Twelve Lies That Hold America Captive - by Jonathan P Walton (Paperback)

About the Book

The president is not the Messiah, the Constitution is not the Bible, and the United States is not a city on a hill or the hope for the world. Jonathan Walton exposes the cultural myths and misconceptions about America's identity, showing how our notions of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are at odds with the call to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Discover how the kingdom of God offers true freedom and justice for all.

Book Synopsis

"America is a Christian nation.""All men are created equal.""We are the land of the free and the home of the brave."Except when we're not. These commonly held ideas break down in the light of hard realities, the study of Scripture, and faithful Christian witness. The president is not the Messiah, the Constitution is not the Bible, and the United States is not a city on a hill or the hope for the world. The proclaimed hope of America rings most hollow for Native peoples, people of color, the rural poor, and other communities pressed to the margins.Jonathan Walton exposes the cultural myths and misconceptions about America's identity. Focusing on its manipulation of Scripture and the person of Jesus, he redirects us to the true promises found in the gospel. Walton identifies how American ideology and way of life has become a false religion, and shows that orienting our lives around American nationalism is idolatry. Our cultural notions of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are at odds with the call to take up our cross and follow Jesus.Ultimately, our place in America is distinct from our place in the family of Jesus. Discover how the kingdom of God offers true freedom and justice for all.

Review Quotes

"Jonathan has a way with words. Better yet, he has a way with truth--understanding God's multifaceted truth and the truth of our history as a nation. Backed with these truths, a wide swath of compelling experiences, and a thorough belief in grace, Twelve Lies That Hold America Captive builds a compelling case about our dangerous idolatry that cannot be ignored. Whether you lean politically left or right, be prepared to be called out and brought to the transformative call of Jesus."

"Wounds don't heal if they are infected. In Twelve Lies That Hold America Captive, Jonathan Walton uncovers the idolatrous assumptions and infected lies that get in the way of America and Americans pursuing real change, healing, and shalom. Whatever your ethnic background, this smart, honest, and challenging work will make you examine your own heart and help you sort out the difference between the life-giving gospel of Scripture and the presuppositions of the American dream. If knowing the truth can set us free, there's freedom from idolatry and blindness that's offered in these pages."

About the Author

Jonathan Walton is a writer, speaker, and facilitator at the intersection of faith, justice and emotional health. He leads Beauty and Resistance Cohorts, writes The Crux on Substack and is a senior resource specialist for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship focusing on political discipleship and civic engagement. He has written five books, including Twelve Lies That Hold America Captive. He holds a degree in creative writing from Columbia University and an MA from the City University in New York in the Study of the Americas. He lives in Queens, New York, and attends New Life Fellowship.