The analysis by Kristen Du Mez, author of Jesus and John Wayne It is increasingly showing up in the media as вЂњsomething that must be addressed.вЂќДЇor further research and analysis of the growing presence of Christian nationalism read the following two articles: It showed up in conversations and comments these past two weeks. It is clear that this is on the minds of so many. вЂњWhat is a faithful response to Christian nationalism and how much have our mainline Protestant traditions contributed to it, given birth to it, and played into it?вЂќ But first, I think we have to start with elephant in the room, the one that your comments these past two weeks made obvious: I invited us all to this dialogue so see if we could find common values and a common language that would bring us all home to each other.

I heard grief about a church system that wants to address the growing presence of Christian nationalism, but does not have the energy for the fight. I heard shame about being part of a Christian tradition that has a history of genocidal colonialism. I heard that the Christian church, despite giving verbal lip service to connecting with the broader community is probably too entrenched to actually do it. I heard that the values of Americans are so out of sync that conversation is now impossible. And, while no one named it specifically, the presence of Christian nationalism and mainline ProtestantвЂ™s contribution to that seemed to be source of many of the comments and concerns. In one form or another, I heard repeatedly that we may be beyond solutions right now. It is the second one (and by implication, the third one) that I mostly want to address today because this showed up in comments, conversations, emails, and news media over the past two weeks. вЂњThere is no вЂother side.вЂ™ We are just where we need to be right now.вЂќ.вЂњWe need you to name the specific problems so we can work on actual solutions.вЂќ.вЂњI appreciate your ambition, but I think itвЂ™s too late.вЂќ.The feedback I have received so far could be organized into four basic groups: I spoke of trying to get to the вЂњother sideвЂќ of the divisive and nasty spirit of our time. Even in my invitation to a broad and diverse group of people to join a common table has revealed how much our division has taken root. I have simply promised to follow the threads that emerge, very much like being on a pilgrimage.ДЄlready a significant thread, even an obstacle, has emerged. One of the reasons that my new blog platform (coming next month) will be called вЂњA Pilgrim DiaryвЂќ is that I have no idea where this dialogue is going to take us. I have heard from a number of people both in the comments to my blog and personally. It has been an interesting couple of weeks as I initiated this dialogue to find common values and a common language in our community.

Kristin du mez jesus and john wayne