HERESY!

 Recently, I posted this on Facebook:

As bold as I've been in stating my opinion, I may still not have made something absolutely clear. Christian Nationalism is a heresy. And those who profess it are not Christians; they are heretics. They do not deserve a seat at the table.

It received 35 likes/loves. As far as my posts go, that's a pretty high number.

What it did not receive were any dislikes, nor did it receive any negative comments.

I just called out one of the major religious movements in America, and nobody was there to defend it, or get upset that I was calling them out?

Why?

First, there is the fierce algorithmic control exerted by Facebook. It's possible that very few on the opposite side saw this. I am reminded of the joke about a new person entering heaven and being shown around by an angel. They get to a mountain and look down into a valley where all the Baptists are. The new person asked why they were isolated, and the angel answered, "Shh! They don't know anyone else is here!"

This isolationary algorithm may be giving us a warped idea of what's out there. This may be affecting our view of what's happening regarding our opinions of what's happening to LaVonnia Moore, the librarian fired for a patron-selected display that included an award-winning book that featured a transgender child. We see our Facebook feeds, those of us who support her, and think, 'Wow!' There is a ton of support for her and very little opposition! Surely we are in the majority!

What we don't see are the voluminous number of hateful bogots on the other side. They have been muted from our social media feeds.

Second, this may have gotten little negative response, because many don't recognize that they are Christian Nationalists. I doubt if many churches are blunt about identifying what they are. So, many think I'm talking about somebody else.

No, let's be clear. I am talking about YOU. Virtually all the white churches in this area range from Christian Nationalist heavy to Christian Nationalist lite. They either openly espouse Christian Nationalist philosophy, or they are tolerant of it, and don't call it out as a heresy.

In future posts, I hope to clarify what Christian Nationalism is and which churches here lean most heavily into it.

Briefly, if yours is more of a God of Fear than a God of Love, then you lean more towards Christian Nationalism. If you think of America as God's chosen people, you lean more towards Christian Nationalism. If you value authority and control more than democracy and tolerance, you lean towards Christian Nationalism. If you view immigrants as less than human and want them deported, especially to maintain some fancied cultural purity, then you lean Christian Nationalist.

That's just for starters.

Grace Episcopal Church in Waycross (my church) is not a Christian Nationalist church. That does not mean we don't have individual parishioners who are influenced by Christian Nationalism. But that is not the theme of the church, and it is not espoused by church leadership. The same is true of Blackshear First United Methodist Church.

I live in a county where 90% of those who were able to vote voted for Trump. The devotion to him ranges from cult-like to seeing him as a useful tool. I find him to be the most anti-Christian leader we've ever had.

The New Testament warns of false prophets. Many are selling out their faith, moving themselves farther and farther from anything Jesus espoused, to cozy up to a narcissistic con-man who only cares about himself, and is the least religious/spiritual man to ever occupy the White House.

I have faith Christianity will survive. Most heresies burn themselves out. The true spirit of Jesus, the God of Love, will triumph in the end.

I pray that is so.

Reinstate LaVonnia Moore

 

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 5:10 PM

I arrived early for a meeting with the Pierce County Friends of the Library. I recently volunteered to be their Treasurer.  

The meeting didn't start until 5:30, so I took a look around the library, one of my favorite things to do (this has been true for my entire life). Looking at the new books, I discovered this mammoth surprise - Myth and the Greatest Generation by Kenneth D Rose.  

Months ago, I had heard of the book on a history TikTok. I checked with both Pierce and Ware County libraries. I checked online sites. I checked with Michael Jacobs, a friend and used book specialist. Sadly, it was not to be found.

But there it was, on the bookshelf of my local library! LaVonnia Moore, the talented local librarian and branch manager, unbeknownst to me, had requested it through Three Rivers Regional Library and was able to secure a copy.

This is not just something she did for me. She always prioritizes books that patrons have requested.  

That's not all she does for the library. She is creative, experienced, and dedicated, bringing a wide range of events and activities for all age levels and patrons.

At our meeting, we discussed many of the exciting events planned for the summer reading program, including the Color Ball scheduled for the 28th. Active, caring, and engaged, I have never met a finer librarian. She also talked about the new Director at Three Rivers. She said there were a lot of new rules to adjust to, but he was fair and caring, and looked forward to working with him.

There was no sign of what was to come.

Wednesday was a closed day for the library. But that was the day she was called and summarily dismissed. Why? There was a PATRON CREATED display, primarily based on book cover colors, that included an award-winning book with a theme involving a transgender child. It was not pornographic. It was positive and caring.  

But the Christian Nationalist extremists who have been yapping at our library for over a year took it as an excuse to pressure the Pierce County Commission into firing LaVonnia. Three Rivers caved when it realized the county funding was at stake.

This is nighmarishly wrong. Hopefully, pressure will be exerted to reverse it and rightfully reinstate LaVonnia.

But it is up to you, Pierce County residents and library users. Suppose the commissioners, being politicians, fear the loud, strident, and bigoted extremists. In that case, they may need to learn that they need to fear instead the hundreds who use and love our library and are opposed to banning and censorship. Then, LaVonnia will be reinstated.  

Of course, it may not have sunk in to the commissioners how illegal and un-American what they did was.

However, over time, if they don't act, they may eventually figure it out.

There is a GoFundMe titled Help LaVonnia Moore Seek Justice and Equality. I highly encourage donations. It will help in her legal efforts.

I apologize that this is only a brief outline of what happened, but for more details, if you are local, please check your Facebook feeds and The Blackshear Times. Alicia Moore, LaVonnnia's sister, is invaluable to check out.

Make no mistake, library patrons, concerned citizens, and the Three Rivers Staff. If you don't stand your ground, the extremists will keep pushing and taking. They will not stop until the library is nothing more than a Christian Nationalist Reading Room.