Practical help for Engaging with Christian Nationalism
A Feature Review of
Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor
Caleb E. Campbell
Paperback: IVP, 2024
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Reviewed by Stephen R. Clark
Books abound sounding dire warnings about the dangers of Christian Nationalism (CN). Each one explains what CN is, why it’s dangerous, how to recognize it, and sometimes, how to avoid it. Few, if any, offer practical help on how to calmly, rationally talk about the troubling ideas behind CN when it shows up in the social media feed of a close friend, in a conversation with a relative, or among the members of your church. Especially given the horrifying attempt on former President Trump’s life on July 13th in Butler, PA, learning how to graciously engage with Christian nationalists within our social network is more critical than ever.
Author Caleb E. Campbell, pastor at Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, AZ does a yeoman’s job attempting to fill this gap in his new book, Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor. What differentiates his book from others is his well-researched how-to’s for engaging with CN adherents.
Campbell opens the book describing how, in 2020, he became painfully aware that “many within the American church were not placing their ultimate hope in Jesus but were instead buying the false promises of Christian nationalism.” Two key phrases in this quote to keep in mind are “ultimate hope” and “false promises.” He then defines CN as “a movement that calls Christian followers to take government power at all costs to advance their preferred way of being in the world.” He describes CN as a “beast” that shuts down those who disagree with it, misuses Scripture to serve its purposes, and encourages acts of aggression, racism, and hatred.
He labels this movement as Leviathan, echoing biblical references to “an ancient mythical sea monster that lives in the disordered abyss.” Those caught up in CN are “deceived into thinking that the way of the dragon [Leviathan] is more powerful than the way of God.”
As Campbell studied this movement, and became acquainted with the people in it, he noticed that Christian nationalists tend to fall into two camps: some who merely applied the Christian label to themselves, and many who were truly Christian yet misguided. They had real faith but had become, in a sense, disoriented and misdirected in finding ways to live out their faith. Instead of looking to the cross and placing their allegiance fully in Jesus, they have become “united in placing their trust in the power of the sword.” In other words, they were pursuing an earthly kingdom of man (“false promises”) instead of the Kingdom of God (true “ultimate hope”).
This insight clarified for Campbell how to view CN – as a mission field. He writes, “Our role as missionaries to American Christian nationalists is simply to point them back to Jesus, who loves them and you very much.”
With this understanding, Campbell then pursued learning how to be a missionary. He spoke with missionaries he knew and discovered “three key components to missional engagement: study, set, and show.” This translates to studying the culture of CN to understand what motivates people to follow the falsehoods; setting the table by inviting CN adherents to safe places, such as meals, to build relationships; and showing the inconsistencies of CN practices through respectful conversations and listening.
Campbell explains there are nine common sentiments that mark CN which he grounds in three core elements of CN: ideology, idolatry, and identity. Ideologically CN “argues that Christians bind themselves together as a nation and govern themselves as a religious nation-state.” By elevating pride of country to a spiritual level, CN “merges allegiance to Jesus with allegiance to the United States.” It comes very close to equating the government of the USA with the kingdom of Heaven which is idolatry. Finally, in CN, patriotism and love of country are “often tethered to the very core of one’s being.” Instead of identity grounded in being God-created and shaped by the example of Christ, loyalty to country usurps biblical Christ-like living.
To counter these realities Campbell says it’s critical to keep in mind that (1) “we are not in a fight with flesh and blood,” and (2) those caught in the grip of CN are created in the image of God just as we are. Campbell reminds us that in connecting with those who align with CN, our intent is not to confront or defeat them. Rather, we seek reconciliation and restoration, helping them see their misalignment and draw them back to the correct path. This is accomplished through the ministry of the Holy Spirit producing in us love, joy, peace, and other fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
The process of missional disarmament involves sensitive and respectful discussions. Campbell details “seven practices and principles for healthy missional conversations.” These tools and supporting examples come from real-world experiences of missionaries he spoke with and researched, coupled with his own experiences.
Campbell then outlines how to prepare to meet with those enmeshed by CN. He underscores the need to check our own hearts and motives and to be armed with prayer. He also encourages gathering a support team to meet with regularly. The team can offer feedback, encouragement, prayer, and more as we engage on the mission field of CN.
Finally, Campbell offers a “field guide” offering detailed tips and suggestions for “engaging Leviathan” on various points. He shares typical arguments and positions used by CN and how to respond to them. He outlines several typical scenarios and offers step-by-step cautions and encouragements for dealing with them. For each, he lists clarifying questions, points out potential areas of shared values, offers shibboleths (terms and phrases CN will be comfortable with), red flags (words, ideas, phrases to avoid), good things that can be honored, and what he calls “humble diversions.” These are carefully worded example statements that can serve as launching points for deeper discussion. More books need this type of how-to practical application! The goal of each scenario is to redirect people from placing their ultimate hope in false promises of earthly systems and leaders, to reset their allegiance properly on the true Kingdom of the Lord of Lords.
Campbell does an excellent job reminding us that those taken in by the false promises of CN are people who deserve to be respected and loved. That we are not to go to “war” with those locked in the delusion of CN. That we need to not get caught up in the ugly “us vs. them” arguments. That we need to view those “lost” to CN as a mission field. He then offers truly practical ways to accomplish this.
Campbell concludes his book, reminding us that we live in a now but not yet time “of the final victory of the Lamb. In this in-between-time we are called to live in the light of Jesus’s ultimate victory, to hope in his redemptive power, and to trust that one day he will restore all that is broken.” He clarifies that we are not called to fight culture wars, but to refuse to fight such a war altogether. That we are called “to lay down the way of the sword, and to pick up the way of the cross. This is the way that ultimately leads to redemption, restoration, and complete victory over evil.”
This is an essential book for everyone who wants to reach friends, family, and others caught up in the false promises of Christian Nationalism and help them find their way back to being fully engaged in the ultimate hope of Jesus. In other words, we are not called to “Fight, fight, fight!” but rather to “Love, respect, disarm.”
Stephen R. Clark
Stephen R. Clark is a writer who lives in Lansdale, PA with his wife, BethAnn, where they are members of Immanuel Church. His website is www.StephenRayClark.com. He is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and managing editor of and contributor to the Christian Freelance Writers Network blog. He has done news writing for The Baptist Paper and MinistryWatch. He writes a weekly column, “Quietly Faithful: Being a Christian Introvert” for ChristianNewsJournal.com. He has published three volumes of poetry, and his writing has appeared in American Bible Society blogs, Bible Advocate, Breakthrough Intercessor, Christian Century, Christianity & Literature, Christian Standard, Friends Journal, Hoosier Lit, Influence Magazine, In Touch Ministries, Net Results, Outcomes Magazine, Outreach Magazine, Tipton Poetry Journal, and more.
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