By Rashad Gibson
A current and ongoing trend in America (via the media, academia, think-tanks, etc.) is to demonize white evangelical Christians.
This comes from within and without the Church. In other words, some who claim to be evangelical (or of some Christian persuasion) equate white evangelicals who are conservative and patriotic to be “nationalists” (insinuating they are white supremacists), bigots (due to not affirming the LGBT lifestyle), or racists (endorsers of a racist system and not in support of ILLEGAL immigration). Likewise, there are those who do not have any faith in Jesus Christ and are attacking white conservative evangelicals in the same manner.
In truth, this is not really about white conservative evangelicals–it’s about Donald Trump. The majority of conservative Christians supported Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 Presidential elections. What we are seeing taking place now is that the narrative constructed about Donald Trump (him being a racist, bigot, supremacist) is now being applied to all white evangelical conservative Christians. In my view, it appears the strategy is to demonize and intimidate those who do not share the same beliefs as the political (and theological) left, in order to have an impact at the ballot box that could reshape culture and public policy.
This agenda is extremely insidious because it misrepresents white (and black) conservative Christians. While I am sure there may be some who have racial prejudice who voted for Trump; broadly applying that to all patriotic white (or black) conservative Christians is not only a misrepresentation, it’s wicked. Why is it wicked? It is wicked because these insinuations create fear, hesitation, and intimidation about holding to one’s conservative values, and attempts to marginalize a large populace within the United States. The political (and theological left) have created a political “boogeyman.” This entity, in their eyes, is a “threat to American democracy” and consists of those who believe in Jesus Christ, have conservative values, and are white; although conservative blacks are not mentioned much, they are likewise included. Declaring a person to be a white supremacist is equating them to the KKK, neo-nazis, or other known hate groups, which then causes a natural animus for them. Those who are of that pedigree are repulsive. Although I do not have the power of omniscience, I think I can say that the great majority of conservative white and black Christians do not in any way, shape or form, agree with the belief system and policies of such hate groups.
Moreover, the political and theological left has created such a narrative in order to suit their purposes, they will not consider any other motivation for those who support President Trump or hold to conservative values. This is quite ironic, being that leftists consider themselves to be “progressive and globally acceptive of all viewpoints.” Could it be that the political left’s platform, which promotes the LGBT lifestyle (which has invaded educational curriculum on all levels), reverse racism (disguised as social justice), authoritarianism (which was fully realized during the COVID pandemic with the institution of vaccine mandates), destruction and devaluing of human life (abortion), violates the values of conservative Christian Americans? Could it be that some “Trump supporters” may not necessarily be “pro-Trump” but are opposed to the extreme elements that dominate the Democratic platform?
Interestingly, the political (and theological left) will ignore how anarchists (Antifa), socialists (Democratic socialists), Marxists (BLM), and communists (Communist Party of USA) are truly a threat to our constitutional republic. One has to ask a fundamental question: Why does this group not exercise the same animus they have towards white conservative Christians, towards the above groups, if the issue is really about “protecting our democracy?”
I think the answer is clear–the political left is not concerned about protecting “our democracy,” rather, they are set on destroying our constitutional republic. Therefore, those who hold to conservative values are standing in their way, and must be deemed a threat.
As the father of American Geography, Jedidiah Morse, stated while preaching in 1799,
“Our dangers are of two kinds, those which affect our religion and those which affect our government. However, they are so closely allied that they cannot be separated with propriety. The foundations which support the interest of Christianity are also necessary to support a free and equal government like our own… All efforts made to destroy the foundations of our holy religion, ultimately tend to the subversion also of our political freedom and happiness. Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them.”
Oh how Morse’s wisdom from over two hundred years ago still rings true today.