Editor’s Note Regarding “The Case for Christian Nationalism”

The North American Anglican has never condoned nor does it promote racial hatred or racial bigotry in any of its forms, nor does anyone on the editorial board.

For this reason, when Thomas Achord admitted to authoring an anonymous Twitter account containing racist content, we immediately withdrew our reviews of his work. Mr. Achord did not identify or comport himself this way publicly at the time that the book was reviewed.

Some readers and critics have argued that because of Stephen Wolfe’s association with Achord (as podcast co-host) we should also remove our review of The Case for Christian Nationalism. Yet, Wolfe has repeatedly denied any claims of racism and we refuse to play the dangerous game of “guilt by association.”

However, as long as we are talking about “associations” the book has also been blurbed and reviewed by a host of reputable organizations you will likely recognize:

  • First Things[1]
  • Edmund Burke Foundation[2]
  • The Gospel Coalition[3]
  • Providence Magazine[4]
  • Theopolis Institute[5]
  • American Reformer is hosting a symposium here:

10 Years as Editor

This Advent, The North American Anglican completes a full decade under my editorial oversight and direction. In that time it has been my pleasure to see our journal provide quality theological resources to orthodox Anglicans, and a platform for gifted scholars, priests, and layfolk to engage each other in a robust discourse with our tradition. This project of “retrieval” and practical application has proved to be a great blessing to our readers, and they routinely tell me so. I’ve also been blessed to watch many talented writers rise from relative obscurity when first gracing our pages, going on to bless the church in far greater capacities. If it is God’s will, then I hope the next decade will build on this foundation of charity and trust, as new needs present themselves and new bonds of conviviality are formed. In order to make all of this possible though, we must insist on the freedom to engage honestly and courageously with forces and ideas that Christians face today.

Finally

Will you join me in praying for God’s healing of wounds caused by sin in this Nation? Whether you think the prospect of a “Christian Nation” is absurd, obvious, or needs some unpacking, surely you can agree that people are suffering for lack of knowing Jesus Christ, and many suffer in the Church for His namesake. Whether it be wounds caused by racial strife, attacks on the family and human sexuality, or the suffering of the unborn, we have much to pray for as we strive to bring God’s light into the dark places of the Nation we call home.

For Our Country

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[6] 

Notes

  1. “Clearly argued and forceful in its conclusions, The Case for Christian Nationalism sets the standard for today’s debates. It’s a marvelous book full of things to ponder, agree with, and argue about.” ~R.R. Reno, Editor of First Things ↑
  2. “A pioneering work that paves the way for a new genre of American Christian-nationalist political theory. Relentlessly innovative, it combines 18th century Presbyterian nationalist political thought with a concern for masculinity and self-reliance drawn from the contemporary dissident right.” ~Yoram Hazony, author of Conservatism: A Rediscovery and The Virtue of Nationalism ↑
  3. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/christian-nationalism-wolfe/ ↑
  4. https://providencemag.com/2022/11/the-500-year-old-case-for-christian-nationalism/ ↑
  5. https://theopolisinstitute.com/leithart_post/christian-nationalism/ ↑
  6. The Book of Common Prayer 1928, p. 36 ↑

 

Jesse Nigro
About

Jesse Nigro is Editor-in-Chief at The North American Anglican and lives in Omaha, Nebraska with his wife and children, where he teaches philosophy at a classical High School. He earned his BA in philosophy from Creighton University and MA in theology from Concordia University in Irvine. Jesse has been an editor and operator at The North American Anglican since 2012.

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