Hobby Lobby Christian nationalism takes center stage in Michael Blanding’s investigation of the Green family’s religious and political influence. In The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby, Blanding examines how David and Barbara Green turned commercial success into institutional power. Their fortune financed evangelical ministries, Christian colleges, documentaries and the Museum of the Bible in Washington.
Blanding argues that the family’s investments helped advance a conservative Christian worldview throughout American society.
Religious Convictions Shape the Green Family’s Mission
The Greens combine Pentecostal beliefs in divine guidance with fundamentalist convictions about biblical inerrancy. Blanding questions how those beliefs affect accountability when wealthy individuals consider their decisions divinely directed.
He also examines the family’s connections to controversial religious figures, including Bill Gothard, Jerry Falwell and David Barton. Their influence helped connect the Greens to broader Christian nationalist movements.
Cultural Institutions Become Instruments of Political Power
Rather than concentrating on campaign contributions, the Greens invested in institutions that shape religious and cultural understanding. Their financial support extended into education, filmmaking and biblical scholarship.
Their Museum of the Bible became especially controversial because its collections included illegally acquired antiquities. Blanding reports that Hobby Lobby returned approximately 17,000 artifacts following federal investigations.
The family’s successful Supreme Court challenge involving contraceptive coverage also demonstrated the potential of litigation to advance religious priorities.
Religious Freedom, Hypocrisy and Democratic Accountability
Blanding challenges the Greens’ claims of Christian persecution despite their substantial wealth and cultural influence. He also questions inconsistencies between their personal histories and their public positions on sexual morality
His investigation raises concerns about religious authority, reproductive freedom and the influence of private wealth on public institutions.
Supporters of the Greens may view their activities as legitimate expressions of religious freedom and charitable giving. They may also defend their right to advance Christian values through philanthropy and litigation.
Critics, however, fear that concentrated wealth allows one religious interpretation to influence institutions serving a diverse population. Blanding ultimately questions whether unquestioned claims of divine authority can coexist with democratic accountability.
Source: Hobby Lobby’s Billionaire Founders Are Building a White Evangelical America
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