Missouri Baptist pastor: US founders wanted religious liberty, not a Christian nation | Opinion

White Christian nationalists argue that because the signers of our nation’s founding documents were all white European Protestant men, that the United States should be declared a “Christian nation,” allowing Protestant Christianity a privileged role in America. As a Baptist pastor, you might think that I would be enthusiastic about giving my faith a leg up over other faiths.

But there are too many errors in the thinking of white Christian nationalists to support their argument. I agree that our nation’s founders were white European men — however, they were not all Christians. A fair number were deists, and Thomas Jefferson believed that Jesus was a teacher, but he took scissors to the Gospels to create his “Jefferson Bible,” removing the miracles and resurrection of Jesus.

For argument’s sake, let’s give white Christian nationalists a pass that our founders were Christians. A majority were. What was incredible was their courageous innovation. The only model of government they knew, and still predominant in many global societies, was to wed church and state. The state churches of Europe were the predominant model from which American colonists fled.

They decided to experiment: What if we separated the church from the state? What if we founded our nation upon a new idea: religious liberty? Could the church survive without tax dollar support? Would this confuse Americans by creating a cacophony of competing faith voices? Would religious liberty work?

Because of religious liberty, people of all faiths came to America and practices of faith flourished throughout American history. It is true, there is an ebb and flow. Perhaps we are becoming more secular as a society. But that is not because of government policy. It is because of people’s choices. In other words, religious liberty at work.

I want to live in an America where I can choose to practice my own faith. I’m a little ambivalent about the idea of someone having no faith, because I’m not sure there is such a thing. What we generally mean by “no faith” is no affiliation with organized religion. I suspect that everyone has some expression of personal faith. We’d be suicidal otherwise. But I’m referring to small “f” faith, not big “F” Faith.

White Christian nationalists breed on fear. They want a privileged place in America because they feel sidelined in a multiracial, multifaith society. They haven’t learned how to live with diversity, let alone cherish it. They want to live in a racial silo, hanging out with their own kind. Hence, “white.” Hence, their partisan objection to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Christian faith that I practice has little in common with white Christian nationalists. I don’t want to practice my faith segregated with my own race. I want relationships across racial lines.

I give thanks for the original vision of America: religious liberty. A nation where everyone is free to participate in voluntary association with the religion of their choosing, or not.

I would argue that religious liberty is on the ballot in the November election. Look carefully at the candidates for United States Senate in Missouri and the presidential candidates. Look carefully at races for attorney general and secretary of state, and the legislative races. Be certain that you are not voting for candidates whose values align with white Christian nationalism.

Find a way to demonstrate your support of religious liberty. I’m leading a multifaith effort to host a rally each month this year in different areas of our metropolitan area. Participate June 20 at noon, beginning at the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church of Liberty at 138 N. Main Street in downtown Liberty. Or join us July 18 at noon at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe. Or come along on other efforts.

But, please, don’t take religious liberty for granted, or we may find ourselves in an autocratic America that none of us will recognize.

Rev. Dr. Stephen D. Jones is co-pastor of the Beloved Community of First Baptist Church of Kansas City, MO.