Missouri faith leaders denounce Hawley's speech advocating 'Christian nationalism'

A Springfield pastor was among Missouri Christian leaders who denounced Sen. Josh Hawley's speech advocating for "Christian nationalism" last week.

Progress MO, a progressive advocacy organization, arranged a Zoom call with four Christian leaders on Monday.

Here's what they said and what to know about Hawley's speech.

Who spoke?

Four Christian leaders spoke at the event. The Rev. Nathan Empsall, expert on "Christian resistance to white Christian nationalism and MAGA’s Christofascism" and executive director of Faithful America, gave an overview of what Christian nationalism entails and the threats it poses to the church, democracy and the nation's shared values.

Missouri Christian leaders from around the state spoke at the call, including:

• The Rev. Dr. Phil Snider, Springfield's Brentwood Christian Church;

• The Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon, Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia;

• The Rev. Dr. Michael Dunn, First Christian Church of Jefferson City.

What did Josh Hawley say about Christian nationalism?

Hawley spoke July 8, advocating for "Christian nationalism" and then appeared to double down on the position on social media. It was the plenary address for the 2024 National Conservatism Conference.

Hawley's office did not respond to requests for comment or clarification on points of his speech.

In the speech, Hawley defined Christian nationalism according to the bishop St. Augustine as "a nationalism driven not by conquest but by common purpose; united not by fear but by common love; a nation made not for the rich or for the strong, but for the 'poor in spirit,' the common man."

He said that Christian nationalism is not at odds with the First Amendment's establishment and free exercise clauses, which prohibit Congress from establishing a national religion and protect Americans' rights to practice — or not practice — their religion, respectively.

"Because of our Christian heritage, we protect the liberty of all to worship according to conscience. Because of our Christian tradition, we welcome people of all races and ethnic backgrounds to join a nation constituted by common loves," Hawley said. "The truth is, Christian nationalism is not a threat to American democracy. Christian nationalism founded American democracy."

What is Christian nationalism?

As of February 2024, about 45% of American adults had heard of Christian nationalism, according a Pew Research Center survey, and 54% of Americans haven't.

"Christian nationalism, to sum it up very quickly, the belief that America is and should be and was founded as a Christian nation," Empsall said. "Christian nationalism is a phrase we use to describe a set of beliefs, a set of assumptions, about the Constitution, about policy and an approach to those policies all rooted in a particular kind of Christianity."

Empsall said that most often, the form of Christianity is "mostly white, mostly evangelical, conservative, straight, patriachial."

Hawley did not respond to questions about whether there was a particular denomination he believed should be followed in a Christian nation.

"Christian nationalism is not Christian," Empsall said. "It warps our faith. It spreads not truth, but election denial. Not peacemaking, but political violence. Not love, but descrimination. It's also unpatriotic: Attacking democracy by eroding our institutions, trampling on freedoms and throwing out the votes of Black and brown voters."

What is the main threat of Christian nationalism?

Empsall feels the biggest threat is violence. In a study by PRRI and the Brookings Institute, 40% of adherents to Christian nationalism said that American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.

"That shouldn't be a surprise; (adherents) have been told things by would-be Sen. Kari Lake in Arizona, for example, who Hawley has endorsed for U.S. Senate. She said, 'When you strap on the armor of God, strap on a Glock, too,'" Empsall said. He also referenced the events of Jan. 6 as "the biggest example of violence to date," as "the insurrection carried out with prayer and Christian flags."

What did Missouri Christian leaders say about Christian nationalism?

All three pastors emphasized the elements of hatred and fear present in Christian nationalism that ultimately lead to violence and called instead for Missourians to embrace tolerance, unity and diversity.

Snider called Christian nationalism a "false gospel" that "preys on the fear and desperation people frequently feel" and "harms those who perpetuate and participate in it."

"Christian nationalism stands in stark contrast to the core values held by Missourians: Our faith communities around the state are diverse and inclusive, embracing the richness of different beliefs and practices. While I speak from a Christian perspective, it is precisely my faith in Christ that leads me to care for others, not to exclude others, Snider said. "I just don't understand why Sen. Hawley does not wish to stand with all Missourians. His rhetoric undermines values held dear and threatens the very fabric of our democracy. We must stand united against any ideology that aims to divide and alienate, and instead we must champion a vision of faith that promotes love, justice and equality for all."

Housh Gordon emphasized her faith's descent from the Puritan settlers Hawley referenced in his speech, saying that Christian nationalism is in direct opposition to the idea "that true faith cannot be mandated or coerced by a government but must be in keeping with the dictates of one's own conscience."

"The idea that we should all live under a single narrow belief system is at odds with my faith and my identity as an American. Christian nationalism not only seeks to enshrine one faith above all the others, it also lifts up only one small thread of vastly varied tradition ..." Housh Gordon said. "When one limited ideology is given the authority to dictate the freedoms of all the rest of us, we Americans call that tyranny and we reject it, just as our ancestors did those many years ago. Sen. Hawley, your fantasies of tyrannical control aren't welcome here. Missourians love our freedoms and our neighbors. Missourians know better."

Dunn expressed concern over the Christian nationalist view that America is a modern-day analogue to Israel in the Old Testament, as a country that receives God's blessing. He also worries about the means by which supporters of Christian nationalism will try to continue to ensure God's blessing.

"In Hawley's words, it's the modern left who want to destroy our common bonds and replace them with another faith to dissolve the nation as we know it and remake it in their image," Dunn said. "Hawley's solution is that conservatives should defend this nation, right? And underscore that word defend: They should defend the nation, they should defend what makes us a nation. Which, inevitably leads to the need to control and dominate using whatever means necessary: Legislation, policy, inevitably controlling by force or violence if necessary. What other outcome can there be?"

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What else did Hawley say in his speech?

The threat facing America, Hawley said, is the left's attack on the right's "spiritual unity" and traditions. He said they aim to "replace the Christian ideals on which our nation was founded and to silence those Americans who dare still stand by them."

"Instead of Christmas, they want Pride Month. Instead of prayer in schools, they venerate the trans flag," Hawley said. "Diversity, equity, and inclusion are their watchwords, their new holy trinity."

He said that the left wants "the religion of the Pride Flag," and suggested that government "take the trans flags down from our public buildings and inscribe instead, on every building owned or operated by the federal government, our national motto: In God We Trust."

Hawley argued that for the Republican Party to succeed, it needs to defend the "great loves that define America": work, family and God.

The senator had harsh words for his fellow Republicans, as well, saying that they have lost the thread of their party in favor of "libertarian economics and corporate interests" and failed to put the working man first.

"Happy and hopeful people have children. Yet fewer and fewer Americans do. Why? Could it be that the economy Republicans have championed — the globalist, corporatist economy they helped create — is bad for the family?"

Hawley also called on Republicans to make policy changes that "put people before money."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Josh Hawley embraces Christian nationalism. Faith leaders disagree