Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith

by April Ajoy

One of my favorite fights in the early church occurred in Acts 15, when Christian men argued about their penises. They debated whether or not salvation depended on a man’s crotch turtle shedding its shell. I mean, naturally the men thought it all came down to their penises, right?

Target is allowing trans people to use the bathroom they identify with? Christian persecution. A business is being sued for refusing to provide service for a gay couple? Christian persecution. Not being given a city permit to gather a crowd of people for a worship service during a global pandemic? Christian persecution. People leaving the church and exposing the abuse they endured? Christian persecution. The government removing a tax-exempt status because a Christian university refused to allow interracial dating? Christian persecution. Queer people don’t want to eat the Lord’s chicken anymore? Christian persecution.

Even Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene compared Trump’s charges to the arrest of Jesus.8 You know, because Jesus was arrested for challenging religious leaders with radical love, and Donald Trump was arrested for falsifying hush money payments to a porn star and keeping classified nuclear documents in his shower. Totally the same thing.

Moore said some churchgoers were complaining about sermons that included “liberal talking points” such as “turn the other cheek.” When pastors defended their positions by explaining the quotes belonged to Jesus himself, the congregants responded with, “Yeah, but that doesn’t work anymore. That’s weak.”11 You read that right. Classic Jesus is for sissies.

I mean, it’s getting pretty scary out there. One day you can discriminate against people you don’t like and the next day you can’t! What is the world coming to!