Pete Hegseth, Christian Nationalism, and Jesus
By Robert Fontana
Have you read the prayer that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth prayed before the US military’s actions against Venezuela and continues to promote through the war on Iran? Here’s a summary:
“Almighty God, who trains our hands for war…behold now the wicked who rise against your justice and the peace of the righteous…Pour out your wrath upon those who plot vain things…Grant this task force clear and righteous targets for c violence….let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation…let justice be executed swiftly and without remorse…in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.” (March 25, 2026)
Keep in mind that this prayer was distributed through military chaplains to the troops, many who are Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Christians of all stripes as well as atheist and agnostics. What is going on here?
Hegseth is following the teachings of far-right pastor Douglas Wilson who advocates for the United States to become the “Christian nation” that, according to Wilson, the founders intended. His brand of Christian nationalism promotes men as the head of the home and the nation. Wilson would repeal the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. Fundamentalist Christianity would be the legal religion of the land. Wilson has expressed views in sympathy with the Southern Confederacy. He once wrote that southern slavery produced feelings of affection between the White and Black races. (see: wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Wilson_(theologian)
Wilson stated that the description that best fits him is “Christian nationalist.” “Christian nationalism is a form of religious nationalism that focuses on promoting the Christian views of its followers in order to achieve prominence or dominance in political, cultural, and social life…Christian nationalists seek to preserve the status of a Christian state…American Christian nationalism is based on a worldview that, based on divine decree, America is superior to other countries. It posits that only Christians are “true Americans.” (wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_nationalism)
What Wilson and Hegseth are trying to do in making their version of Christianity into the state religion in the United States is what Hitler and the Nazis did in 1933 Germany. They absorbed 28 regional Protestant Churches into the National Reich Church which fully supported the Nazis and their policies. Pro-Nazi German Christians wanted a “nazified version of Christianity.” Their leader, Ludwig Müller, was a rabid Nazi and antisemite who was named the first bishop of the National German Church. SCARY! (see – https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-german-churches-and-the-nazi-state)
Here’s Pope Leo’s response to Hegseth’s prayer: “Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood” (Is 1:15).”
Is Christian Nationalism Christian? NO! Hegseth and the Christian Nationalist misuse Scripture to reinforce their worldview of American power led by White men. They reinterpret Jesus’ death and resurrection to mean salvation for the few, mainly Christian nationalists. They ignore practically all of Jesus’ teachings as expressed in the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, his practice of eating with “sinners,” his empowerment of women as disciples and witnesses to the resurrection, and his embrace of the marginalized and poor. They ignore the Old Testament prophets who challenged the corruption of Israel’s political leadership with a demand for justice: …let justice surge like waters, and righteousness like an unfailing stream. (Amos 5:24) and care for the poor: Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7).
They reject the truths of God revealed by Jesus. These are summarized by Fr. Ron Rolheiser in his book Insane for the Light:
1. God has no favorites. No one person, race, gender, or nation is more favored than others by God…All who seek to do God’s will, whether Christian or not, are acceptable to God. Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35)
2. God is scandalously understanding and compassionate, especially toward the weak and sinners…God does not have preferential love for the virtuous, [manly, or powerful]…many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teachereat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said… “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9)
3. God is good news for the poor. Any preaching in God’s name that isn’t good news for the poor is not the Gospel. Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 24:34-36)
Pete Hegseth, Pastor Doug Wilson and Christian nationalists have little in common with the Jesus they profess to believe in. This is an age-old problem going back to the New Testament times. Matthew’s warning to his readers applies to us today:
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name? Then I will declare to them solemnly, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
