Christian Nationalism is a political ideology that blends the state with religion. It’s a spectrum of attitudes and beliefs and we are going to create a conceptual framework which is going to be mostly extra biblical until near the end of the framework. This is important because the moral decline of the West is really, fait accompli: It’s done. We exist in a moral vacuum and some think we are actually at some risk of a conservative backlash. And when politics and religion combine, traditionally the people of God suffer.
There is growing sentiment that Christians need to act to take positions of leadership and engineer a course correction for the United States. Christian Nationalists want Christians to take back control of all social and civic life, particularly in the United States. And there are real schemes, actual tactics being deployed to accomplish this end. Many of these discussions can sound good for morally conservative people. We can be very sympathetic to these concerns and causes, but we would argue that they are wrong headed, and we need to be very careful to be discerning, and precise about what we believe and stay away from these attitudes.
The first area to understand is the question, Is America a Christian nation? That’s at the root of Christian Nationalism, the idea that America was founded as a Christian nation and should be a Christian nation, and that we should get back to those roots. Proponents of this way of thinking argue that the founding fathers were Christian. That the founding documents, reference God. That our system of justice is based on biblical ideas, and that the colonial laws and practices often reflected Christian beliefs. Opponents argue that the Constitution separated church and state, and that there’s no mention of Christianity in those founding documents. That the founding fathers intended a neutral government, religiously speaking.
So, there’s truth in all of that. Certainly, there was very strong Christian influence in America’s history, and many have benefited from the availability of Judeo-Christian morals and ethics built into some of our legal systems. However, some argue that America is not a Christian nation. There’s two layers to that. First, many of the founding fathers actually were really Deist. And second, Christian ideas that people might consider Christian in the world, we would argue conflict with what the Bible actually has to say.
The Deist ideas that were promoted about God by many of the founding fathers werenât Christian. The imagery and the foundations of America is flooded with Deism. It’s a way of thinking that emerged from The Enlightenment. And these were the intellectual elite who were recognizing the false and flaws of Orthodox religion, and rebelling against the ruling monarchs that were using that religion to stay in power.
This Enlightenment period really maps right over the top of the forming of the United States. And Deism was at its surface, proposed as a rationalist response to an irrational set of religious requirements. It held that God exists, but He left; He’s no longer involved. The truth is found only by reason, not through revelation. Deism rejects the idea of miracles, mysteries, and the supernatural. And ultimately, it concludes that Christ was not divine, and that the Bible is really just wisdom literature. Clearly that’s not a Christian approach.
These men were drawn to ideas that were religious, but not Christian. In the absence of the gaps that are left in that system of belief, they were drawn to the philosophies of pagan Hellenism, and ultimately to traditions and ceremonies of the occult. There’s this mysticism that is very appealing to those who lack a relationship with God. And so these Deist practices evolved to initiations, oaths, mysteries, invocations, and even Bacchanals. Some of those ceremonies were conducted in the formation of the United States. But Deism attitudes are not even consistent with Protestant Christianity.
So, we need to consider carefully our definition of Christianity. When we feel a crescendo of patriotism, when a politician starts to reference God or claim the name of Christ and Christian values, we need to consider very carefully what that politician really believes. And we should remember what happens when Christians get in power. Often, they compel conformity. But, we tend to look to the radical “Left” as the moral decline of America, and caution ourselves against that. But it may be that the threat is more immediately “Right”. We need to be careful about where our focus is.
Nevertheless, America is certainly a special country, and it has represented values in the world that we’d all endorse in many ways. It has on balance represented those values across the globe and done much good. And this concept is often called American Exceptionalism. But the root of American Exceptionalism has at its core something that evolved since the times of Stalin, who actually created the label on America as American Exceptionalism. He didn’t intend it as a compliment, but we took it as that and held onto it. And America certainly is exceptional, but we need to be careful about this slippery slope.
Newt Gingrich probably wrote the definitive work on this subject in his book, A Nation Like No Other. He argues that the United States is unique because of its founding principles and its historical achievements. He indicates that the U.S. promotes Judeo-Christian values and that those values are essential to its prosperity. Values like individual rights and freedoms, limited government and the rule of law. The U.S. is a beacon of freedom and opportunity around the world, and that as such the United States is responsible to promote those values around the globe, and that the promotion of those values promotes global stability and prosperity. He decries the slide of moral values in the West and the moral relativism that we see corroding society. He claims that it weakens the social fabric. And we would agree with much of that.
Then he calls his audience to action, to reclaim values that made the U.S. exceptional. He’s looking back to sort of Norman Rockwellâs version of America and equating it with God. So, it sounds good and there’s a lot of truth in it, but it sets us on a course, if extrapolated, that is wrong.
And that course is Christian Nationalism. This movement rose out of conservative Christian political activism, that started flourishing in the 1980s. It takes that concept of American Exceptionalism, and stokes it up. It takes that call to action and moves it forward in a natural progression, because if you agree with what Mr. Gringrich says about America, naturally, you need to do something about it.
It aims to build Christianity into government. It asks Christians to take control of this country. One example is something called the Seven Mountains of Mandate. And by this treatise, Christian operatives are encouraged to take control of cultural, economic, and civic life. And in so doing, they are establishing the kingdom of God. Under this movement, Pastors are actively planting churches in important and influential voting districts, explicitly for the purpose of affecting elections. They’re pressing these operatives to take positions in government as bureaucrats, as poll workers, as appointed officials or elected officials, and that they should then use those positions to accomplish the agenda of the movement. And in many cases, even if that means violating the ethics and the oaths that they pledge when they take those roles.
Another example we encountered is something called The Courage Tour. And this is a revivalist tent campaign that’s been moving around different areas of America, promoting a very aggressive Christian nationalist agenda. They essentially are encouraging people that they are chosen by God to sacrifice themselves, to take back America from the wicked at any cost, and that they will have a promised reward in heaven. Here are some quotes from one of their three-day seminars:
- We’ve got to bring God back into our schools, back into our government.
- It’s time to go after the villains. It’s time to chase the wicked.
- The time has come for justice and justice demands restitution.
- It’s time to move into offense. We didn’t pick a fight; they picked a fight. We are going to prepare for war.
- I’m not on the earth to be blessed. I’m on the earth to be armed and dangerous.
- You have to go into the fire. Jesus is in the fire. And in the fire he sets you free.
- The kingdom of God is now.
These people are looking to establish religious control over the state, a theocracy. But, it’s not a theocracy that represents our God. This system of thinking is in stark contrast to Scripture. It’s proud, self-willed and vengeful. It appropriates God’s name for a political purpose. A purpose that is to get power. And importantly, it mischaracterizes the kingdom of God.
The underlying error in Christian Nationalism is idolatry. It takes America and elevates it to a place of worship. An example given in some of their mandates is where “America” is being incorporated into worship services. Within the sanctuary of worship, people are singing patriotic songs, even military anthems. They’re waving American flags and citing the pledge of allegiance in their prayer service. They’re honoring the Constitution. It’s a very different type of service than we would be comfortable with. There’s also the example of God Bless the USA Bible, which has an American flag on the cover, and the founding documents bound into it like canonized scripture.Â
A recent survey suggests that Christian Nationalism isn’t really about Christianity. They are actually not very strongly committed to traditional Christian practices, like going to church or doctrinal conformity, and certainly not to concepts of humility, compassion, or peacemaking. Itâs a spectrum of people, but the most vocal adherence don’t seem to be primarily concerned with Christianity. It’s more about culture and ideology than it is about devotion.
It’s not about God, it’s about an idea of America, and something that they want to defend at all costs. America in this way becomes the manifestation of divine will. It’s God’s country. Democracy and capitalism are conflated with the gospel. And America is God’s Kingdom. So, it completely displaces our object of faith, God Himself.
Yes, we want to see moral strength and these ideas appeal. We’re conservative, we’re anxious about moral decline, we like law and order, we promote Judeo-Christian values, both moral, legal, and economic. We believe that they bring natural blessings, and we believe that America is the recipient of special blessings. That God had a hand in its history and development. So, we could very quickly be put on the extreme fringe of Christian Nationalism. But we are not Christian Nationalist.
But we’re also at risk of falling for it. On the other hand, we are supposed to be credible ambassadors of Christ representing the truth, the gospel, and the kingdom. So it matters what we say, what we think, and how we represent ourselves in the world. It is important. And we must be very careful not to get caught in traps. We think that is what Christian Nationalism is, a trap. All of these different systems of belief are Satan’s design to put layers of complexity on top of us, so that we have trouble navigating and sifting out what is true from what is wrong.
So, the idea of political ideologies like Christian Nationalism is not something we should be involved with. We need to be separate from them because those political ideologies stem from self-will and carnality. Misplaced trust is a risk because we come to believe that America is enjoying the consequence of its own virtue.
However, America’s blessings did not come because of its righteousness. Itâs wealth was not earned by the power and the might of its own hand, âlestâwhen you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your Godâ (Deuteronomy 8:12-14).
Furthermore, revenge is not in our hand. The battle against evil is not won by us. God doesn’t ask us to exact retribution or to defend our turf. Vengeance is the Lord’s and He will repay (Romans 12:19). So, it’s imperative that we keep in mind at all times who is in charge, and that is God. He gives life and breath to all things. He determines the boundaries of the nations (Acts 17:25-26). God rules in the kingdom of men and gives power to whoever he will (Daniel 4:17).
When Pilate asserted his power over Christ, Christ corrected him. He said, ââŚyou could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from aboveâŚâ (John 19:11). And Paul said that Christ is well able to subdue all things to Himself. And that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20-21).
So where are we placing our faith? Who do we believe is in control?
Christ lived in Roman occupied Judea in a time of tremendous political unrest, fervent nationalism, and messianic expectations among the Jewish people. There are many groups among them: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Zealots, and the Essenes, and each had a distinct ideology. Some of them favored collaboration with the Romans, some of them favored armed rebellion. But most expected that the Messiah would be a political figure who would liberate them and restore the Kingdom of Israel. Christ very distinctly refused to align with any of those movements. He consistently distanced Himself from all of what they were doing, and He focused His energy and what He had to say on the Kingdom of God. Jesus refused to be made their King. He made it very clear that His kingdom was not a political one (John 6:15; 18:36).
He had every opportunity to take control of the governments of men at that time. He rejected opportunities to become a political leader. He refused organized resistance. And He taught that His kingdom was not established by any human government. If Jesus wasn’t involved in politics, should we be?
We’re not Democrats, we’re not Republicans, we’re not independents. We live our lives in Christ, rooted and built up in Him (Colossians 2:6-7). We are to be faithful to God in all we think, say, and do. And to put no trust in men, in princes and ruler because there is no help in them (Psalm 146.3; Jeremiah 17:5-7). Our focus must be elevated always to the Kingdom of God. Our citizenship is in heaven in which we find unity of loyalty, and purpose in which we are perfectly joined together (Colossians 3.1).
So, looking at Christian Nationalism, it seemed to us that a huge part of the appeal of that movement is being part of the cause. In a time like today, it gives people a sense of purpose, hope, and identity. It provides people a sense of who they are and a sense of feeling important. They’re relevant. They have a part to play. It is their reason for being and that’s a very dangerous place to be.
We don’t need soaring presidential speeches. Capitalism and democracy are not our source of salvation. We are commissioned to the very greatest cause in history. We have a purpose. Christ sent His disciples to share the gospel about the coming Kingdom of God. It is message of a tremendous hope, of a tremendous purpose. Christ preached not just by His words but also by His actions and by His example.
The message that Christ preached is primarily, first and foremost, about who we are. Are you and I living, breathing examples, and messengers of the hope that that kingdom represents? Or do you prefer a Christian Nationalism approach?
Look at what Christ said that we’re supposed to be doing: âAnd Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, âAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.â Amen (Matthew 28: 18-20). Let’s go do that.
Staff