With a toothy laugh, Tennessee GOP primary gubernatorial candidate Monty Fritts defends his pledge to ban Muslim mosques and other “pagan” houses of worship. The primary election is August 6, and state representative Fritts faces two opponents: Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. John Rose — both vying to be the most like Donald Trump.
Fritts’ jovial friendliness to even an oppositional interviewer makes it clear why he appealed to the 32nd Tennessee House district voters who elected him. However, a diabolical disconnect separates how he talks from what he says and does. The fact so many folks don’t see the danger serves as another example of a long-running problem: Many Christian voters apparently would say urine smells good just because it’s in a perfume bottle.
Brad Bull
Christians often are allured by a friendly smile paired with talking points that echo familiar-sounding faith statements. Fritts hails from East Tennessee and identifies as a Southern Baptist and Christian nationalist. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in business and chemistry and a master of arts in theological studies from Liberty University and an MBA from the University of Tennessee. So, he can use down-home language about salvation and America that evokes the warmth of apple pie fresh from the oven.
Listen closely, though, and behind Fritts’ crocodile smile is a deadly beast whose politics have no rootedness in either true Christ-following or fundamental American principles. With his Gomer Pyle awe-shucks surface, Fritts puts the “goober” in gubernatorial race. But history is deep with the corpses of those killed by the implementation of his kind of authoritarianism that wields adult power via an immature mind.
For instance, the internet is awash with stories of Fritts’ comments about banning non-Christian houses of worship. I did not find the original quotation. However, on his X account, Fritts said, “No mosque. We have a Muslim problem in Tennessee and America. … There’s no room for mosques in the state of Tennessee.”
Additionally, there was this exchange with Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 chief investigative reporter Phil Williams:
Reporter: “You’ve said that you’re not a fan of religious liberty — that you’re ok with church bells, but you would outlaw Muslim calls to prayer.”
Fritts: “Yes, sir.”
Reporter:” Would you outlaw the practice of Islam in general? Would you outlaw building a mosque?”
Fritz: “I would like to.”
Watching Fritts reminds me how, at age 19, I condemned the sternness of Ken Chafin (who later became my pastor), but I was lured by the ingratiating smile of Southern Baptist fear monger Paul Pressler who turned out to be a diabolical charlatan.
Fritts also delivers the same charm and twisted or false information of David Barton — whose books and speeches are popular among right-wing Christians despite being debunked by even conservative historians to a degree that Thomas Nelson publishing pulled off the shelves his book The Jefferson Lies. (See Warren Throckmorton’s excellent new book The Christian Past That Wasn’t: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History.)
In multiple interviews, Fritts has blithely dismissed the First Amendment protection of freedom of religion, saying it only prohibits the Congress from limiting religious freedom, leaving states to establish their own religious standards. In doing this, Fritts reiterates Barton-esque false claims and omits that the 14th Amendment clarifies: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.”
Worst of all, Fritts elevates his view of law over the most fundamental ethical guideline of Christ. Since Fritts and those like him would not want their own religious freedom infringed, they advocate breaking the Golden Rule. One of my friends endorsed Fritts on social media. I have twice asked how banning non-Chrisitan houses of worship is consistent with the Golden Rule. I’ve gotten no reply. Hmm.
Fritts asserts that we must stop the spread of other religions because it leads to people going to hell. Memphis WSMV news anchor Joe Birch had this exchange with Fritts:
Reporter: “Do you think the governor has any business in this whole realm?”
Fritts: “I think all Christians do. I think it’s not just the governor. I think if you stretch 12/2 wire, or you pour concrete; I think if you’re a corporate CEO or the governor or a news reporter — if you’re a born-again Christian, I think it’s our responsibility to be light and to be salt. I think if we compromise on what that light is and we think that all gods are the same, we’re part of dooming many, many people to hell. I just can’t do that. I think as a Christian we have a responsibility to be that light and salt.”
With a smile, small-government-advocate Fritts perverts the gospel into a call for the government to impose Christianity. This begs a question. How is it being salt and light to do something Jesus never did: Use the power of government to suppress other religions?
Brad Bull is a direct descendent of the founder of Bulls Gap, one of the first European settlements of Tennessee. He has served as hospital chaplain, pastor, professor and therapist.