Rhetoric of spiritual warfare is dangerous to American Democracy

Last month, JD Vance appeared in a Pennsylvania town hall hosted by a self-styled prophet and political activist, Lance Wallnau. It was part of the Courage Tour, which targets independent, charismatic Christians (those who embrace so-called “gifts of the Spirit,” such as modern-day prophecy, supernatural healing, and “speaking in tongues”) in key battleground counties to mobilize for Donald Trump.

As documented in Matthew D. Taylor’s “The Violent Take It By Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening our Democracy,” Wallnau is a leading figure in a radical Christian supremacist movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Taylor demonstrates how the NAR has become a powerful new political force within the MAGA movement and the Christian Right.

NAR leaders believe that Christians are divinely destined to rule over society. They promote the so-called “Seven Mountain Mandate” — a scheme where conservative Christians are commanded by God to conquer seven spheres of influence in society: government, religion, media, arts and entertainment, education, family, and business.

This idea has spread widely beyond NAR circles and has greatly influenced many American Christians’ views of the relationship between religion and politics. According to a June 2024 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute, 39% of Republicans, 48% of white evangelical Protestants, and 51% of Americans who most trust conservative news sources agreed that “God wants Christians to take control of the 7 Mountains” of society.

These Christo-authoritarians also use the inflammatory language of “spiritual warfare” to rile up their followers, demonizing fellow U.S. citizens who disagree with them. Neighbors are regarded as spiritual enemies. Democrats are seen as demon-possessed. Legitimate political differences are cast as part of a supernatural struggle between good and evil, God and Satan.

Wallnau has declared that “The Left is loaded with demons,” Kamala Harris is “the devil’s choice,” and her campaign is under “demonic power.” He alleges that Harris represents “the spirit of Jezebel,” hearkening back to an old misogynist trope, based upon the biblical story of the evil Israelite Queen Jezebel, who used her seductive powers to usurp male authority and spread wickedness. Such language portrays Harris as the arch-villain, a godless, amoral danger to right-wing Christians in their holy war to reclaim America for God.

This spiritual warfare rhetoric has been mainstreamed within the Republican Party. Shortly after the 2020 election results were announced, the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, along with many other Republican leaders, participated in prayer calls hosted by NAR Apostle Jim Garlow to invoke divine intervention to keep Trump in power. On one of those calls, Johnson said that Garlow has been “a profound influence on my life.” The language of spiritual warfare also played a key role in mobilizing the insurrectionists of January 6.

On Jan. 31, 2024, Speaker Johnson and two dozen members of Congress gathered with NAR and other Religious Right leaders for the “National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance” in D.C. They spent hours in spiritual-warfare-laced prayer and repentance on behalf of the nation. At the Republican National Convention this past July, a Heritage Foundation event promoting Project 2025 culminated with a speech by Tucker Carlson, who told attendees that they are in a “spiritual battle” against “antihuman” forces who want to eliminate Christians.

Such careless and dangerous rhetoric creates a permission structure for violence, for resorting to extreme measures to get the outcome you desire. If political elections are seen as part of an apocalyptic spiritual battle between God and Satan, then your fellow U.S. citizens become your enemies, and the road to constructive dialogue is bulldozed. In the end, it’s democracy that loses.

(Dr. Peter Jauhiainen is a professor of religious studies at Kirkwood Community College who specializes in American religious history.)