U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., speaks during a hearing at the Heritage Foundation June 21, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

By Beth Harpaz September 14, 2022

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, the Colorado Republican, said at a conference of conservative Christians that the time has come to “rise up” and “influence this nation as we were called to do.”

The conference, called “From Vision to Victory,” was sponsored by the Truth & Liberty Coalition. The organization describes itself as seeking “to educate, unify and mobilize believers in Jesus Christ to affect the reformation of nations.” Boebert spoke at the conference Friday in Woodland Park, Colorado, where Truth & Liberty is headquartered.

“It’s time for us to position ourselves and rise up and take our place in Christ and influence this nation as we were called to do,” the Denver Post quoted Boebert as saying.

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‘The last days’

Boebert also suggested that the end of the world is at hand. “We know that we are in the last of the last days, but it’s not a time to complain about it,” she said as listeners cheered. “It’s not a time to get upset about it. This is a time to know that you were called to be part of these last days. You get to have a role in ushering in the second coming of Jesus. How cool is that?”

At another point, Boebert laughed about not knowing the meaning of the word “wanton” as she described “all hell” breaking loose: “Rampant, evil grabbing and grasping, vicious backstabbing. They made life hell on earth with their envy wanton killing. I don’t know what a wanton killing is. I’m going to have to look that one up. But it sounds interesting. I don’t think I want to be a part of it.”

She mispronounced “wanton” and was mocked on social media for it. “Not the sharpest knife in the drawer,” tweeted Mike Sington. “Lauren Boebert confuses ‘wanton’ killing with ‘wonton,’ the dumpling.”

Boebert is a gun-rights activist who believes the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from President Donald Trump. She has said she believes there are “two nations that have been created to glorify God. Israel, whom we bless, and the United States of America.”

Christian nationalism

The Denver Post quoted an unnamed Boebert spokesperson as saying that the congresswoman does not consider herself a Christian nationalist. Other politicians who reject the label of “Christian nationalism” despite rhetoric supporting its philosophy include Doug Mastriano, a Pennsylvania state senator and Republican nominee for governor there. The Associated Press describes Mastriano as “the most prominent example this election cycle of what some observers call a surge of Christian nationalism among Republican candidates.”

Christian nationalists reject the separation of church and state as established in the First Amendment’s freedom of religion clause, believe that the U.S. is a Christian nation with a divine destiny, and want the government to maintain and foster Christianity as America’s national identity.

Another prominent figure in the movement is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia. She has said that her party should become the party of Christian nationalism and has sold T-shirts that say “Proud Christian nationalist.”

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