How Progressive Churches Helped Usher In Fascism

Before we can discuss how most “progressive” churches are just as guilty of ushering in fascism as conservative churches are, we have to clarify exactly what fascism is. It’s a word we throw around so often, without a clear and agreed-upon definition. I wrote about it here, but essentially, in my view, “fascism” is synonymous with authoritarianism, which is the opposite of democracy.

While we think of these terms most often in terms of governments, we should instead think of them in terms of any group which requires governance, which would/ could include businesses, churches and even families. The smaller the locus of control, the more fascist/ authoritarian an environment is, while the wider the locus of control, the more democratic it is. Or, to put it another way, the more control a few have over the many, the more fascist/authoritarian an organization is. The more buy-in people have, or ability to create change within their organization or community, the more democratic it is.

It is common right now for the left to see the right as “fascist” or for liberals/ progressives to label conservatives as “fascist”, but the truth is, authoritarianism is alive and well on both sides of the aisle, and in both progressive and conservative churches.

In order for any fascist state to rise, the first thing they have to do is either co-opt or destroy religion. In most ancient states, Pharaohs, Emporors and Caesars (to name a few) were not just heads of state, they were all worshipped as deities. (A very common theme in the Old Testament is one of Hebrews refusing to bow down and worship various rulers as deities.)

In Great Britain, although this is more of a titular role now, the reigning monarch is the rightful head of The Church of England, which was established in the first place to wrest power away from the Catholic Church. In communist China, religion is largely banned outside of certain state-sanctioned activities.

In other words, there is and always has been both a strong link and constant conflict between earthly rulers and religious authorities.

Why?

Consider this very famous quote from Gandhi.

Your beliefs become your thoughts,

Your thoughts become your words,

Your words become your actions,

Your actions become your habits,

Your habits become your values,

Your values become your destiny.

Gandhi

Notice where it all starts?

It starts with our beliefs.

Our beliefs are the driving force behind every one of our actions.

If you control people’s beliefs, you control their actions.

If you control people’s actions, you control their lives.

Even more importantly, since we can see actions, but not beliefs, when you control people’s beliefs, your control remains invisible.

Our deepest beliefs have to do with God, heaven, hell, the afterlife and/ or our purpose here on earth. While a great number of people claim to not believe in Heaven, Hell, or an afterlife, an obsession with the afterlife is such a common theme among both modern and ancient cultures around the world, it’s a little difficult to believe that anyone is really capable of just “turning that off” and simply “not believing” in it. Possible, but questionable for sure.

Consider suicide bombers, or even just men who go to war in general, knowing full well they might die. What force is powerful enough to override their own basic desire for self-preservation? Consider this passage from the U.S. Naval Institute regarding the U.S./ Japanese conflict in WWII.

The moral position of the Japanese fighting men was the same as that of every U.S. serviceman who stepped onto shore. Each was dedicated without reservation to his country’s welfare and stated position in the context of the war. At the same time, each feared for his life and desired to be spared. No doubt there were some among the Japanese who clung to belief in the glory of an afterlife in the Pure Land. But most of such thoughts, any clever physician of the soul would recognize, were on the surface of the personality, overlaying the primal desire of the living organism to survive. No one came to that fight entirely ready and willing to die for his beloved country—neither American nor Japanese.

Yet Japanese soldiers would strap dynamite to their bodies to destroy a bridge built overnight by Marine engineers, killing themselves in the process of delaying intruders. Behind the acts of uniformed men of both nations were social pressure, fear of shame, the concept of an afterworld, the teachings of their fathers and schools, a desire to protect mothers, wives, and children, and an absolute determination not to let down their comrades-in-arms.

In short, they were motivated by a very complex system of beliefs about both the afterlife and their place in and responsibility to their families, their comrades and their society.

If you Google almost any church in America, conservative or progressive, you will most often find a long and detailed statement of faith or statement of beliefs, like this one from the National Association of Evangelicals.

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.

We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Not surprisingly, this organization puts the most damaging and destructive point first. Some churches use a bit more flowery language, like this statement from Trinity West Seattle, which dances around a bit more, but keeps the same key point.

We believe God has inspired the words preserved in the Scriptures, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, which are both record and means of His saving work in the world. These writings alone constitute the verbally-inspired Word of God, which is utterly authoritative and without error in the original writings, complete in its revelation of His will for salvation, sufficient for all that God requires us to believe and do, and final in its authority over every domain of knowledge to which it speaks.

Now I understand that it would seem to be perfectly natural that any Christian church would hold the Bible to be their highest authority. That’s why we don’t think about it a whole lot, because it seems so natural, but is it? Is the Bible, in fact, supposed to be our highest authority, or is God meant to be our highest authority? You see, by anchoring the Bible as the WORD(S) of God, they also tie the authority of anyone interpreting the Bible as being the VOICE of God.

It’s very subtle but deeply profound, which is why it slides right past us. It is a means of giving a very small group of people (and in some cases, one person) the authority of God. Because the next thing they do is limit the number of people who have the authority to teach/ interpret the Bible. This is why there has always been such a massive emphasis prohibiting women from teaching the Bible. Because if the Bible is the “infallible word of God,” then whoever is allowed to interpret it becomes the voice of God, and carries the authority of God.

Remember, when you control people’s beliefs, you control their actions.

Why do so many religious women act in ways that are literally detrimental and destructive to themselves? Because they have been indoctrinated by their religious leaders to believe that the Bible (or other scripture) is the “Word of God” and therefore anyone qualified to interpret it becomes the Voice of God, which, coincidentally, is never women.

Even when women are appointed pastors or priests, they are usually expected or even required to stick to the interpretations of scripture they have been taught by centuries of men. When you go off script, you lose your position.

This is not to say all churches have participated equally in creating the kind of fertile soil in which fascism grows the strongest. Consider this statement from Mars Hill Church in Michigan. No, not the one founded by Mark Driscoll, but (ironically) the church with the same name founded by the complete and polar opposite of Mark Driscoll: Rob Bell. (Remember the guy who wrote Love Wins?)

We affirm the central truths of historic orthodox Christian faith, seeing ourselves in a long line of generations taking part in the endless conversation between God and people. We believe the Bible to be the voices of many who have come before us, inspired by God to pass along their poems, stories, accounts, and letters of response and relationship with each other and the living God. To know where we’re going, we have to know where we’ve been.

Although there is still a certain “rigidity” in this language, it at least implies that there might be room for some variation in interpretation or belief. But some churches actually go so far as to make it crystal clear that no one person or group has all the answers, and therefore, there is no need for a uniformity (or conformity) of beliefs.

Consider these statements from First Plymouth Congregational Church in Cherry Hills Village, CO.

First Plymouth Community Purpose
We are a welcoming spiritual community that actively cares for one another, our neighbors and the earth. Inspired by God’s love and the teachings of Jesus, we engage in meaningful worship and spiritual practices; pursue social and earth justice through acts of service and advocacy; and create space for diverse expressions of belief.

A Church of Open Ideas

As Christians, we rest in God’s amazing grace and see God’s presence in the words of Scripture, in each other, in our beloved community, and on our beautiful planet. The UCC is unique to some because we do not require uniformity of belief. We are a church of open ideas, extravagant welcome, and the courage of our convictions.

Ours is a risk-taking church, because ours is a risk-taking God. We support liberty in our pulpit, just as we affirm the individual conscience of our members to agree, disagree, and wrestle with life’s biggest questions in a spirit of love. Our passion for democracy extends to both government and church, where decision-making rests within each congregation of the UCC.

Do you see the difference?

While the majority of churches will have a long, often highly detailed “statement of beliefs,” which was almost assuredly compiled by a ridiculously small number of men in the church (if not just outright taken verbatim from another church or organization), this church views beliefs as something people have the right to build, develop and explore on their own. Most churches say “you are not qualified or allowed to build or develop your own beliefs; you have to accept the ones we give you.”

But, do you know why we all love the idea that the Bible is the “infallible word of God”?

Because it means that anyone who quotes the Bible automatically has the authority of God!

Sure, within the church walls that might be only the pastor or a small group of men, but what happens when you leave the church? Then you get to have the authority of God, as long as you quote the Bible! It means that (in your mind) people have to do what you say, as long as you are quoting the Bible.

In other words, the locus of control rests with you.

That, my friends, is fascism.

And it started in our churches.

But not just the conservative ones.

Surprise! You don’t have to be a Christian Nationalist to be a fascist, you just have to believe that a few people get to decide for the many what beliefs are true, right, and correct.

And by the way, this isn’t just about the Bible. If you parse down the major conflicts between liberals and conservatives right now, it’s that according to liberals, everything conservatives believe are all lies, while liberals are apparently the sole purveyors of “truth,” and vice-versa. Sadly, we have all been conditioned to believe that whatever “our side” says is the truth and whatever “their side” says is a lie.

We will never have peace - or democracy - until we can deconstruct the beliefs we have been indoctrinated into believing about “them” or “their side.” As long as we can’t hear or listen to each other, fascism is our only option. Democracy requires a multitude of voices, all being heard, listened to and given weight.

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