigration and Islam, and those whose beliefs include hostility towards immigrants, racism, and anti-Muslim attitudes.
The risk, according to Dr Paynter, is that churches might inadvertently push individuals with moderate views towards extreme far-right movements if they are not listened to and their concerns are dismissed. “Let’s not call each other names. Let’s listen to one another graciously,” she urged.
She also advocated for a new model of interaction within the Church, focusing on respectful dialogue and self-reflection. “If we can bring something to our culture in addition to the saving news of Jesus Christ, how about learning to disagree well and learning to listen to one another and maybe thinking about taking the plank out of our own eye first,” she suggested.
Addressing the concept of “healthy patriotism,” Dr Paynter expressed her desire for positive reclamation of national symbols, emphasizing inclusive celebrations of being English and British.
Despite a decline in attendance at nationalist rallies, Dr Paynter noted that the ideas persist within church communities. She called for churches to enhance theological understanding among their members to help recognize and challenge harmful ideologies.
She stressed the importance of grassroots efforts in spreading the Gospel and loving neighbors, rather than reacting with anxiety to nationalistic movements. “The expression of it is less extreme than Tommy Robinson but it is still concerning in my view because I’m hearing a lot of people in the churches express opinions that would definitely fall at times beyond [what is acceptable] in terms of accepting difference of opinion.”
Joining the discussion, Danny Webster, head of advocacy at the Evangelical Alliance, pointed out the “problematic” aspects of Christian nationalism, particularly its anti-democratic tendencies and restrictions on religious freedom.
Webster emphasized the importance of engaging with individuals who hold nationalistic views, particularly within working-class communities. “It is important that we recognise the sincerity and the realness of the concerns people are raising,” he stated.
He cautioned against intertwining the Gospel with political movements, urging careful consideration of motivations behind conversions. “I would love people on the marches to come to know Jesus but are they coming to know Jesus because of Jesus or because it’s being aligned to particular political movements?”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
