Strange Worship:
Six Steps for Challenging Christian Nationalism
by Drew J. Strait
“As the Lead Organizer of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, I have read, learned, spoken and written about Christian nationalism for years. Even in the bountiful and ever-expanding body of work about this topic, Strange Worship does something new and necessary.”
—Amanda Tyler, Executive Director, Christians against Christian Nationalism
“Drew Strait offers important, practical guidelines for opposing Christian nationalism from a Christian framework. The metaphor of ‘strange worship’ is an apt description of the racist idolatry of white Christian nationalism and will be a helpful tool for Christians who want to understand and resist this toxic right-wing ideology that masquerades under the banner of ‘Christianity.’”
—Pamela Cooper-White, author of The Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People are Drawn In and How To Talk Across the Divide
“Christian nationalism is one of the ideologies that perverts the Jesus-way of life. Yet followers of Jesus might not know how to respond to the Christian nationalist movement, with some being tempted to throw their hands up in surrender. As Drew Strait observes in Strange Worship, ‘The danger for anyone challenging Christian nationalism is giving into despair and paralysis.’ Thankfully, Drew Strait offers a thoughtful, well-researched, biblically informed, practical way forward. I hope that all who read Strange Worship will be motivated to join the subversive way of peace and love that Jesus taught.”
—Dennis R. Edwards, Dean of the Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary
“Drew Strait’s hopeful, disarming, and sincere book offers a practical refutation of American Christian nationalism. Grounded in a nonviolent, Anabaptist tradition of interpretation and an incisive grasp of the message of Jesus, Strange Worship cuts to the heart of the politicized debates now roiling American Christianity. If you are a leader or a layperson who feels stymied in how to resist the rising tide of Christian nationalism, this is the book for you.”
—Matthew D. Taylor, author of The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy
“On a day when the tide of Christian nationalism seems to be ever-swelling in America, Drew J. Strait gives us a clear, reasoned, and hopeful alternative to resignation and despair. Strange Worship offers practical and faith-centered tools for Americans to witness, fight back, and join together in a mission toward peaceful community.”
—Angela Denker, author of Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump
“With its potent blend of insight and urgency, Drew Strait holds up the un-armed, multicultural church as a lantern to reveal the shadows of Christian nationalism as a misguided and dangerous perversion of Christianity. Strange Worship offers the church a way forward with intergenerational, interdisciplinary, and ecumenical spaces to recharge and refocus.”
—Lisa Schirch, Professor of the Practice of Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame
"Buy this book in lots of a dozen and give them to those who need it."
—Scot McKnight
About Drew
Drew J. Strait is a dad, pastor theologian, speaker, and professor. His writing and teaching focuses on political idolatry and peacemaking in early Christianity. Strait is a popular speaker on how faith communities can challenge Christian nationalism, violent extremism, and Christian supremacy with strategic nonviolence.
Strait was baptized Catholic, raised United Methodist, discipled as an Evangelical through Young Life, Reformed through Whitworth College, and became a convinced Anabaptist after a transformative re-reading of the Gospels after the Iraq war. This ecumenical background energizes Strait’s passion to bring together diverse coalitions of Christians to bear witness to God’s mission of reconciliation—to reconcile humans to God and humans to one another. Perpetually overwhelmed by how much he doesn’t know, Strait loves to cultivate engaging spaces to learn alongside his students and listeners.
For more about Strait’s academic journey and writing, view his faculty page at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
Online course with Drew
Resisting Christian Nationalism with the Gospel of Peace
Dates: Oct. 23 – Dec. 10, 2024
Early registration deadline: Oct. 2
Final registration deadline: Oct. 16
This six-week short course defines White Christian nationalism and offers practical suggestions for how pastors and leaders can challenge White Christian nationalism. Drawing on the disciplines of biblical studies, theology and peace studies, this course will explore what realistic, everyday and effective nonviolent resistance can look like in the context of congregations.
Invite Drew to Speak
Drew can come speak to your group, church or organization through the Invite AMBS speakers’ bureau.