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What is Christian nationalism? It seems to mean different things to different people. For a few respondents, it meant the church “got too political.” One said she “could no longer support a church who said it ‘loves Jesus’ but supports a U.S. administration that does violence to immigrants, women, gays, and anyone who is not white, heteronormative, and conservative.” Another said she and her husband felt that if they “didn’t vote a certain way or support a certain candidate,” they “didn’t belong.” In general, we might describe Christian nationalism as the politicization of Christianity — the belief that national identity and Christian identity are meant to be fused. It treats the nation as an extension of God’s kingdom, and national loyalty as functionally inseparable from loyalty to Christ. As an example of Christian nationalism, it’s publishing a Bible that also contains the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a handwritten chorus of Lee Greenwood’s song "God Bless the U.S.A." We Americans love the founding documents, but they shouldn’t be found within the pages of God’s holy word. Let’s draw a distinction: loyalty to Christ and loyalty to country are not the same. The New Testament is clear that a Christian’s first allegiance is to God and his kingdom, and that kingdom isn’t confined to any nation, empire, or political party. Most would agree that churches have no right to tell people how to vote. But, what about when political platforms take positions on moral issues? How should the church respond when moral truth is at stake? Can someone love their country without being a Christian nationalist? Surely, a Christian can love the United States — or any nation — without believing it occupies a unique place in God’s redemptive plan, or that its flag belongs beside the cross. ➡️ This week’s podcast digs into these questions. We offer a word to younger adults and others who may have left the church over this: don’t confuse the Christian nationalist label with political disagreement. And we offer a word to the church: don’t merge what God has not joined. Thank you for reflecting on this subject with us!
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