Politics and religion have long been flashpoints in American discourse. Now, there’s a term you may start hearing more of—Christian nationalism. It’s being popularized by factions who argue that Christianity is being used by opportunists for political gain. Lisa Fletcher has more.

The following is a transcript of a report from “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson.”
Watch the video by clicking the link at the end of the page.

William Brangham (PBS): “White Christian nationalism has been in the headlines quite a bit recently”

Stephanie Ruhle (MSNBC): “While it is linked to Christianity, its focus is much broader, with a goal of tearing down the wall between church and state. It is called Christian nationalism.”

Lisa Fletcher: What do you make of the phrase ‘Christian Nationalism’?

Randy Adams: I’ve seen that become a label recently that I think is a means to disincentivize or maybe even intimidate some Christians from engaging in their civil responsibilities.

Randy Adams is a pastor at Church on the Rock, a Protestant church about an hour from Kentucky’s capital, Frankfort.

Randy Adams: Colossians 3 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Randy Adams: What I try to teach my congregation is that when somebody from Church on the Rock dies and they are standing before Jesus, every aspect of their life is going to be called into account. So when it comes to an issue on abortion or gender confusion, or anything like that, I have to live out my civil responsibilities in a way that’s pleasing to Jesus as well. That’s not pushing politics into church; it’s allowing us to be living sacrifices in all aspects of our lives.

Lisa Fletcher: Why do you think that’s become controversial?

Randy Adams: I believe it’s always been controversial.

If the phrase “Christian Nationalism” is new to you, you’re not alone. A leading polling firm asked 1,000 registered voters if they knew what it meant, and about one in three answered yes. But the phrase ‘Christian Nationalism’ can take on a nefarious connotation, depending on who is framing the definition.

The left-leaning group ‘Americans United,’ which advocates for the separation of church and state, describes Christian nationalism as being “…deeply rooted in antisemitic and fascist beliefs. What has changed, however, is that Christian Nationalism has seen increased influence among the right wing.”

An open forum discussion on PBS, which is funded in part by your tax dollars, puts it this way:

Katherine Stewart (PBS): “Christian Nationalism is not Christianity. It is not a religion. It is a political phenomenon that involves the exploitation of religion for political purposes. It’s an organized quest for power.”

Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons (PBS): “Christian Nationalism preaches a gospel of power.”

Randy Adams: You don’t see other viewpoints having that nationalism attached to their name, whether it be LGBTQ or Black Lives Matter or any people with a vested interest in seeing their values permeate society.

Lisa Fletcher: Is it a way of diminishing you and other Christians by slapping a label on them and not having to confront what you’re really talking about?

Randy Adams: Absolutely. I think so. You attack the person instead of the arguments themselves. It’s a disparaging term to make one group feel like they don’t have the right to advocate for their beliefs. The issues where I’ve been labeled a Christian nationalist is whenever I stand up for my own rights and the rights of others who don’t want to have things forced upon them. I’m not going to address a person in a specific manner that they request if it violates my conscience within my faith.

But to those who raise the term, and issue, to the level of a ‘threat to democracy,’ pollsters say it’s pretty clear this isn’t really about the separation of church and state as much as a new way to carve a political divide. Because it’s all about the numbers.

Scott Rasmussen: There’s a basic question: Are we a Christian nation? How do you answer that question? Well, do most Americans profess some kind of Christian belief? Absolutely. It’s close to three out of four. So, by that definition, we are. Is our government a Christian government? Absolutely not.

Scott Rasmussen is well known for his decades of work in public opinion polling. His insights have led to a greater understanding of voter behavior and political trends and attitudes.

Scott Rasmussen: The traditional media outlets don’t talk about faith life. Eight percent of voters talk politics daily. Well, 42% pray daily. More people pray than drink on New Year’s Eve. It happens all the time.

Lisa Fletcher: Historically, do Christians vote alike?

Scott Rasmussen: There have always been divides. Do most people who have a Christian worldview vote Republican? Yes, but African Americans tend to have pretty strong faith values. They tend to vote Democratic.

Lisa Fletcher: How has religion played in terms of voter impact over the last few decades?

Scott Rasmussen: The Moral Majority came alive a few decades back. When Ronald Reagan was president, he talked about faith in a lot of different ways. That group, the Moral Majority, played a very significant role. And they were part of a coalition of Republicans that included the Moral Majority and the faith-based, that included libertarians who said, “We don’t want anything to do with government.”

But the mingling of religion and politics dates back to the Civil War. With the Emancipation Proclamation, many Northern religious leaders believed God was on the side of the Union. With Lincoln’s encouragement, churches rallied behind the war and helped Republicans, the party of Lincoln, to win a second term.

But while the politics of Lincoln in 1864, or even Reagan in 1980, may seem like ancient history, to borrow the phrase from former House Speaker Tip O’Neil, “All politics is local.” And in the case of religion and politics, it becomes hyper-local, a matter of individual choice and belief.

Lisa Fletcher: Should we still hold the Christian base as the foundation for American principles?

Randy Adams: Well, I think you can’t change history, right? It’s important to acknowledge the people that came here and the Christian values that established our country. Our Constitution doesn’t lay out freedom from religion; it’s freedom of religion.

Randy Adams: One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid. Keep on speaking”

Lisa Fletcher: In Frankfort, Kentucky, I’m Lisa Fletcher for Full Measure.

Watch video here.