Some Will Say I am Advocating for Christian Nationalism

Missouri religious zealots in action...

I have three grandchildren with a fourth on the way.

We have had the grandkids for a few days now, and I am sneaking in this writing between dozens of snacks and cups of milk. Between petting the donkey and chasing the dogs. Between coloring and swinging. Between trying to keep the kids from picking my flower garden and eating my tomatoes still on the vine and trying to put them down for naps.

I am physically exhausted by the last few days, but I need to tell you something: The past week has been filled with a scary rise of Christian nationalism and we need to listen to what they are saying out loud to figure out the future our children and grandchildren will face if we fail to keep Trump out of the presidency in November.

The rising influence of Christian nationalism in some segments of American politics poses a major threat to the health of our democracy. Increasingly, the major battle lines of the culture war are being drawn between a right animated by a Christian nationalist worldview and Americans who embrace the country’s growing racial and religious diversity.

~Public Religion Research Institute

This past Monday, July 8th, Josh Hawley stated that he is a Christian nationalist. You likely haven’t even heard of his comments. The frequency of elected Republicans saying the quiet part is so fast and furious that we often don’t blink an eye anymore. This isn’t the first time Hawley has been quite specific about his ahistorical point of view and his dangerous zealotry.

“Some will say I’m calling America a Christian nation. And so I am,” Hawley said at the conference’s gala dinner. “Some will say I’m advocating Christian nationalism. And so I do.”

Here is a video of the statement

Christian nationalism is on the rise across the country, but it already has legs in Missouri. It is strongly linked to evangelical, born-again identity and frequent church attendance. The Public Religion Research Institute found that 30% of Americans qualify as sympathizers or adherents to Christian nationalism, including 40% of Missourians.

Forty percent.

I understand that number deeply. I once reminded the Missouri Senate President, Caleb Rowden, that we still have a separation of church and state when he claimed that we could find the answers to “school choice” by reading the Bible.

I told him, “How about we not worry about God since there is still a separation of church and state? Let’s focus on the kids.”

He responded, “Not worry about God? Really? We need not wonder why Jess Piper and like-minded folks represent such a small minority in Missouri. Jess, politics may very well be your religion. It isn’t mine.”

The Missouri Senate President tried to put me in my place by scolding me and reminding me that Christian nationalists are in control and I best remember that. Actually, people who oppose Christian nationalism constitute the majority in Missouri, but he wasn’t that far off.

I am accustomed to being bullied by my lawmakers and belittled for not following their religion, or their version of female submission, but it is always a little surprising.

Speaking of Missouri bullies…like the naughty kid in the class, State Senator Rick Brattin constantly acts out to get attention. Unlike the naughty kid in the class, Rick can actually harm or kill Missouri women and girls in the way he acts out.

I have written about Brattin before. He voted against rape exemptions for abortion.

Brattin explained his vote against allowing abortion in the case of rape by arguing that forcing women to carry their rapist’s baby could be “healing” for victims.

“If you want to go after the rapist, let’s give him the death penalty. Absolutely, let’s do it,” Brattin said. “But not the innocent person caught in-between that, by God’s grace, may even be the greatest healing agent you need in which to recover from such an atrocity.”

Yes. He said that.

Brattin is offensive on many levels, but the video he tweeted out July 10, 2024 really takes the cake. Here is the caption that accompanied the video below:

“In my office, we keep GOD first, which allows us to put people first. Today in the office we’ve got a full worship service breaking out! Thankful to these fearless Christians for their prayers, their support and their steadfast commitment to our Lord.”

Sen Rick Brattin is a Christian nationalist.

The video was shot in Brattin’s office in Jefferson City. The office that Missouri taxpayers afford him as an elected official. The office that all Missouri constituents should feel comfortable in.

Did you catch a few other items of interest in the video? The massive cannon-sized ammo on Brattin’s desk? The man with the camera capturing the scene to share with Brattin’s base? The large “elephant in the room” wall hanging? The “Don’t Tread on Me” and the Betsy Ross flags? The overall emotional and religious outpouring sanctioned by a State Senator in my statehouse?

As a Missourian, I am horrified by the blatant religion being practiced in the Capitol. Well, I’m actually pissed, and so I tagged the Freedom from Religion Foundation in Brattin’s video. FFR just issued a statement saying in part:

“As a government official, you are tasked with upholding the nation’s Constitution — including the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause,”

“It is unfortunate that some public officials inject religion into public life to score easy political capital, however, those given the privilege of serving Americans must be guided by our godless and entirely secular Constitution, barring religious tests for public office and any establishments of religion by government.”

I might not be able to stop the Christian nationalists, but I can tell on them.

When people read about the rise of Christian nationalism in my state, they will often suggest I move.

I started this post by telling you about my grandchildren. I can’t leave this state knowing my children and grandchildren will face the wrath of the religious zealots alone.

My grandchildren deserve to live in a state, in a country, with religious freedom and that means that they should not have forced indoctrination in public schools or forced tithes through religious school vouchers. They shouldn’t have to be a specific religion to receive help and aid from their lawmakers…and, let’s be honest, that religion is evangelical Christianity.

I can’t leave, I can’t look away, and I definitely can’t be quiet about the rise of Christian nationalism in my state. It wouldn’t matter if I did leave, though. This is the plan for the entire country if we don’t stop Trump in November.

Missouri is the embodiment of Project 2025. Don’t look away. Share this with others. This is what they want for the entire country.

Missouri has been running the pilot project for years. We stop it when we buck our lawmakers and refuse forced religion. We stand up and speak out. We lock arms and refuse to allow this to happen.

American lawmakers should remember: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

We stand on the Constitution. We are on the right side of history.

~Jess