Christianity: The New Big Bad Wolf
By Alex Cummings
Burke County
White Christian nationalists, gun-toting bible-thumping Christians, Christian extremists, Christian nationalists, far-right Christians, rightwing evangelicals, Christian conservatism, and more. These are all common phrases we see spewed about in the media lately to brand Christians in a negative light.
A recent NYT article has pushed the false narrative that the Republican Party has found the “right vehicle and packaging for their white nationalism, religious nationalism, nativism, craven capitalism, and sexism”.
An article by The New Yorker discusses “white Christian nationalism” and its influence on recent Supreme Court decisions on guns, abortion, school prayer, and environmental regulations. There’s even a book titled “The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy”.
Proverbs 14:34 reads “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people”, there is no middle ground, there is one or the other. I think we can all tell pretty quickly, where the articles above fall.
Even the Catholic faith is not immune to the media’s false narratives and barrage, The Atlantic goes into how rosaries and firearms are appearing on social media accounts of “Church militants”. Later in the article, it discusses how this leads to radicalization and terrorist attacks.
Wait, hold the phone, because we’re Christian and we support our 2nd amendment, and we love our country, we’re on a pathway to radicalization and terrorist attacks? Let’s take a moment to look at the staggering facts about Christian persecution around the world (stats from Lifeway):
- 1 in 7 Christians faced persecution in 2021 which amounts to 360 million people in total
- More than 16 Christians were killed per day because of their beliefs
- Afghanistan, the Taliban are literally hunting and killing Christians to this day
- North Korea holds close to 70,000 Christians in labor camps
- China closed 3,000 of 5,110 Churches in 2021 under the false narrative of COVID restrictions
- Nigeria witnessed the deaths of 4,650 Christians in 2021
- John 15:19–20 reads “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they keep my word, they will also keep yours.”
Matthew 5:10-12 reminds us “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Both of these verses remind us that God is pleased when his people show that they value him over earthly things and that they remain faithful amid opposition and persecution. We are not alone; Jesus and his disciples were persecuted for their unwavering faith. Matthew reminds us that we are LOVED by God and no matter what type(s) of persecution we face, our reward is the beautiful, glorious heaven.
Revelation 2:10-11 warns us “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.”
Now, let’s get a little personal for a moment and look at ourselves in the mirror. I for one LOVE God, love my family, love my country, and avidly support the 2nd amendment because, without this amendment, the rest will topple. So, because of this, I’m labeled as a white Christian extremist by some. Interesting, let’s look at everything I do in my life:
- Avidly attend Church and volunteer for every event we host
- I work with our youth every Wednesday night to do community service projects for those in our community that need assistance
- I’m a volunteer firefighter, I don’t get paid to put my life on the line but I do because I love my community and I wanted to serve and protect it. I’m the person who runs into burning buildings to save a life no matter their gender, color of their skin, religious beliefs, or political association
- My family donates thousands of dollars every year to charities
- Our family sponsors a child overseas in Africa to ensure he has basic needs covered
- My full-time job is working for a healthcare SaaS company that helps find funding for patients in financial need to cover their medical bills so they don’t go bankrupt
- My family makes care packages for the homeless including hygiene products and gift cards for food/drinks
If doing all of this above makes me some off-label derogatory name as stated in the first paragraph, then I guess I am. The one I’m certain of, God is pleased and that is truly what matters the most to me.
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Alex Cummings is an NC transplant from the northern woods of Upstate NY and has lived in NC for the last 13 years with the love of his life, Krista, and two beautiful daughters. The Cummings Clan resides in beautiful Morganton, NC, and attends Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Alex is the marketing manager for a SaaS technology company – HPA, A Cognizant Company.
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