The rise of Christian nationalism in the UK has sparked discussions around the role of churches in promoting theological understanding while addressing the concerns of their congregations. This topic was explored during a recent webinar hosted by the Evangelical Alliance.
Rev Dr Helen Paynter, from the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence at Bristol Baptist College, highlighted the use of Christian language at nationalist rallies, which she described as “problematic.” She pointed to rhetoric about a “religious war” and the exclusive promotion of Christianity as examples of “thin theology.”
Dr. Paynter distinguished between two groups within these movements: those who are patriotic and concerned about issues like immigration, and those whose views align with “punitive and hostile” ideologies, including racism and anti-Muslim sentiments.
She warned against alienating the first group, suggesting that dismissing their views as extreme could drive them toward far-right ideologies. “Let’s not call each other names. Let’s listen to one another graciously,” she stated.
Emphasizing the need for respectful dialogue, Dr. Paynter encouraged the church to model constructive disagreement and introspection. “If we can bring something to our culture in addition to the saving news of Jesus Christ, how about learning to disagree well and learning to listen to one another and maybe thinking about taking the plank out of our own eye first,” she said.
On the subject of “healthy patriotism,” she expressed a desire to see national symbols, like the flag, used positively and inclusively. “There’s so much we can celebrate about being English and British. It’s about doing it in ways that aren’t narrow – ethnically narrow or religiously narrow,” she added.
Despite a decline in attendance at nationalist rallies, Dr. Paynter noted that the influence of such movements in churches persists. She called on churches to improve theological literacy to help congregants discern misleading ideologies.
Dr. Paynter also stressed the importance of grassroots efforts to share the Gospel and foster community. “Jesus teaches that the Kingdom grows like yeast, and I would say that getting on with the quiet grassroots work of loving our neighbours and sharing the Gospel with them is probably the most important thing we can do right now.”
Joining the conversation, Danny Webster, head of advocacy for the Evangelical Alliance, identified the anti-democratic tendencies within Christian nationalism as concerning. He emphasized the need for the church to engage with the working-class communities holding these views.
“The Church has to do a lot more in terms of hearing and engaging, particularly with working class communities,” Webster said. He warned against mixing the Gospel with political ideologies, suggesting it could obscure the message of faith.
“I would love people on the marches to come to know Jesus but are they coming to know Jesus because of Jesus or because it’s being aligned to particular political movements? That is where we need to have some care – and I say that in terms of any political context … with any movement we need to be careful that we don’t align our faith and the Gospel with particular political movements or ideologies.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
