The Edge of Democracy Part 4: When Faith Becomes a Weapon — Christian Nationalism and the Battle for America

The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk has reignited the national conversation about faith, politics, and power. His death was immediately politicized, with some calling him a martyr for “truth” and “freedom,” while others condemned the weaponization of grief to deepen division. But violence in America’s political landscape is not confined to one side. Paul Pelosi, husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was brutally attacked in his home. Representative Ilhan Omar continues to face death threats for being Muslim and outspoken. Even conservative voices such as Ben Shapiro have faced harassment and antisemitic attacks. Violence, once viewed as fringe, has now become a symbol in an ongoing narrative that frames politics as a war between good and evil.

The Rise of Christian Nationalism

Christian Nationalism is one of the most visible forces reshaping American politics today. It teaches that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and should remain one, with laws and institutions that reflect conservative Christian values.

In 2025, this ideology moved from the fringes of political discourse into public policy. Texas lawmakers passed legislation that would have required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public classroom. A federal judge blocked it in August 2025, ruling that it violated the Establishment Clause by promoting religious coercion rather than freedom of belief. Around the same time, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton promoted a new school prayer law encouraging students to recite the Lord’s Prayer during the school day. These policies, while framed as “restoring faith,” push the government closer to endorsing one religion over others, undermining the First Amendment’s promise of religious liberty for all.

At the national level, the Project 2025 agenda, created by the Heritage Foundation, has outlined a sweeping plan to restructure the federal government around “biblical principles.” The proposal calls for purging civil service employees, expanding executive power, and embedding Christian doctrine into national policy. Analysts warn this is not about religious freedom but about transforming the United States into a government guided by one faith tradition, a direct threat to the Constitution’s commitment to secular governance.

Faith, Power, and the Constitution

When religion becomes a tool of political power, it distorts both faith and democracy. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion and freedom from government-imposed religion. The Founders were clear: America is a nation of religious pluralism, not theocracy. James Madison, the principal author of the Bill of Rights, wrote that religion “must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man.” Yet in 2025, we are watching that principle erode as leaders justify laws on explicitly theological grounds.

From the Texas school prayer initiatives to curriculum proposals that blend Bible lessons into public education, religious tests for public life are quietly returning. These efforts may appear benign, but they signal a shift from faith as personal conviction to faith as government doctrine. When the state adopts one interpretation of Christianity, it sets a precedent that contradicts both the Constitution and the teachings of Jesus himself.

The Teachings of Jesus vs. Christian Nationalism

At the heart of Christianity lies humility, compassion, and love for all people. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) and “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). These teachings call believers to empathy, not domination.

Christian Nationalism reverses these values.

• Instead of “love your neighbor,” it preaches fear of those who believe or look different.

• Instead of “blessed are the peacemakers,” it glorifies confrontation and political conquest.

• Instead of lifting up the poor and marginalized, it protects the powerful while scapegoating the vulnerable.

Jesus washed the feet of his disciples; he did not wield power over them. Yet the image of a “warrior Christ” draped in an American flag has become a political rallying cry that distorts faith to justify exclusion and even violence.

Weaponizing Faith and the Threat to Democracy

Recent federal actions show how deeply religious rhetoric has entered political institutions. In mid-2025, the Department of Homeland Security released social media videos using religious imagery and biblical references to frame immigration enforcement as a “divine battle.” This blending of faith and state power transforms policy into spiritual warfare, eroding the neutrality the Constitution demands.

Book bans, abortion restrictions based on religious belief, and calls to identify America as a “Judeo-Christian nation” all point to a broader campaign to align civil law with sectarian doctrine. Each of these actions chips away at the Republic’s secular foundations. A constitutional democracy cannot function when moral authority is defined by one religion and dissent is treated as sin.

The Bible itself warns against this temptation. “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), Jesus said, rejecting the idea of using political power to advance his mission. When faith becomes a weapon in politics, it betrays both Christ’s teachings and the Constitution’s design.

A Nation at a Crossroads

America now stands between two futures: one rooted in pluralism, and one driven by theocratic control. If Christian Nationalism continues to gain political ground, we risk undermining the very Republic our founders fought to build. Once politics becomes a “holy war,” the peaceful transfer of power, the bedrock of democracy, begins to crumble.

Reclaiming our constitutional and moral integrity will require courage.

• Reaffirm the First Amendment: No religion should dominate public life.

• Hold leaders accountable: Demand that they stop using faith to justify oppression.

• Promote civic education: Teach Americans the difference between faith-based values and religious governance.

• Return to compassion: Faith should call us to serve, not to conquer.

Charlie Kirk’s death, and the violence that has struck people across the political spectrum, should remind us that democracy is fragile when truth, faith, and freedom are twisted for political gain. The First Amendment is not just a legal protection; it is a moral covenant that preserves both belief and liberty.

If we allow politics to become a holy war, we risk losing not only our democracy but also the moral soul of the nation.

What's Next

In Part 5 of The Edge of Democracy series, we uncover how disinformation is being used to divide voters, weaponize faith, and undermine free elections. Who benefits from these lies? And what will it take to rebuild trust before democracy itself breaks?