Christian Nationalists Are Mocking Jesus, Making Atheists, And Creating An Exodus From The Church

The Beautiful Mess by John Pavlovitz Podcast · Jul 20, 2026 · 4m

Growing up in the Church, I was taught that the worst thing one could be was a non-believer; that nothing was as tragic as a damned soul that condemned itself by rejecting God.

The religion of my childhood drew a sharp, clear line between the saved and the damned. All that mattered was making sure someone found themselves on the better side of this line, and the Atheists, Humanists, and Democrats didn’t have a shot.

In light of this supposed truth, the heart of the faith (I was told) was to live in a way that reflected the character and love of Jesus so vividly, so beautifully, that others…