By Jessie Seigel/December 10, 2023

A mobile billboard decries the right-wing ReAwaken America Tour
Fascism is pounding on the nation's door, trying mightily to break it down. Hate is ascendant. Right-wing congressmen and senators are destroying the government's ability to function. Both hate crimes and senseless mass murders seem to be occurring almost every other day. Et cetera. Ad nauseum.
If there's any moment in which we all need some cheerful news, that moment is now. And, if there is a season that cries out for even a small message of hope, it is this one.
Therefore, it is with some pleasure that I bring to you, my readers, word of a Christian group's determination to counter right-wing Christian fascists in a meaningful way.
Faithful America is an online Christian community founded in 2004 as a project of the National Council of Churches. But it is not affiliated with any specific church. Its members, both lay and ordained, come from many different denominations. Its major goals are "challenging Christian Nationalism and white supremacy" and 'reclaiming Jesus from the religious right."
This organization rightly contends that Christian Nationalism has been marginalizing the Black Church tradition, mainline Protestants, Roman Catholics, progressive Evengelicals, "and millions of other members of the Body of Christ by trying to erase [their] faith and [their] relationship to the public square."
Faithful America asserts that Christian Nationalism is not a religion but an ideology seeking to define national citizenship by a particular religion. This right-wing movement deliberately uses distortions of Scripture to spread misinformation, political violence, and theocratic attacks on equal rights.
In opposition to that reactionary ideology, Faithful America declares that Christianity "is about faith, love, equality, and social justice, not hating or controlling our neighbors." Accordingly, it calls on Christians to "speak out together" to "make it clear that identity-based hatred is never acceptable," and that Christians support their Arab-American, Muslim, and Jewish neighbors."
The organization notes that, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, there was a 182 percent increase in reports of bias incidents against American Muslims from October 2022 to October 2023. During that same period, according to the Anti-Defamation League, there was a 388 percent increase in antisemitic incidents--incidents that already were at or near historic levels at the same time last year.
Recognizing that Christians historically have often fueled hatred against Jews and Muslims, Faithful America takes the view that Christians have a special duty to "stand up and offer a counter witness" against those who promulgate this hate in Jesus's name.
By speaking out, and getting others to do so, the organization hopes to show that Christians are "the biggest critics of the Christian-nationalist ideology," and thus destroy the perception that the religious right speaks for all American Christians."
Though this battle can be daunting given the power and money behind the Christian Nationalist movement, Faithful America has had some successes.
According to the Business Insider, as early as July 2022, Marjorie Taylor Greene declared, "We need to be the party of nationalism and I'm a Christian, and I say it proudly, we should be Christian Nationalists."
Faithful America gathered more than 12,000 signatures rejecting Greene's stance and declaring not only that Greene's idea was "unchristian and unpatriotic," but that Greene and Christian Nationalist leaders were "worshiping the false idol of power with the ultimate goal of seizing all authority for themselves and those like them."
Through its recent petition drive, launched on November 16, 2023, Faithful America has already gained almost 15,000 signatures protesting former president Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. While this will not likely affect whether Trump runs, the speed with which such signatures have been collected is some indication that an up-until-now silent majority of Christians may well oppose him.
Acting as a gadfly, Faithful America has, working with local clergy, managed to get the venomous Christian Nationalist ReAwaken America tours conducted by Trump henchmen Michael Flynn and Roger Stone canceled by some venues.
In at least one instance, when that tour stopped on the Idaho/Washington border near Spokane, Faithful America sent a mobile billboard denouncing it and helped prominent local clergy organize a well-attended press event to condemn the tour for risking political violence in Jesus's name.
In addition, Faithful America has launched its "False Prophets Don't Speak for Me"--a list that "exposes the hypocrisy and heresy of 20 top Christian Nationalist leaders in both church and the public square." These figures include the disgraced former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and other unworthies such as Speaker of the House Michael Johnson; Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan; President of the Billy Graham Evengelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son); Fox News host Laura Ingraham; and co-founder of Moms for Liberty Bridget Ziegler.
It is still far from certain who will win the nation's current struggle for the soul of America. But it is both heartening and helpful to become better acquainted with those who are fighting the good fight. Those who might wish to learn more about Faithful America can find further information on the organization here.
I didn’t know that there is an organization like Faithful America. I hope to hear more news about them. Thanks for sharing this information.