IAF Interviews Vineyard Church Lead Pastor Becky Waugaman

Becky Waugaman

Lead Pastor - Vineyard Church, Des Moines, Iowa

Interview conducted April 2025

At the end of 2024, Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers President Jason Benell attended a few events held at churches and started a series of interviews called Iowa Christians on Christian Nationalism.

About the Series

• Questions are asked of religious leaders via email.

• Topics include their views on:

  • Their faith

  • Their congregations

  • Christian Nationalism

• Answers are unedited, except for corrections to misspellings or grammar.

• Responses come directly from the interviewees.

Purpose

The purpose of this interview series is to help us better understand how the religious and non-religious view the ongoing social, political, and cultural movement known as Christian Nationalism.

Get Involved

You are encouraged to:

• Read the interviews

• Come up with your own questions

• Submit them to IAF

If you would like follow-ups, further discussion, or want to provide comments, email IAF at president@iowaatheists.org. We can possibly share your input with both members of IAF and the individuals being interviewed!

• How would you define Christian Nationalism? Is this a good or bad thing for democracy in your view, if it exists at all?

  It is the intertwining of a love of the Christian faith and one’s country that pursues power in an egocentric and exclusive manner. As in all things we label, I think there’s a spectrum of participants who are more or less committed to the ideals and truths they defend. We need to be careful of how broadly we use the term so it doesn’t become misunderstood or unhelpful - specifically broad brushing it as Christian.

  With most people naturally being “followers” and group think - I believe there are some well meaning + intentioned people that have been persuaded and/or deceived and manipulated - not fully understanding - what they are part of. 

  I also believe under a lot of our angst as a country and polarization is anxiety. Whether people recognize it as that, many are being moved to extremes politically due to their fears and trying to protect what they think they are losing. Both the “right” and the “left” are impacted by this right now. 

  
  I don’t believe Christian Nationalism is a good thing in a democracy. Our country was founded by people fleeing Europe for religious freedom, so it would seem we are moving towards something we didn’t want as a country.

• What would you tell a non-Christian or a person outside of your denomination that makes you different from Christian Nationalists?

  Simply said, I am an apprentice of Jesus and follow his life example and commands - not any specific leader or political party.

  Jesus arrived announcing the kingdom of heaven was near. This was not an earthly kingdom or political structure of power. Of Jesus' closest disciples, he chose two from opposite political extremes of the day. Simon was a zealot, rebelling against Roman occupation. And Matthew had been a tax collector for Rome. 

  Jesus supported political power (pay unto Caesar what is due him Matt 22:21) but never sought political power in establishing the heavenly kingdom.

  From my perspective, Christian Nationalism doesn’t live the way of Jesus who blessed the poor, welcomed the outsiders, and called us to love our enemies.

• Do you think churches or congregations should take an official public stance on Christian Nationalism?

  I believe as followers of Jesus we are witnesses by His Spirit in the particulars of our time, place, and the world we are in. As life brings us into people’s lives and situations we should live with integrity of character in open, public spaces as we do behind closed doors and in our own homes. 

  My goal is to love my neighbors - everyone - regardless of political beliefs and their starting point in faith. I want to provide the opportunity for anyone to join us in community and to find Christ.

• Do you think the values of Christian Nationalism are in sync with the beliefs of your church or interpretations of the Bible?

  No.

• How can a congregation like yours take a stance for or against Christian Nationalism without being confrontational to other congregations?

  I think of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus encourages his followers to be salt and light in the world. This is a call to how we live our lives both individually and corporately as a church. He taught us how to love those who are different from us and even our enemies. 

  It also depends on the situation. Jesus didn’t handle every person or situation the same way. In Matthew 10:16 sending out his apprentices he told them, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

• Is Christian Nationalism a partisan project? Why or why not?

  I think it depends on the leaders - there seems to be a variance of leaders on both sides of the aisle and in society in general that are more extreme than others. They are definitely the ones who seem to get the most media time. It seems to be in regards to President Trump and the Republican Party right now. But I’d say there’s also a use of Christian labeling being used for politics of the Democratic Party.  

• Can the Bible be a useful tool to combat or aid Christian Nationalism? Why or why not?

  Like a hammer can be used to build or to destroy, so the Bible can be used to bring life or to beat up people - depending on the messenger. And the hearer has their role in it as well. The Bible must be approached honestly and humbly. Our biases need to be acknowledged and taken into account If we apply the Bible without love and grace we are more likely to use it as a hammer.