On this Memorial Day weekend, we gather not only to flip pancakes, sell plants and serve coffee, we gather to remember and honor the brave persons who have sacrificed their lives for our country. It is a solemn occasion that allows us to reflect on the values of freedom, justice, and peace that these individuals fought to protect. As we honor their memory, it is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to these values within our church.
We must be careful in our celebrations because sometimes our Christian identity can get confused or consumed by White Christian Nationalism. White Christian Nationalism often promotes the supremacy of one race and intertwines religious identity with national identity. This is an ideology that poses a significant threat to the values of equality, justice, and self-giving love that are foundational to our faith and nation. I find that it is crucial to address this concern directly but ensuring that we do not dishonor the memory of our fallen soldiers or offend our veterans. To do this, I ground this caution in Scripture and our Social Principles.
Jesus teaches us in John 15:13 that “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This profound statement highlights the ultimate sacrifice made by many in our armed forces. Their service is a testament to their commitment to the greater good, embodying the selfless love that Jesus exemplified all the way to the cross for our salvation. Peter warns in Acts 10:34-35 “Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Proclaiming to all generations that God shows no partiality to any nation, meaning America does not have a divine standing over and against other nations.
In this way, Jesus calls us to live by the principles of love, justice, and peace. The United Methodist Church’s Social Principles remind us that we must “reject laws, policies and social practices that marginalize, discriminate and/or encourage the use of violence against individuals, communities or other social groups based on perceived racial, ethnic or tribal differences.”[1]
The United Methodist Church has taken a clear stance against Christian nationalism. Our advocacy emphasizes the importance of maintaining the separation of church and state, promoting religious freedom, and ensuring that our nation’s policies reflect the values of justice and equality. According to our United Methodist Advocacy website, Christian nationalism “often overlaps with and provides cover for white supremacy and racial subjugation, challenging the church’s commitment to racial equality.”
We honor the sacrifices of our veterans by upholding the values they defended. I think this means standing against ideologies that promote division and inequality. Our Social Principles highlight that “the church deplores war and all other forms of violent conflict and urges the peaceful settlement of all disputes.”[2] Similarly, we must deplore and actively resist ideologies like White Christian Nationalism that foster division and violence.
Our commitment to peace and justice requires us to educate ourselves and others about the dangers of such ideologies. We are called to “develop strategies for overcoming these kinds of social divisions.”[3] This involves promoting inclusivity, advocating for policies that protect the rights of all individuals, and fostering a community that reflects the love and justice of Christ. As we remember those who have laid down their lives for our country, let us also commit to living out the values they fought to protect. This includes standing against White Christian Nationalism and any form of racism, ethnocentrism, or tribalism. We must strive to be a people that embodies the love and justice of Jesus, working towards a world where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
In this way, we honor the memory of our fallen soldiers not only through our words but also through our actions. By fostering a world that rejects hate and embraces love, we can ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain.
This Memorial Day, as we serve breakfast to our community, let us renew our commitment to the values of freedom, justice, and peace. Let us honor our veterans and fallen soldiers by standing firmly against White Christian Nationalism and any ideology that threatens the unity and equality of all God’s people. In doing so, we live out the commandment to love one another, just as Christ has loved us.
Have a safe and faithful Memorial Day Weekend!
THINGS YOU CAN DO:
Sign the Christians Against Christian Nationalism statement on their website.
Call for legislative policies that strengthen the protection of religious freedom.
Encourage lawmakers to speak out against religious intolerance and discrimination.
Oppose a social climate of fear, mistrust and stereotyping
[1] https://www.umcjustice.org/documents/124 (page 29).
[2] https://www.umcjustice.org/documents/124 (page 34).
[3] https://www.umcjustice.org/documents/124 (page 29).