Where American Christianity stands

Standing at the nexus of a uniquely American version of patriotism and full blown White supremacy is much of White American Christianity. She stands loudly and proudly in the space between nationalism and naked racism. She straddles that space with pride and grace.

Much of American Christianity - including the version of it spouted in some Black churches I might add - is the spoonful of sugar that makes the nasty medicine of supremacy go down.

Consider, for example, that Mike Pence is a very conservative Christian, who, as a practicing Catholic, used in vitro fertilization to overcome his family's infertility troubles. Yay medical science! But this same individual is one who would vote yes on a law (the AHCA) that would prevent others accessing much more basic and life-saving medical science services than those. Did not Jesus say "blessed are the poor because they don't want health insurance, and they should pay full freight for it if they do?"

Yay, American Capitalism-is-Next-to-Godliness Jesus!

Look also upon Ms. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the daughter of a former Baptist minister, who has spent the last two days lying her ass off for a president who is himself entirely assless, having long ago lied his own off. Or consider how Kelly Anne Conway was referred to by Chuck Todd as "a very lovely woman" and a "devout Christian". Kelly Anne "Alternative Facts" Conway is a devout something, but I leave it to Christ to determine whether it's Christian. I can make no definitive claim one way or the other, but it is worth noting that she seems accepted within the halls of American Christianity.

Praise American Bearing-False-Witness-is-Fine Jesus!

  

I say again, standing at the nexus of a USA! USA! USA!-chanting patriotism, a "Donald Trump will stop you!" screaming patriotism, a "Mexicans are rapists" patriotism, and noxious, unbridled White supremacy is American Christianity. 

This is no ordinary Christianity, but rather the founding fathers' slave-holding, slave-raping, child-stealing, Black pogrom-supporting, Native land-stealing, Chinese immigrant-excluding, Jim Crow-loving, lynching party-having, American Christianity. 

That version of Christianity is the spoonful of sugar that makes the vile medicine of racism, sexism, Islamophobia, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia go down um, um good!

The blond-haired, blue-eyed, White Jesus who somehow came out of brown-skinned, Middle Eastern Nazareth must be so very proud.

As a matter of fact, is it my imagination or do I hear White Jesus now, reframing the Beatitudes?

I can see them going something like this…….

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

(but not the poor in pocket)

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
(but the kingdom of earth is not and they really shouldn’t get too comfy)

Blessed are they who mourn,

(But not the parents or families of POC killed by the police because seriously,

they should just have complied)

for they shall be comforted. 
(and if they’re lucky they’ll get a check but nothing will change)

Can I get an "Amen?"