Home Speaker Mike Johnson has three flags hanging outdoors his workplace: the American flag, the Louisiana state flag, and a flag representing a motion that desires to show the US into a spiritual Christian nation.
Regular stuff, you recognize?
The flag is white with a inexperienced evergreen tree within the center and the phrase “An Enchantment to Heaven” on the high. A report revealed Friday by Rolling Stone confirmed that the flag is outdoors his district workplace in Washington.
The flag was initially used as a banner through the Revolutionary Warfare, however over the previous decade, it has been embraced by a sect of Christianity referred to as the New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR. A central tenet of NAR’s perception system is that it’s God’s will for Christians to take management of all features of U.S. society—together with training, arts and leisure, the media, and companies—to create a spiritual nation.
The NAR totally embraced Donald Trump when he introduced he was working for workplace, endorsing him early on and serving to endear him to different Christian movements. In consequence, the Enchantment to Heaven flag has grow to be widespread amongst Trump supporters.
The flag has appeared in images of far-right politicians and election deniers corresponding to Doug Mastriano, the Trump-endorsed candidate for Pennsylvania governor. Mastriano misplaced to Democrat Josh Shapiro.
The flag was additionally in all places on the January 6 revolt. Rolling Stone estimated that there could have been tons of of Enchantment to Heaven flags all through the mob.
It shouldn’t be shocking that Johnson subscribes to the NAR perception system. He has a well-documented history of opposing abortion entry, LGBTQ rights, and environmental coverage on the grounds that they’re non-Christian.
However it’s upsetting and deeply regarding that he’s capable of embrace it so brazenly with out a lot as a slap on the wrist. What’s extra, Rolling Stone’s revelation comes simply days after the Home of Representatives censured Rashida Tlaib for her feedback about Israel and Palestine.
Republicans have beforehand harangued Tlaib, the one Palestinian American member of Congress, for flying a Palestinian flag outdoors her district workplace. The GOP has accused her of antisemitism for exhibiting delight in her nationality.
However even when supporting Palestinian civilians had been inherently antisemitic (it’s not), it’s unclear how that’s totally different from what Johnson is doing. The creation of a Christian nation implies the elimination of all different religions. However by some means, nobody is censuring Johnson for it.
