“Long a shadowy force in American politics, Christian Nationalism is having a coming out party. The movement seeks a fusion of fundamentalist theology with American civic life.”
From Rolling Stone:
Jason Rapert has likened himself to an Old Testament seer, conveying hard truths on behalf of an angry God. On his broadcast Save the Nation, the 50-year-old preacher and former Arkansas state senator calls himself a “proud” Christian Nationalist, insisting: “I reject that being a Christian Nationalist is somehow unseemly or wrong.” Thanks to Rapert, the Christian Nationalist movement now commands a burgeoning political powerhouse, the National Association of Christian Lawmakers. A first-of-its-kind organization in U.S. history, NACL advances “biblical” legislation in America’s statehouses. These bills are not mere stunts or messaging. They’re dark, freedom-limiting bills that, in some cases, have become law.
NACL National Board of Advisors
1. Gov. Mike Huckabee, Florida Former Governor of Arkansas, Presidential Candidate, Fox News Contributor, host of Huckabee on TBN.
2. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Texas National Christian advocate, conservative speaker, and former radio host.
3. Mr. Allan E. Parker, Jr., Texas President of the Justice Foundation, co-host of “Faces of Abortion” television show. Nationally known prolife advocate and attorney.
4. Congressman Bob McEwen, Virginia Former U.S. Congressman from Ohio & Executive Director of the Council for National Policy.
5. Tony Perkins, Louisiana President, Family Research Council and Vice-Chairman, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom & former state legislator Louisiana House of Representatives. ( More on NACL Website)
According to Rolling Stone: “Rapert would not share NACL’s current legislative lineup, though he promised the group’s website would soon be updated with its model bills “posted for public viewing.” Meantime, Rapert shared that NACL’s top priorities include the fight to block “radical LGBTQ indoctrination in our public schools” and to halt “radical transgender ideology and irreversible genital mutilation of minor children.”
Rapert brags that NACL is at “the forefront of the battles to end abortion in the individual states” and also seeks to drive queer Americans back into the closet. “For far too long,” Rapert insists, “we have allowed one political party in our nation to hold up Sodom and Gomorrah as a goal to be achieved rather than a sin to be shunned.”
Today, NACL has legislative members in 31 states, and touts a dozen “model laws” that its members can introduce “in legislative bodies around the country.” NACL previously made four of its model laws public — including the Texas-style anti-abortion bill and a bill to mandate the display of “In God We Trust” in public buildings.
Long seen as a fringe viewpoint, Christian nationalism now has a foothold in American politics, particularly in the Republican Party — according to a new survey from the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution. Researchers found that more than half of Republicans believe the country should be a strictly Christian nation, either adhering to the ideals of Christian nationalism (21%) or sympathizing with those views (33%).
In fact, according to the survey, half of Christian nationalism adherents and nearly 4 in 10 sympathizers said they support the idea of an authoritarian leader in order to keep these Christian values in society. According to the survey, adherents of Christian nationalism say they will go to great lengths to impose their vision of the country. . . . adherents are far more likely to agree with the statement: “true patriots might have to resort to violence to save our country.”
NPR