The Threat is Real
Free screening of a powerful documentary on the dangers of Christian nationalism.
Mark your calendar for Sunday, May 19, at 3 pm (doors open at 2:30), and don’t miss the free screening of this powerful documentary on a movement dedicated to ending our democracy.
“God & Country” includes interviews with prominent religious scholars, theologians, and evangelicals concerned about the threat Christian nationalism poses to our nation and to Christianity itself. In the filmmakers' words, the documentary “speaks directly to the almost 200,000,000 Americans who identify as Christians. Christians who fear their faith is being hijacked by an extreme right-wing political movement known as Christian nationalism.”
Thousands of Christian leaders have signed the Christians Against Christian Nationalism Statement, which includes this powerful note:
“We reject this damaging political ideology and invite our Christian brothers and sisters to join us in opposing this threat to our faith and to our nation.”
Christian nationalism, a driving force behind the January 6 insurrection, is a political movement masquerading as faith. The goal is not to spread the Gospel. It’s to replace our democracy with a theocracy and force its radical ideology upon us all.
Megachurches like Awaken of San Diego that promote Christian nationalism are rife with carnival-barker pastors conning their congregations with disinformation, false prophecies and fake miracles, picking their pockets while claiming a direct pipeline to God.
They cherrypick and twist scripture to promote disinformation, prejudice, homophobia, xenophobia, intolerance and hate.
Their founder, Jurgen Matthesius, threatens to “take the crown” of the Crown city of Coronado. He calls those who oppose him unholy and demonic and vows to run them out of town. Jesus spoke of peace. In this video, a clearly agitated and sometimes incoherent Matthesius is obsessed with warfare.
Contrary to Matthesius’ claims, no churches have been driven out of Coronado. We have numerous well-respected churches with long histories of serving our community.
More “Warfare.” At Awaken’s annual “Emerge” Men’s Conference, aspiring alpha males grunt through obstacle courses, slosh around in mud pits, and play mock war games while telling themselves they are the chosen ones.
And it gets pretty weird…
Awaken’s promo for its 2024 Emerge camp is a bizarre takeoff on the groundbreaking 1984 Apple Macintosh commercial about liberating the brainwashed masses from their personal computers so they can buy Apple’s new product.
This is classic projection. Awaken isn’t liberating its followers. It’s brainwashing them.
In his book, American Heresy, Rhodes Scholar and ordained minister John Fanestil argues that Christian nationalism is a perversion of the Christian faith.
The threat is real. It’s never been more important to stay informed.
You’re invited to a free screening of the documentary God & Country at 3 pm, on Sunday, May 19th, at the Coronado High School Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 2:30. Following the movie, World Religion Professor Peter Bolland will lead a discussion with pastors JT Greenleaf and Steve Mather.
Resources:
Christian Nationalism and Political Violence
What Happens When Church and State Merge? Look to Nazi Germany For Answers
The Bogus Historians Who Teach Evangelicals They Live in a Theocracy
Christians Against Christian Nationalism
It’s No Big Deal, We Just Want to Take Over the World
Conspiracies, Crackpots & Crazies