Thank you for this analysis and for your insightful application of historical texts and themes to our contemporary context. While I agree with what you have written, I can't help but also observe that it seems a significant portion of the Christian Nationalist narrative IS about suffering. Which is part of why the assassination attempts on former President Trump fuel the fire--because it feeds their narrative of a suffering white traditional majority. And then come the online posts about how "they tried to assassinate Jesus too." The questions in my mind about this narrative are (1) is their narrative true and (2) what role do Christians have in bringing about the resurrection. As I hear it, the current Christian Nationalist narrative is this: Trump and his followers are those that have been persecuted with Jesus on the cross; "Make American Great Again" is a prayer and action call for resurrection. I do not buy into that narrative, but I mention it to point out that suffering plays a major role in that narrative.
I think the key difference, though, between this use of suffering and Luther’s view of the theology of the cross is that the Christian nationalist position is actually a rejection of suffering; this is basically Ben’s point. So the logic goes that they are suffering, but instead of viewing this suffering as a natural and even redemptive part of the Christian life, the Christian nationalists believe that they need to transcend this role by electing political officials to put them back in the victorious majority position.
Thank you for this thoughtful discourse. I value your theological/historical perspective. As a christian with a progressive/liberal political viewpoint I have not yet found a satisfactory theological explanation of the christian nationalist errors. This has been helpful.
Thank you for this analysis and for your insightful application of historical texts and themes to our contemporary context. While I agree with what you have written, I can't help but also observe that it seems a significant portion of the Christian Nationalist narrative IS about suffering. Which is part of why the assassination attempts on former President Trump fuel the fire--because it feeds their narrative of a suffering white traditional majority. And then come the online posts about how "they tried to assassinate Jesus too." The questions in my mind about this narrative are (1) is their narrative true and (2) what role do Christians have in bringing about the resurrection. As I hear it, the current Christian Nationalist narrative is this: Trump and his followers are those that have been persecuted with Jesus on the cross; "Make American Great Again" is a prayer and action call for resurrection. I do not buy into that narrative, but I mention it to point out that suffering plays a major role in that narrative.
I think the key difference, though, between this use of suffering and Luther’s view of the theology of the cross is that the Christian nationalist position is actually a rejection of suffering; this is basically Ben’s point. So the logic goes that they are suffering, but instead of viewing this suffering as a natural and even redemptive part of the Christian life, the Christian nationalists believe that they need to transcend this role by electing political officials to put them back in the victorious majority position.
Thank you for this thoughtful discourse. I value your theological/historical perspective. As a christian with a progressive/liberal political viewpoint I have not yet found a satisfactory theological explanation of the christian nationalist errors. This has been helpful.