Bulwark Takes: CHRISTIANITY IN CRISIS: Trump, Politics, and the Future of Faith

Episode Overview

In this compelling episode of Bulwark Takes, host Mona Charon engages in a profound discussion with esteemed guests David French, a New York Times columnist and legal expert, and Russell Moore, Editor-in-Chief of Christianity Today and author of Losing Our Apostolic Call for Evangelical America. Released on March 1, 2025, the episode delves into the intricate relationship between Christianity, politics, and the enduring impact of Donald Trump's presidency on faith communities in America.

1. The Intersection of Trump and Christian Nationalism

Mona Charon initiates the conversation by positing a theory that marks Donald Trump's unique relationship with religion, suggesting that Trump views God as synonymous with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. She observes, "Trump has been listening to these people who have been telling him that he was spared by the Almighty to do great things" (04:50).

Russell Moore expands on this by highlighting the influence of the New Apostolic Reformation, a Pentecostal movement saturated with prophetic declarations about Trump. He asserts, "God has picked this person for this time, and opposing Trump means opposing God" (05:18). This dynamic has entrenched Trump deeply within certain evangelical circles, creating a rigid alignment between white evangelicals and the Republican Party.

2. Radicalization and the Erosion of Traditional Christian Values

Russell Moore discusses the alarming rise in fanaticism among evangelicals, particularly within Pentecostalism. He notes, "The level of fanaticism we are now seeing around Donald Trump is unlike anything that I have seen, including anything I've seen in the Trump era" (07:36). Moore emphasizes that this radicalization has led to a departure from core Christian virtues, replacing them with a combative, "friend vs. enemy" mentality.

Mona Charon probes further by questioning whether there is any resistance within the Christian community to this shift, likening the movement to idolatry. Russell Moore responds by detailing the internal divisions within churches between those who seek to politicize their faith and those who desire unity devoid of political contention. He remarks, "The message that is being spit forward from the Christian community... is mainly, I am afraid of you, and I don't like you, and I am preparing to go to battle against you" (25:03).

3. The Decline of Church Membership and Authentic Faith

Mona Charon references Pew Research data indicating a decline in church membership, particularly among those who are devout churchgoers versus casually affiliated evangelicals. She states, "Now, in the data, you see people who are weekly churchgoers are more likely to vote for Trump than those who are loosely attached" (11:44).

Russell Moore explains this phenomenon through decades of acculturation, where white evangelicals have become almost indistinguishably linked with the Republican Party. He highlights the identity crisis within the church, where political affiliation has overshadowed doctrinal and moral teachings. Moore notes, "White evangelicals are Republicans, Republicans are white evangelicals. There's just a total, total identity between the party and the church" (12:45).

4. The After Party: Reimagining Christian Political Engagement

Addressing the crisis, Russell Moore introduces The After Party, an initiative aimed at redefining Christian political engagement by emphasizing virtues over policy points. He explains, "We created a new Christian political curriculum that focused much more on the what we were calling the how of politics than the what" (20:53).

He further elaborates on the movement's foundational values, grounded in Micah 6:8, advocating for justice, kindness, and humility as non-negotiable standards for Christians in the political arena. Moore emphasizes, "If those three virtues... are not present, we're not doing it right" (24:24).

5. The Hunger for Authenticity and Countercultural Christianity

Both Charon and Moore discuss the palpable hunger among Christians for a return to genuine faith practices, free from political machinations. Russell Moore shares his optimism, citing the emergence of "love your neighbor" Christians who prioritize kindness and humility over partisan battles. He reflects, "Young people... are hungry for kindness. They're hungry for it, they're desperate for it" (29:44).

Moore envisions a countercultural Christianity that embodies the fruits of the spirit—kindness, peace, patience, gentleness, self-control—as a healing force in a fragmented society. He encourages, "This is the moment for the church... to come out to heal those hurts. To demonstrate love in the face of hatred" (33:53).

6. Concluding Insights and Future Directions

As the conversation draws to a close, Russell Moore underscores the importance of fostering communities grounded in authentic Christian virtues rather than political affiliations. He asserts, "There are a lot of people who are saying we don't want that. We really do want to follow Christ, but they're not sure how to do it" (25:38).

Mona Charon wraps up the episode by expressing gratitude to her guests, highlighting the critical need for introspection within the Christian community to navigate the challenges posed by political entanglement and to realign with foundational faith principles.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Mona Charon: "Trump has been listening to these people who have been telling him that he was spared by the Almighty to do great things" (04:50).

• Russell Moore: "God has picked this person for this time, and opposing Trump means opposing God" (05:18).

• Russell Moore: "The level of fanaticism we are now seeing around Donald Trump is unlike anything that I have seen" (07:36).

• Russell Moore: "White evangelicals are Republicans, Republicans are white evangelicals. There's just a total, total identity between the party and the church" (12:45).

• Russell Moore: "We created a new Christian political curriculum that focused much more on the how of politics than the what" (20:53).

• Russell Moore: "This is the moment for the church... to come out to heal those hurts. To demonstrate love in the face of hatred" (33:53).

Key Takeaways

• Alignment Between Evangelicals and Republican Party: Decades of cultural alignment have solidified the Republican Party as nearly indistinguishable from white evangelical Christianity, fostering a rigid political-identitarian bond.

• Rise of Christian Nationalism: A faction within Pentecostalism and the broader evangelical community has embraced a millenarian view, positioning Trump as a divinely chosen leader, which exacerbates polarization and fanaticism.

• Erosion of Core Christian Values: The politicization of faith has led to a departure from traditional Christian virtues, replacing them with adversarial and exclusionary rhetoric.

• Initiatives for Reformation: Movements like The After Party seek to recalibrate Christian political engagement by prioritizing virtues such as justice, kindness, and humility over partisan agendas.

• Demand for Authentic Faith: There exists a significant yearning among Christians, especially the younger generation, for a return to genuine, unpoliticized expressions of faith that emphasize community and spiritual integrity.

• Future of Faith Communities: The future trajectory of American Christianity hinges on reclaiming its foundational virtues and disentangling from entrenched political affiliations to foster healing and genuine spiritual growth.

This episode of Bulwark Takes offers a critical examination of the symbiotic relationship between evangelical Christianity and Republican politics, shedding light on the challenges and potential pathways for faith communities to navigate the complexities of modern American society.