I recently read a op-ed essay discussing some of the problems in the Evangelical Church in the US. Now, "evangelical" means a lot of different things, both inside and outside of the church. But in this discussion, they were talking about the Jerry Falwell/Billy Graham part of the church associated with conservative politics.
The southern faction of that part of the church was always associated with white supremacy, having its roots in the states of the Confederacy (whether they want to admit it or not), but what has happened in the last twenty years or so--or at least since we elected a Black man president--is that the more conservative northern churches have become southernized and are all-in on White Christian Nationalism.
My interest in this arises from my past membership in one of those (doctrinally) conservative religious bodies, specifically the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (aka “the WELS”). It is apparent to me that the WELS has become a part of this White Christian Nationalist movement. This is based on people I know who are members as well some official pronouncements I’ve seen from Synod leadership.
Another (and larger) Lutheran body—Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, or LCMS—has also gone down that rabbit hole. One of their pastors has recently been indicted in the RICO case in Maryland. Another member who had a role in the Synod was exposed as an out-and-out Nazi. In our greater family circle, there are former LCMS pastors and teachers who are clearly in that camp.
The WELS and LCMS used to distance themselves from these other Evangelical bodies because of markedly different doctrines and teachings about core beliefs. Today, however, they seem to have forgiven those differences as long as they are all on the same side in the culture wars (anti-gay marriage, anti-LGBT, anti-abortion, anti-trans rights, anti-CRT, anti-BLM, anti-woke, pro-gun). Not much gospel anymore, but lots of (southern) White Nationalist Culture War.
