Christian Nationalism

It appears the new “bogeyman” to be on the alert for is Christian Nationalism. The very phrase is proclaiming warning that if accepted or embraced will lead you down the path of heresy or a “false Gospel”. 

I certainly want to avoid a counterfeit Christianity and in no way wish to create a politically partisan Gospel, but before we denounce this monster of CN, let’s be sure we are parsing carefully what we are and are not advocating. I would simply remind the reader that there are numerous labels which, at various times in history, have been both beneficial and detrimental in their usage. Labels like conservative and liberal have vastly different applications depending on the century. The words mystic, fundamentalist, enthusiast, Methodist, Baptist, and even “Christian” have been used as both epithets and proud banners of those adherent’s participating in those movements. I personally am convinced the label “Christian Nationalist” (CN) may be one of those convenient labels. 

If what you mean by CN is a person who conflates the Gospel of Jesus Christ (simply defined as the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus) as exclusively a religious/political conflation to establish a state run Kingdom of God; then we undoubtedly agree that would be a twisting of both purpose and intent of the Gospel. I understand that there are Christians who cannot separate their relationship with Jesus and participation in a political party. When Jesus was incarnated in a manger in Bethlehem He was wrapped in swaddling clothes not an American flag. I think most of us who have ministries in the civic mission field understand that distinction clearly.

However, having stipulated that just about anything religious and most certainly biblical, can be and has been convoluted and twisted, or even hijacked for temporal and carnal gain, we cannot allow a trendy, loosely defined epithet drive us away from the legitimate place of Christianity in the public policy square.

I guess in some ways I am a simpleton. If I believe Jesus is Lord of ALL (Colossians 1:16-20) and He is not a figure-head King, but indeed a ruling Sovereign who owns everything on the planet (Psalm 24:1), then to somehow seal off the political/civic arena from my participation and Christian worldview would be sinful and an abdication of the Great Commission. I am not only allowed to participate in civic matters by a constitution, but I believe Jesus’ Lordship compels me to participate. Let me go a step further, if I believe the Gospel (and Scripture in total) contains answers and solutions to humanity’s problems, then my advocating for those principles and values should be passionate. Lives temporally and eternally are at stake. To neglect such things would be to no longer love my neighbor.

I guess in the minds of some, that would make me a Christian Nationalist.

Now I want to be clear…

I do not believe politics “saves” you. However I do believe righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34). I believe there is a legitimate and needful response by the nations to honor God. I also understand that every nation has a prevailing ideology or worldview by which it establishes laws and codifies morality. Christianity is not only as valid as any other worldview available, but I would contend it is empirically and historically the best worldview whether one is saved or not.

A nation is better and blessed when it understands and practices the ways of God (Yahweh). “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 33:12). Every nation is a theocracy. It simply hinges on who or what you declare is your “Theos”. Even if you declare the fantasy of being an unbiased, neutral atheist, your theos becomes yourself. We all have a God; some of us are simply honest enough to admit it.

Before you swallow everything on social media about the dangers of Christian Nationalism and instantly reject its label uncritically, I would simply ask you to stop and identify clearly the things you object to. A couple years ago, people called me racist for simply existing as a Caucasian male. That was ridiculous. It is also ridiculous to call me the epithet of Christian Nationalist for simply advocating principles that I know will heal and help a nation.

I am reminded of the old aphorism which many of us learned as children. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”. I might change the ending as it applies to the epithet of Christian Nationalism…”but names will never stop me”.