Chris Lange, FISM News
Outspoken Christian singer, author, and missionary activist Sean Feucht is not backing down from his statement that believers should be “the ones writing laws,” for which he is accused of promoting “Christian nationalism.”
Feucht made the remarks last Wednesday at an event held at the Sheridan Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In a now widely circulated video clip of his speech, the former Bethel Church worship leader urged audience members to take an active role in politics.
“It’s all part of the King coming back. That’s what we’re practicing for,” he said in the clip. “That’s why we get called, ‘Well, you’re Christian nationalists.”
Feucht said that he wanted to see “The Kingdom to be the government” and for “God to come on over and take over the government.”
“We wouldn’t be a disciple of Jesus if we didn’t believe that. We want God to be in control of everything,” he said to shouts and applause from the audience.
“We want believers to be the ones writing the laws, yes, guilty as charged,” he added.
THE FIGHT AGAINST ‘CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM’
Andrew T. Walker, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote in an article for The Baptist Press that the term “Christian nationalism” is one among many “generalizations and grand pronouncements that are common in our culture wars rhetoric, especially against principles such as religious liberty which are viewed suspiciously as a means of harming others.”
Indeed, media outlets like Rolling Stone wasted little time amplifying Feucht’s comments as MAGA extremism and evidence that armies of radical Christians are plotting to overthrow the U.S. government. The magazine referred to Feucht as a dangerous “MAGA Pastor” who is “advocating for an overt takeover of politics by Christian zealots.” The article made particular note of the fact that Feucht “once prayed over Donald Trump in the Oval Office.”
Walker asserted that “Lazy, broad-brush, and cynical appeals to Christian Nationalism fail to differentiate how theology can and ought to function in democratically appropriate ways. Seen in this light, accusations of Christian Nationalism are an empty shibboleth used to discredit the concerns of evangelical Christians.”
It isn’t just the mainstream media that disapproves of Feucht’s unorthodox commingling of faith and politics. The Christian Post recently asked Feucht what he thought about evangelical leaders who reject the idea of Christian nationalism and, in the case of Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber, actively warn against it.
“Proverbs says, ‘When the righteous are in rule, the people rejoice.’ We want to see the righteous in rule,” he responded unapologetically. “We are called to be ‘salt and light’ to this world, and that includes being salt and light to America,” he added.
Feucht also took the opportunity to indirectly challenge his critics in the evangelical community to hold a mirror up to themselves.
“It is unbiblical and un-American to tell Christians that our faith disqualifies us from participating in this great democracy,” he said. “How can Christians complain and whine about how dark, corrupt, and crooked the political realm is if we aren’t bringing the light and hope of Jesus to it?” Why would it be controversial for a believer to want righteousness, justice, and godliness? Why would it be controversial to want believers to be writing the laws and governing under the fear of the Lord?”
Walker asserted that “Lazy, broad-brush, and cynical appeals to Christian Nationalism fail to differentiate how theology can and ought to function in democratically appropriate ways. Seen in this light, accusations of Christian Nationalism are an empty shibboleth used to discredit the concerns of evangelical Christians.”