Dr. Taylor Marshall examines why Christians are losing the culture war and what can be done about it in his new book, Christian Patriot: 12 Steps to Creating One Nation Under God. He discusses Western civilization, which is a modern euphemism for Christian civilization, introduces the term "new secular religion," defines the term Christian patriotism, and explains why it is better than nationalism.

Western civilization, or Christian civilization, must be defended. The Devil convinced the world he didn't exist, and Christians accepted the lie, exacerbated by the "separation of church and state" coined by Thomas Jefferson, who privately abandoned mainstream Christianity after studying the New Testament. When the separation was adopted in the 1950s, it seemed reasonable, but it enabled a retreat of the Bible, Ten Commandments, and teachings of Jesus Christ from the public square.

In the absence of religion in the public square, the "new secular religion" was sparked, which followers will tell you isn't a religion. Meanwhile, many of the same principles of recognized religions are followed, while predominantly Christian religions are banned.

Christian patriots need to stop feeling embarrassed about their faith. The new secular religion acts as a cult, with feast days, processions, rituals (abortion, transgender surgeries), morality, monuments, and appointed clergy (NGO leaders, actors, influencers). They follow a policy of shame, exclusion, persecution, and inquisition. Anyone who questions or defies their leaders can be canceled. There is no tolerance, and their primary target is Christians, who, if they remain strong, maintain an influence over culture.

Marshall shows that the more appropriate term is Christian patriotism rather than Christian nationalism when referencing America's founding laws, and merges Christian identity with national identity. America was founded as a Christian nation. "In God we trust" is on currency, and "one nation under God" are in our Pledge of Allegience, to name a couple of examples. But the word nationalism (derived from the Latin natus, meaning "to be born"), as Marshall explains, has been associated with the term Nazi and lacks precedent in the Christian tradition.

Patriotism is derived from the Latin patria, meaning fatherland or homeland. Therefore, patriotism is more suited to the foundation of the traditional family, and, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, it signifies the virtue of piety, a natural extension of "honor thy father and mother." The Declaration of Independence references both God and Natural Law, which concludes "with a firm reliance on the protection of the divine Providence." Additionally, the Constitution is based on a blueprint derived from Deuteronomy.

Marshall describes natural law, which is inscribed in the human heart, through writings from ancient scholars such as Plato, Aristotle, and other Stoic philosophers that predate Christianity. According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, natural law can be summed up as "good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided."

The author distinguishes between the early Christian Church and biblical teaching, as the Bible was not written, and the books were not finalized until centuries after Jesus' death and resurrection.In the Bible and throughout history, the traditional family has been regarded as God's earliest form of government and the fundamental unit of human society. "C.S. Lewis observed, 'The family is the natural unit where affection begins, and from it flows the loyalty that binds communities and nations.'"

The Dark Ages (500 to 1500 AD), which is typically thought of as a time of decline, was anything but dark for Western, and predominantly Christian civilization, with the Church preserving classical learning, hand copying and distributing the Bible, building stunning cathedrals and sculptures and providing a moral framework for Europe with a basis in Christianity.

In this book, proponents and drivers of the new secular religion remind me of the communist regimes in Unhumans: The Secret History of Communist Revolutions (and How to Fight Back) by Jack Posobiec and Joshua Lisec. In Unhumans, the communist revolutions throughout history are examined, driven by tactics aimed at dismantling societal structures. Unhumans live to persecute the normal, once they take power. And don't call them out on it, or you can be unpersoned.

In Christian Patriot, unrestricted access to abortions and acceptance of many genders are pushed, but Christians are discouraged from quoting the Bible to justify laws or policies. This hesitancy creates a vacuum that Satan and the new secular religion will gladly fill. These two books share similarities and complement each other well.

The book explains 12 strategies to create one nation under God and push back against this evil.

Some of the strategies covered are: evangelizing your soul, not being afraid to show your Christian faith outwardly (take up public space) through Christian signs such as rosaries, monuments, and crosses, using scriptural verses, and honoring Christian holidays and Sundays as a day of rest. Defining marriage by God's definition, embracing the traditional family and the call to bear children, including ways to strengthen families through economic security and cultural support, ministry and political influence, and educating children in Christian schools and homeschools, including a discussion on parental rights. Some of these methods can lead to higher birth rates and an end to abortion.

Others include making pornography illegal and advocating for national investigations on human trafficking and child exploitation. Finally, discussions on justification for war when warranted ("just" war), aligning biblical principles with foreign policy, and bringing awareness to foreign aid for places where Christians are persecuted, practicing simplicity vs materialism and the dangers of debt.

Each strategy has a set of conclusions and action items to help put these ideals into practice.

In conclusion, this book not only discusses what it means to be a Christian patriot versus a nationalist, but it brings in the concept of the "new secular religion," and demonstrates how it is, in fact, a religion. It is thought-provoking and full of scriptural examples to enhance the statements made. It is well worth the read to explore not only America's Christian history but also the entire world, as it blends natural law with biblical scriptures, leading to a greater awareness of the secular "religion" and ways to protect ourselves against this onslaught. The book is available for pre-order now.

I'll end this with one of Taylor R. Marshall's quotes: "You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth…so go out there and be salty."