Breaking Out of the White Evangelical Echo Chamber
John Inazu
Who is an evangelical? It is a question that looms large over scholars like John Inazu. The concept of “evangelical” is increasingly complex and multifaceted, especially when viewed through the lens of America’s diverse and politically charged landscape. While globally, evangelicalism emphasizes Scripture, discipleship, and public faith, in the U.S., the term has become closely associated with white conservative Christians, often defined by their political alignment, particularly with former President Trump. This shift has blurred the theological underpinnings of evangelicalism, making it difficult for both religious and non-religious people to grasp its true meaning. The insularity of many white evangelicals, who often reside in predominantly white neighborhoods and attend largely white churches, exacerbates this issue, causing them to lose touch with the broader, increasingly nonwhite segments of the country and the global church.
This isolation not only alienates white evangelicals from the rest of society but also deepens their political entrenchment. The 81 percent of white evangelicals who supported Trump can be categorized into critics, pragmatists, and Trump lovers, each with distinct motivations. The critics represent a significant minority within evangelical circles, including those who abstained from voting in 2016. Meanwhile, the pragmatists and Trump lovers maintain their support due to a belief in Trump as a defender of Christian values or as a strategic choice against a Democratic Party perceived as hostile to their beliefs. However, this political alliance, driven more by fear and nostalgia than theological conviction, risks further insulating white evangelicals, making it increasingly difficult for them to engage meaningfully with a diverse and rapidly changing world.
In a piece published in Christianity Today, John Inazu explores ways white evangelicals can break out of these echo chambers and engage with the diversity and expansiveness of American society.
In this cultural context, the meaning of evangelicalism has also become more political than theological.
John Inazu
About John Inazu
John Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University. His latest book, Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect, was published by Zondervan in 2024. Other books include Liberty’s Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly (2012) and Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference (2016). Inazu is the editor of a volume on law and theology published in Law and Contemporary Problems and co-editor (with Tim Keller) of Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference (2020). Prior to law teaching, Inazu clerked for Judge Roger L. Wollman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and served as an associate general counsel with the Department of the Air Force at the Pentagon. He publishes a weekly Substack, *Some Assembly Required.
