This week, the Pragmatic Four regain their strength as they unite to interpret their situation in light of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.  Though they had been shrunk down and could only see what was right in front of them, they begin to remember the importance of context in interpreting both scripture and the present circumstances.  John Wesley as Mr. Pragmatic remembers that reason dictates that he interprets events both through his own contextual lens, and more faithfully by acknowledging the differing contexts of others.  The Four break free of Literalville and push back against Dr. Damn, who argues that white nationalist evangelicalism is not a context, it is the only way to read scripture.

Any time we assume that we are reading the scripture plainly, that we are taking the literal meaning of scripture, we fail to recognize our own interpretive lens.  Everyone brings a context to scripture interpretation.  Everyone brings different histories, doctrines, and theological assumptions to the text.  White evangelicals, as they become more and more nationalist, are blind to their own interpretative lens and make the assumption that they alone are reading the text plainly and literally.

As the Christian Right gets more and more cozy with nationalism, it becomes more and more evident to the rest of us how far they’ve fallen from the tree.  The Stop the Steal rally-turned-insurrection was full of Christian nationalist symbolism, with people praying around a life sized cross while others built a literal gallows.  Jesus saves signs and Christian flags waved next to Trump flags, the assumption being that the truest form of Christianity was that which fights to preserve Trumpism.  Journalist Samuel Perry said, “It is important to note that the vast majority of Christian nationalists never engage in violence. Nonetheless, Christian nationalism does supply a vocabulary and narrative suggesting that unless Christians control the state, the state will attack or suppress Christianity.”  The ease with which white evangelicals have tolerated white supremacists under the Trump years is indicative of the conflation of Christian identity with American identity.  White evangelicals share with white supremacists the belief that unless it is controlled by them, their very particular values of family, capitalism and heteronormativity are threatened.

So what is the way forward?  We cannot promote peace and unity without naming the sin-sickness of the white nationalist evangelical.  But to do so only seems to incite them to feel more persecuted and more entrenched in their beliefs.  How do we open their eyes to see that they are affected by the sins of white supremacy and homophobia?  How do we hope for a way forward together without surgical removal of white supremacy from the Body of Christ? I like the way Inscripture Girl is the one protecting Mr. Pragmatic from the homophobic rays of Dr. Damn.  Queer Christians and Black Christians and Female Christians and Latino Christians and Asian Christians and African Christians all have much to offer a fuller reading of scripture.  We don’t all agree with each other, and sometimes our interpretations are directly at odds with each other.  But scripture is like a precious jewel, turned over and over again to discover the depths and endless facets therein.  Right now, I am finding a new love for scripture through the Queer Bible Commentary, and The Witness Black Christian Collective.  I’d love to know what resources are opening your eyes to new depths and wonders in scripture?  What resources are expanding your worldview instead of shrinking it?