That is why the church's newsletter brought up the subject. I only quoted part of the newsletter, the part that quotes Pamela Cooper-White. I did not include other comments made in the newsletter because I had not checked with the pastor on whether he was ok with me sharing it.
The newsletter addressed strongly that Christian Nationalism is a misreading of the Gospels that harms both religion and democracy. Modern, progressive churches place great emphasis on Jesus' response to a question in the Gospels about which is the greatest commandment. Jesus answers that love is the greatest commandment and that all of the law and prophets are based on that. With love as the greatest and guiding commandment, the hatred expressed in Christian Nationalism is inconsistent with Jesus's teachings.
I also happen to know more about the thoughts of the pastor of that church regarding religious nationalism due to an adult religious education class that he led a few years ago. In that discussion, he brought up the distortions of Christianity that Nazis used in Germany, which led to many following the "German Christian Church" - a Nazi interpretation of religion. He talked about religious leaders who opposed the Nazi nationalist church, e g. Karl Barth (reformed Calvinism), and Martin Niemoller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. - Lutheran "confessing church."
The newsletter called for active engagement in discrediting Christian Nationalism in the US. The quotes from Pamela Cooper-White were guides on how to engage in those discussions successfully in face to face encounters. Some die hard nationalists will not listen or engage in genuine discussion. But to reach others, it is necessary to listen to what they say and to not name call or put down. Hold firm against specious arguments but don't take a superiority stance that will not just turn them off, but will entrench them further in their beliefs. In other words, don't say, "You're wrong because you're a stupid fascist." Listen, and then offer your view, as a sincere duscussion. "That's interesting. I see it this way...." Or, "I especially like when Jesus says that love is the greatest commandment."
The goal is persuasion to undercut the nationalist influence and bring them out of the cult, not angry confrontation that drives them away or further into the cult.
What else are you expecting from the churches? They address this with the focus on the religious, spiritual issue that overlaps with politics. But the focus is more religious than political. If the churches make it a primarily political argument, then they become like the nationalists claiming to know what God wants for the country. Instead, when discussing the political angle, show them how religious freedom depends on keeping church and state separate. There are religious, theological points that support this separation of church and state.
If you are looking for the churches to pull out swords (or guns) and threaten Christian Nationalists that way, it ain't gonna happen.
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