Knowing our history is essential to knowing who we are. Understanding our origin story—where we came from, the context of our birth, the journeys and struggles of those before us—gives our lives a deeper sense of meaning. It situates us within a larger narrative that stretches beyond ourselves, beyond even our immediate families.
Two years ago, I took a seminary class to Korea. While there, I had the profound experience of meeting a cousin I had not seen in over fifty years.
We shared a delicious sushi dinner and exchanged stories. He then handed me something extraordinary—a family tree with the names of more than thirty cousins, along with our parents and grandparents. My three children’s names were also there, included in this lineage.
Holding that family tree in my hands was a moment of connection, reminding me I am part of something much larger than my small nuclear family. I belong to a lineage that has endured, struggled and survived. Knowing that history gave me a sense of belonging beyond myself.
The same is true for knowing the history of the United States. If we fail to understand our origins, then we lose perspective on who we are and where we are going. We risk misunderstanding our place in the wider global community.
America’s history carries a dark and painful truth: this nation was built with stolen labor from enslaved Africans and the back-breaking work of indentured Asian laborers. All that occurred on stolen land taken from Native Americans.
To tell the story of America honestly is to acknowledge these foundations, not to wallow in guilt but to walk forward with clarity, repentance and a commitment to justice. This is especially urgent in today’s political climate, where proponents of Christian nationalism and white supremacy attempt to rewrite history and perpetuate dangerous myths.
Too often, we hear the narrative that white Americans are “self-made,” that their success came only by pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps. This overlooks the structural privileges, land theft and generational advantages that enabled such wealth.
Christian nationalists are unaware that their wealth was built because of all that has been taken from communities of color and how communities of color have been murdered, raped and taken advantage of. Racism helped white people move up and succeed in American society. Just because they do not acknowledge this history does not mean they succeeded in a vacuum, let alone without stealing land, resources and labor from people of color.
The American historical amnesia we are experiencing is tied to the rise of Christian nationalism. This ideology combines religious identity with political agendas, pushing an ethno-religious narrative of white Christian supremacy. White Christian nationalism is the guiding principle of the “Make America Great Again” movement.
Christian nationalism has a very limited perspective and practice of Christianity. This narrow view, shaped by white supremacy and privilege, produces laws that look Christian on the surface but are anything other than Christian underneath.
White supremacy is antithetical to the teachings of Christ. The gospel emphasizes the dignity and worth of all people, regardless of race or status, and any association of Christianity with racial superiority distorts its true message.
The dangers of Christian nationalism touch both political and religious dimensions of American society. It frames America as a divinely ordained “promised land” for European-descended Christians—an inherently anti-democratic belief.
The notion of white Christian entitlement and being chosen is toxic to the equality that democracy depends on. Such a narrative contradicts the foundational principles of American democracy, which are built on the idea of equality and religious freedom for all.
Historical amnesia is dangerous because when we forget, history repeats itself. That is why it is critical to teach young people the full, unvarnished truth about white American history: the colonialism, the theft of land, the genocide and enslavement. Only by confronting the past can future generations do better.
We cannot afford historical amnesia. Like the family tree my cousin gave me, the story of this nation connects us across generations and communities. To know it is to take our place in a larger story, one that calls us to accountability, to reconciliation and to the hard but holy work of building a more just future.
We must resist this distortion of faith and move toward a future where everyone is welcomed, respected and loved. The gospel calls us to build not an empire but the kin-dom of God—a community of justice, love and peace.
The church must have the courage to name white supremacy and Christian nationalism as sinful distortions of our faith. This is a crucial moment for Christians to reclaim the gospel and resist the forces that threaten democracy, justice and the dignity of all people.
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