As I’ve been writing and speaking about these terms—and especially lately, as I’ve been interacting with evangelicals in a cross-cultural context—it strikes me that even I might benefit from nailing down exactly what I mean. And please note that others working in this area might define things slightly differently.
To start, there is a heavy, but not complete, overlap between all three, especially between white evangelicalism and Christian Nationalism. The issue of race is particularly murky—there are people of color whom I would define as functionally white evangelical, and white evangelicals whom I would not define that way. When I speak of white evangelicalism, I’m talking about a Christian tradition that has been shaped by, historically defined by, and serves the needs of white identity, but it is a tradition that now includes many people of color around the world.
There’s some dispute over whether Pentecostalism is separate from evangelicalism. Personally, I consider Pentecostalism a charismatic/expressive variety of evangelicalism that exists in all three categories. Others may disagree, and I’m far from an expert on Pentecostalism.
So here’s my stab at the differences:
Evangelicalism
A Christian tradition and belief system that grew out of the Anglo-American revivals of the 18th and 19th centuries and elevates individual conversion and religious experience over church hierarchies and emphasizes belief in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection as necessary for the atonement of sin and salvation in the afterlife.
Takes a high view of scripture that in our current context would be called an “inerrantist” approach, that is, the belief that scripture is without flaws and relevant to all times and places, which generally results in conservative beliefs surrounding sex, sexuality, gender, marriage, and family, but can also inform more “liberationist” theology that emphasizes aid for the poor and concern for societal justice.
Is concerned with doctrinal purity and theological certainty on key issues, but otherwise celebratory of diversity, unity across difference, discussion and compromise.
Key goals: winning souls to Christ/proselytization, emulating Christ’s example of aid and comfort to the oppressed, finding individual freedom from sin and failure through confession and repentance, and working to make society more just without seeking power as an end goal.
Examples: the Black American evangelical tradition, revivalist abolitionists and champions of other reforms in the antebellum North, some mixed-raced evangelical churches here, and many evangelical churches and traditions around the world.
White Evangelicalism
An evangelical tradition that grew out of antebellum southern Christianity, the chief goal of which was to preserve social hierarchy, including racial, gender, and economic hierarchy.
Holds to core evangelical beliefs, but emphasizes individual faith and the salvation of souls in the afterlife to the exclusion of the pursuit of justice in society. Prioritizes souls over bodies and minds.
Doctrine of inerrancy goes beyond a high view of scripture and becomes a rigid device to enforce power and define the boundaries of faith. Scripture is cherry-picked and studied out of historical context.
Compartmentalizes personal and public ethics and hyper-focuses on sex, sexuality, gender, marriage, and family and leadership in the church while downplaying teachings on poverty/wealth, the abuse of power, and the pursuit of justice on earth.
Constrains women’s roles in the church and family.
Simultaneously urges ongoing personal repentance as a way of maintaining authority and internal order while scapegoating other groups in society for moral peril faced by evangelicals. Maintains a defensive, paranoid position towards the world outside its boundaries.
Prizes conformity over diversity, positivity over honesty, obedience to authority over freedom, and conflict avoidance over peace building. Teaches “colorblindness” that promotes “unity” at the expense of authentic relationship and experience.
Prioritizes rigid doctrinal purity and tolerates little discussion/debate, theological uncertainty, or moral complexity, resulting in climate of anti-intellectualism and hostility to critical thought.
Fixates on key moral, theological, and political litmus tests as a means of policing the defining the boundaries of Christianity. Since the 1970s in the US, these have increasingly been tied to the Republican party’s political agenda, particularly on abortion and LGBTQ issues.
Key goals: Order, order, order. Maintaining order and hierarchy in the face of social change in the church and society, safeguarding internal tribal needs and authority from the wider society, and achieving and influencing power towards those ends.
Examples: the Southern Baptist convention as a whole and other theologically conservative, majority white denominations (Presbyterian Church in America, Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the southern/conservative Church of Christ, etc), most predominantly white non-denominational churches in the US. Includes many churches and traditions in global evangelicalism, which are heavily influenced by American white evangelical culture via missions, publications, education, and popular culture.
Christian Nationalism—Grew out of white evangelicalism and adheres to all its major elements, but also:
Explicitly rejects democratic government and equality in society. Wants a male-led theocracy that imposes its values.
Elevates and promotes authoritarian leaders both in the church and in government.
Explicitly elevates white supremacy, especially in the American context, or downplays the importance of race/racial diversity if needed as secondary to power. Power and dominion is the main goal, and if the dominant Christian power is white, Christian Nationalists of color will support a white supremacist vehicle.
Subjugates women, in the church, in the family, and in society.
De-humanizes “the other”—marginalized groups, other faiths, other Christians who don’t conform to their ends, LGBTQ people, women.
Melds religious faith with country worship and political power. Defines morality and ethics according to what achieves its broader societal goals.
Egregiously abuses scripture, including the fabrication of elaborate prophecies and broader ideologies, to brainwash followers, enforce authority, discredit other Christians, and justify abuse.
In the US, whereas white evangelicals have been somewhat unwittingly manipulated into becoming foot soldiers for the authoritarian MAGA project, Christian nationalists explicitly want authoritarianism.
Key goals: Power, power, power. In the American context, a white male theocracy in which Christian nationalist religion is enforced in all realms of society. In another country, it may not take on a strictly racial element. In all cases, religion masks various in-group, tribal markers.
Examples: There are Christian Nationalist elements in all white evangelical churches and denominations at this point, here and in some countries around the world. Then there are churches and movements that are wholly/foundationally Christian Nationalist, such as Doug Wilson’s movement, the New Apostolic Reformation, and others.
Those of you who swim in these waters—what do you think? I do not claim this as a definitive understanding. Just what I’ve figured out so far.
Speaking of Christian Nationalism, I knocked out a major #podgoal over the weekend when I appeared on Brad Onishi’s Straight White American Jesus:
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