Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
In the Empire Strikes Back, young Luke Skywalker is trying to convince the Jedi Master Yoda to train him, a task that Yoda deems both too late and unwise due to Luke's rashness. Luke tries to change his mind by claiming, "I won't fail you, I'm not afraid." After a nice long dramatic pause, Yoda replies, "You will be...You...will...be."
Here's the thing, I'm against 'Christian' Nationalism and embracing strongmen/autocrats to solve our nation's problems, not because I'm naïve like Luke, but because I'm sober-minded enough, and grounded in history and theology enough, to know better.
I will never embrace solving America's problems by abandoning the democratic process in favor of a 'savior', not because I don't love America as much as those advocating such a drastic move (see for example: Eric Metaxas and Rod Dreher), but because I know human history.
Autocracy has never saved a democracy.
Power always corrupts, the greater the power the greater the corruption, do you really think that one person wielding the power of the American military and economy without checks and balances, without elections and judicial review, would be a force for good in the world? We've seen how much evil has been done with the power Xi Jinping wields in China, do you think an American strongman would be any different? Only a fool would think this plan disconnected from both human nature and world history is anything but a national suicide pact.
Immorality has never helped the Church
I will never embrace 'helping' the Church by utilizing evil as a tool, not because I don't love the Church as much as those advocating such a Faustian bargain, but because I know the nature of God.
Many of those not quite willing to abandon our democratic rights have nevertheless been convinced, or have chosen to convince themselves, that the 'greater good' and the urgency of the moment demands that we abandon the luxuries of Truth, Honor, Integrity, Kindness, Mercy, and the like in favor of Realpolitik, 'might makes right', and 'win at all cost' means and measures. Only a fool would think this plan disconnected from both the nature of Evil and the Holiness of God is anything but an act of faithless rebellion. Evil is never the path chosen by God for you or for us. Choosing evil to confront threats to the Church instead of righteousness is not realistic, it is cowardly, it is faithless.
I'm not afraid of the present, there's nothing new under the sun.
I'm not afraid of what comes next, God is always in control, my faith rests in him.
I'm not afraid of the future, God's final victory is assured.
The Early Church was a tiny minority living in a hostile pagan Empire that would soon be torturing and murdering the disciples of Jesus. And yet, the Apostle Paul never even hinted at trying to overcome evil with evil, in fact he specifically rejected it {Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.}. If the disciples of Jesus, who watched their Lord be brutally murdered at the hands of evil men, and the early generations of his followers, who faced the mightiest Empire the world had ever known, were told to not lost heart, to not compromise their character, but to serve and sacrifice with righteousness and love, what on earth makes 21st century American Christians so important that our fears, real or imagined, allow us to not follow in their footsteps?
Yoda also said something else that is appropriate here, "Fear is the path to the Dark Side."
I'm not afraid, my God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, why should you be?
See Also: The downward spiral of Bonhoeffer biographer Eric Metaxas
The Watchman Decree: 'Christian' Nationalism's 'name it and claim it' dangerous prayer
Sermon Video: The insanity of: "Let us do evil that good may result" Romans 3:5-8
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