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In Indiana, Christianity is prominent in public life. Hearing a Christian prayer before sporting events, community meals or government functions is commonplace.
For many, this feels comfortable and familiar. Still, a growing cancer in culture and politics has dangerously malformed this religious tradition into something we must face head-on.
The rise of Christian nationalism—the belief America should be dictated by dangerous misinterpretation of Christianity—is rearing its ugly head in the image of Republican lieutenant gubernatorial nominee Micah Beckwith, who identifies as a Christian nationalist.
Christian nationalism divides, excludes and controls. It blurs the lines between the biblical narrative and the story of America. Christian nationalism teaches America is God’s preferred nation, and a singular political party is executing God’s will while the rest of us are His enemies. It is un-Christian.
Jesus told us to assess his followers by their fruit. Christian nationalism’s fruit is cruelty and hate toward those who look, act or worship differently. The Bible says liberate the poor, heal the sick and welcome the stranger. Christian nationalists caricature Jesus to advance an agenda that breeds fear, divides us and denies our shared reality.
The Project 2025 playbook destroys the systems that help people experiencing poverty. The mass deportations directly contrast Jesus’ welcoming strangers and practicing hospitality in the gospels.
We saw the ugly head of this ideology when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In that crowd were Christian nationalists holding signs reading “Jesus Saves” while vandalizing the seat of our democracy. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade—Indiana was the first state to ban abortion—it was Christian nationalists enabling that assault on freedom. Instead of fighting to create conditions where mothers, children and families thrive in Indiana, Christian nationalists organized to control women’s bodies and block the resources needed to succeed.
Christians who embody the message of Christ are standing up to Christian nationalism. Texas State Rep. James Talarico—a prominent voice in the fight against Christian nationalism—warned we are closer to a Christian theocracy than we think.
He said the revolutionary community—built initially on radical love—was weaponized to become something else. A religion of sharing became greedy. A religion of peace became violent. A religion of forgiveness became judgmental. Centuries later, Christian nationalists are driven by the same goals: unleash unfettered greed, control communities and justify violence on those they disagree with.
Instead of preaching far-right ideology that divides and excludes, we should honor the spirit of faith and community in our practice of politics. That means ensuring every child has a safe home, enough food, an excellent education and quality health care. That means loving our neighbor regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status. And that means building resilient communities where no one faces hunger, homelessness or poverty.
Christian nationalism is a threat larger than Beckwith. Christian nationalism is a threat to America’s democracy and to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus warned of trusting in things other than God and love—idols, money, status and power. But in a world of fear, it’s tempting to stop trusting God—to stop trusting love—and to seek control instead. Christian nationalists want to control what we read, who we marry, what we do with our bodies and what we believe.
We cure this disease by combating religious extremism with the positives the great faith traditions of the world offer. But you can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge. It’s incumbent on us all to shine a light on the growing scourge that is Christian nationalism.•
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Hornedo is an attorney, national political strategist and the founder of Next Gen Hoosiers. Perkins is the associate director of engagement at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and senior pastor at Bethel Cathedral AME Church. Send comments to ibjedit@ibj.com.
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