Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor
Reviewed date: 2024 Aug 13
198 pages
A syncretistic perversion of the gospel
In Disarming Leviathan pastor Caleb E. Campbell explains what Christian nationalism is, why people become Christian nationalists, and how to engage with Christian nationalists.
In brief: an American Christian nationalist is not just a politically conservative Christian or a patriotic Christian. American Christian nationalism is a syncretistic faith that blends Christianity with American civil religion and populist tribalism. It has many of the trappings of Christianity but ultimately its fruits are antithetical to the gospel. This is not to say that Christian nationalists are not believers. Many surely are, and are deceived by this syncretistic perversion of the gospel. Some Christian nationalists may indeed be believers—but it is a perversion of the gospel.
Mission Field
Pastor Campbell suggests treating Christian nationalists as a mission field. Learn their cultural and tribal traditions, understand their desires and their fears, and gently lay some seeds that will cause them to recognize that their belief system is inconsistent and contrary to the teachings of Scripture.
The first and only practical guide for engaging Christian nationalists
To that end, the most important chapter is chapter 7, where Campbell gives specific examples of how to talk to Christian nationalists. He lists common views and beliefs that Christian nationalists will express, then he explains the fears and desires that underlie those beliefs. He gives specific talking points for responding, and (crucially!) he lists shibboleths and red flags to avoid. This is the first and only practical guide I've found for engaging Christian nationalists.
I believe Pastor Campbell has done an excellent job of identifying what American Christian nationalism is and how to interact (and not interact) with people who are caught up in it. I'm not 100% sure his strategy of treating Christian nationalists as a mission field is the right strategy, but I'm also quite sure I don't have a better idea. So a mission field it is.
A pessimistic note
Incidentally, much of what Campbell says are things I've already come to believe. He hasn't surprised me. I've done some of what Campbell has suggested in the way I've tried to interact with people over the last seven or eight years. However, I am much less sure than Campbell that American Christian nationalism can be effectively disarmed. I'm still wondering if Rod Dreher's Benedict Option is still the better idea.