Last Friday, CNN aired an interview with Doug Wilson, a pastor described as a “Christian nationalist” with ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In the interview, Wilson stated that he does not believe women should be allowed to vote—a position echoed by other pastors in his church.

Shortly after the segment aired, Hegseth reposted the video on X, adding the phrase, “All of Christ for all of life,” sparking renewed debate over the intersection of faith, politics, and gender roles in American Christianity.

It’s important to remember that not all Christians endorse this view. Furthermore, support or opposition to this opinion is not simply a “conservative vs. progressive” matter. The broader issue relates to two elements of the Apostle Paul’s teaching: first, that the husband is “the head of the wife” (Ephesians 5:23-24); second, that women should not “teach or exercise authority over a man” (1 Timothy 2:12). 

Many Christian scholars and theologians believe that the overall context of Scripture tempers these individual passages. This issue arises more often in discussion of women serving as pastors, but clearly some groups apply it even more broadly.

Obviously, such views trouble some people. The opposition, however, is on a number of levels. First, people who resist any religious influence in public affairs would be concerned about a “Christian nationalist pastor.” The connection between Pastor Wilson’s church and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth causes even more alarm for these “strict secularists.”  

For example, the CNN reporter who interviewed Wilson described  his views as “controversial” and “nationalist.” Those who see no role for religion in the “public square” would obviously oppose someone who says that he’d like to see the United States be a “Christian nation.”

“Progressive Christians” would likely resist Wilson’s views as being grounded in a misconstruction of Scripture.  In the interview, Wilson says that there are no women in leadership in his church, because “the Bible says not to.” 

The CNN report also features a woman pastor described as a “progressive faith leader” who notes that women in fact served in leadership positions in the Bible. The actual practice of the early Church is part of the context that influences the interpretation of passages such as those noted above.

However, there are other significant segments of the global Church who would not be considered “progressive” but which support women in leadership roles (even pastoral roles). For example, the Church of the Nazarene has always accepted women in leadership and pastoral roles since its inception in the late 1800s. In fact, two women have served as General Superintendents, the highest office in the Church of the Nazarene. Theologically, Nazarenes would not be considered “progressive” as that term is commonly understood; but women are allowed to vote for church leaders, and to serve as leaders in any level of the church.

Clearly, CNN did not air this interview simply to highlight the views of one segment of the very broad “tent” of Christianity. 

The title for the interview is: “The Christian nationalist pastor with ties to Defense Secretary Hegseth.” 

Apparently, CNN’s concern is with the possible political influence of this particular pastor because of his “ties” to Secretary Hegseth. The “progressive faith leader” featured in the CNN video expresses concern that Pastor Wilson and his followers “actually literally want to take over towns and cities.” The reporter then connects this thought to the “broader Christian nationalist movement” which has “access to this administration.” (It’s interesting that the CNN report mentions the “newly created faith office” in the Trump administration – led by a female evangelical pastor!  Evidently the reporter didn’t recognize the irony of a female pastor leading an “office” in the administration in this story about a pastor who says women shouldn’t vote.)

So what does all this mean? Is this a growing “Christian nationalist movement” that is seeking to “take over” by taking away women’s right to vote? Is it just one segment of a very broad and diverse Christian church in the United States? 

The reality is likely somewhere in between. Yes, the Church in the United States is very broad and diverse. Not every Christian believes that women shouldn’t vote. Many Christians reject the idea that women should be excluded from leadership and teaching roles in the Church. The fact that the Secretary of Defense apparently agrees with some of Pastor Wilson’s positions doesn’t mean that the entire administration does.

 (In fact, the Trump administration includes a wide range of views on religious and social issues. Clearly, the views of any particular official do not set policy for the entire administration.)

One final note: the CNN reporter mentioned Pastor Wilson’s goal to make the whole world a Christian world. She specifically asked him about that, and he said “yes.” However – and here’s the important part – he said, “Peacefully, by sharing the gospel.” 

Most Christians would (hopefully) agree with that goal – and with the belief that the world would be better if everyone accepted and submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ! Christians may not always agree on the specific steps, or the priority of one step over another. 

But in the end, the Bible says, “that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).