Faith leaders denounce comments from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
July 28, 2022

Following US Representative Majorie Taylor Greene's comments that the Republican party is the party of Christian Nationalism, pastors call for TN Senators Blackburn and Hagerty to reject the dangerous ideology

NASHVILLE -- After multiple recent comments from US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene declaring that she is a Christian Nationalist and the the Republican party "should be Christian nationalists", faith leaders across Tennessee denounce the dangerous ideology and call on Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty to renounce Rep. Greene's comments in addition to Christian nationalism.

"It's worrisome and dangerous to hear a United States Representative claim to be a 'Christian Nationalist' and to desire for an entire political party to do the same," said Dr. David Dark, Professor of Religion at Belmont University. "Marjorie Taylor Greene's decision to announce that the Republican party should be the party of Christian nationalism gives Tennessee's Republican elected officials the opportunity to draw a clear and public line for their constituents. And while Governor Lee and Senators Blackburn and Hagerty have yet to join their Republican colleague in self-identifying as Christian nationalists, their refusal to publicly acknowledge that President Biden won fairly or to even publicly differ with Representative Greene and President Trump's positions is deeply troubling for constituents who want accountability and transparency in these matters. We call on Governor Lee and Senators Blackburn and Hagerty to tell us where they stand on this matter as the line can be drawn like this: Nationalism is antichrist. Love of country is one thing, professing that God privileges one nation over another is heresy."

"I want to be perfectly clear. Christian nationalism, sometimes called White Christian nationalism, is not a true representation of the Christian faith," said Rev. Dr. Lillian Lammers, Associate Pastor of First Congregational Church in Memphis. "The definition of Christian nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way. This is a dangerous ideology that is actually contrary to the Gospel of Jesus, who never tried to overtake the government, or align God with 'empire' as a means of asserting power or control. Yet, that is the agenda of white Christian nationalists in the United States and specifically in Tennessee right now."

"No matter where we live or the religion we may practice, as Americans, we should want to live in a country with an appropriate separation of church and state, where we all have the freedom to live safely, according to the faith convictions we hold, without insisting that others ascribe to the same. Christianity operates best when it wins followers over through its ethic of love, justice, and liberation, not force and constraint."


Background:

-Video recording of Press Conference from June 30: Pastors Speaking against Christian Nationalism

-White Christian Nationalism ‘Is a Fundamental Threat to Democracy

-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Says GOP 'Should Be Christian Nationalists' Party

The Southern Christian Coalition is a nonpartisan grassroots, ecumenical organization. Across the South, politicians use ideology in the guise of Christian theology to push policies that harm our communities and isolate us from our neighbors. We are a community of Christians, speaking up on the values of our faith.