In this OpEd, I discuss Politico’s award-winning investigative journalist, Heidi Przybyla, statement that only Christian nationalists believe in Divine Rights.
Politico’s award-winning investigative journalist, Heidi Przybyla, made headlines last month. On MSNBC (where else), she was discussing the boogeyman of “Christian nationalism.” Przybyla said,
“The thing that unites them as Christian nationalists — not Christians by the way, because Christian nationalist is very different — is that they believe their rights as Americans don’t come from any earthly authority. They don’t come from Congress, they don’t come from the Supreme Court, they come from God.”
I grew up in an era when “civics” was taught in school. We read and discussed America’s founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
…
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions…
The Declaration concludes with:
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Przybyla surely knows that America’s founding documents are based on the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” “appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world,” with “a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” Why does she claim that this belief is unique to Christian nationalists?
It appears to be a progressive redefinition of foundational American principles away from their roots in Christian ethics and natural law. Some have compared this to past cultural revolutions, like the French Revolution (1789-1799), the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), and the Iranian Cultural Revolution (1980-1983). I think they are right.
These revolutions sought not just political change but a deep reconfiguration of societal values. In France, this meant dismantling the monarchy and aristocracy, challenging the church’s authority, and promoting secularism and egalitarianism. China’s Cultural Revolution aimed to purge capitalist and traditional elements, enforcing Maoist ideology with a youthful zeal that targeted educational, cultural, and social institutions. Iran’s revolution transformed the nation into an Islamic republic, with significant shifts towards religious governance, impacting laws, education, and daily life, and emphasizing a return to Islamic values.
Historical revolutions transformed societies, swapping old symbols for new values. Today’s turmoil reflects progressive ideologies’ lack of a solid base, starkly contrasting with our nation’s enduring principles. Modern progressivism’s instability has ushered in fragmentation and inconsistency, highlighting a deep societal identity and purpose crisis. This dichotomy pits the timeless wisdom of our founding fathers against the unpredictable nature of contemporary progressivism, emphasizing the ongoing struggle between steadfast values and fleeting modern impulses.
At the crux of this conversation, we’re reminded that the Declaration of Independence roots our rights in divine providence, not human decree. But is this belief solely the territory of “Christian nationalists,” as some claim? It seems a tad reductive to suggest that a deep faith in our founding principles is somehow radical, skirting dangerously close to questioning the Constitution itself.
When we hear from Przybyla that only “Christian nationalists” believe our rights are divinely bestowed, it’s worth asking: when did mainstream Christianity abandon such a core American ideal?
As we navigate the choppy seas of cultural change, we must keep an eye on the guiding light that has led us thus far: the recognition that our rights stem from God. Always the cornerstone in questions of governance, the simple yet profound acknowledgement of our God-given rights is at the core of political infrastructure, whether we try to skirt around it or not.
As John Adam’s said: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Adams wisely observed that our Constitution was crafted for a people grounded in morality and faith, underscoring the truth that our liberties are gifts from God, not grants from government. This understanding isn’t just historical; it’s a call to action. Benjamin Franklin, upon the close of the Constitutional Convention, left us with this challenge: “A republic, if you can keep it.”