Strange Worship: Six Steps for Challenging Christian Nationalism

by Drew J. Strait, Amanda Tyler (contributor)

Christian nationalism threatens democracies and the church’s witness around the world. In the US, the election of Donald Trump and the January 6 Capitol insurrection spilled Christian power worship into public view. Since then, we have worked hard to define what American Christian nationalism is and where it came from—but how do we challenge it? Strange Worship offers tangible steps for resisting political idolatry, violent extremism, dominion theology, threats to democracy, and the personal isolation and loneliness that lead to radicalization. By drawing from the fields of biblical studies, theology, and peace and security studies, Strange Worship invites congregations to disrupt theologies of oppression and architect a more just church and world.

Genres: Politics, Christianity, Social Issues

174 pages, Paperback

Published July 19, 2024

About the author

Drew J. Strait is Associate Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, IN.

Reviews

[Sandy Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the author, Drew Strait, and have read this book. As Dr. Strait describes the phenomenon of Christian nationalism, it become clear that those in the arena of far-right ideology are using the Bible as propaganda for their worship of power, not of God, and are not using Jesus as a model for Christian life.

Though Strait provides clear evidence from multiple studies and sources that the Christian Nationalism movement uses only part of what Jesus taught to claim that that they have been given the authority by the Bible to take over the US government and apply their type of worship and power on all of those living in the US. This is extremely troubling and should be to all of us.

Strait describes 4 stages of becoming radicalized to this ideology and then suggests actions that churches can take to interrupt this radicalization of people who believe they are given direction from the Bible to be violent.

This is a troubling movement and false information on the internet is playing a major role in starting the radicalizing process. False news “agencies” being run out of basements are undetected but can make up false news stories, damaging images with AI and create the chaos we see in our country’s politics. People believe what they see or read. Educating people on false news can help.

Read this provocative narrative of how we got to such a divide since the election of Donald Trump who opened our country up to accepting false news and ugly words, criticizing and demonizing anyone.

Drew Strait has suggestions but no concrete ideas to combat this ideology. He leaves this up to us to start conversations and to inform our politicians and friends. He is hoping churches will see the need to clarify the whole person of Jesus, not to use him as propaganda for their movement.

This is a must read and a must take action book.

[Dale Brubaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Jesus-Centered Analysis and Plan for Effective Witness

Dr. Strait offers a clear and insightful way forward for Christians who desire to build God’s Kingdom and to peacefully resist those who, however well-meaning, are supporting the use of power and coercion in our world today.

[Meggan Manlove · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that goes beyond diagnostics and suggests what we might do. Straight has roots in the Mountain West, which he references and I appreciated hearing about.