Is It Christian Nationalism to Seek the Welfare of Our Nation?
By Scott Jones
After much research, I have reached the conclusion that the term “Christian Nationalism” is a pejorative that secularists (those that do not hold to a Biblical worldview) use to impugn the motives and actions of Christians who engage the culture and the government. Look no further than Wikipedia to find the lengths to which they will go to malign sincere Christians. For instance: “The ideology [Christian Nationalism] also advocates the view that public policy should be formed strictly by Christian beliefs, such as imposing legal restrictions against abortion.” (Wikipedia, 2022) So, if one opposed abortion on scientific and secular grounds, one still might be described as a “Christian Nationalist”. Wikipedia takes many legitimate Christian activities and ascribes them to “Christian Nationalism” in order to malign Biblical positions by associating them with “Nationalism”. (Wikipedia, 2022)
The Problems with Nationalism
Merriam Webster defines nationalism “as loyalty and devotion to a nation especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.” (Merriam-Webster, 2022) Noah Webster did not provide a definition of nationalism, but did include this definition of national: “Attached or unduly attached to one’s own country. The writer manifested much national prejudice. He was too national to be impartial.” (Webster, 1828)
In 2021 Christianity Today published a piece examining Christian Nationalism. This article points out that nationalism tends to promote segregation of nations into mutually distinct, internally coherent groups with a similar ethnic and cultural identity. The piece concludes that nationalism, Christian or otherwise, is a problem, as it tends to marginalize minority groups and to take on an oppressive, authoritarian nature. (Miller, 2021) This is partiality, and God hates partiality and the injustice that results from it. See: James 2:1-4, Zechariah 7:10, and Malachi 3:5. “God expected His people to provide equal legal justice to all (no special favoritism, no oppression of anyone.)” (Quine, 2021)
God loves all the nations impartially.
In the Abrahamic Covenant, God declares that all the nations will be blessed by Abraham’s descendants. (Genesis 12:3)
God has made known His commandments to all the nations to lead them to the obedience of faith (Romans 16:26).
Repentance for forgiveness of sins has been proclaimed to all the nations (Luke 24:47).
As John writes: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Paul (a Jew) wrote from Nicopolis in Greece to Titus (a Gentile) in Crete: that the grace of God brings salvation to all men (Titus 2:11).
Thus God, in His love for mankind has provided the means through His Son, Jesus Christ, to reconcile all men, from all nations, to Himself, having provided for the propitiation for their sins through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20).
Nevertheless, God has also allowed all nations to go their own way (Acts 14:16).
The nations reject God, thus the prophet Joel says: “I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there…” (Joel 3:2)
The Psalmist writes: “The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, …”
Revelation tells us that at the end, God will judge all the nations impartially for their sin. “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality,…” (Revelation 18:3) and “… all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.” (Revelation 18:23) and “From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations.” (Revelation 19:15)
No nation escapes the judgment of God.
God has provided impartial deliverance to men of every nation, nevertheless He also promises impartial judgment to all the nations when they rebel against Him. When a person becomes unduly attached to his own nation and exalts it above the other nations, this is at best the sin of partiality. If the person becomes so devoted to his nation that he elevates it above God, then it becomes idolatry.
Nationalism leads to sin – either partiality or idolatry. Thus “Christian Nationalism” is an oxymoron, contrary to a Biblical worldview, and is not useful for describing the civic and political activities of followers of Jesus Christ, who love God and His word.
Patriotism: Is it idolatry to seek the welfare of our nation?
Patriotism is distinguished from nationalism, in that while the patriot seeks the welfare of his nation, he does not elevate it above all others. (Merriam-Webster, 2022)
Clearly God wants us to seek the welfare of the city, state, and country, in which He has placed us. (Jeremiah 29:7) The standard of course is not found in our culture, our history, or our traditions, but solely in the word of God. That means that Christians do not blindly hold up whatever their nation does as good, but that they apply God’s standard of justice and righteousness, praising their nation when it does good, and reproving and rebuking when it pursues evil. “Our affection and loyalty to a specific part of God’s creation helps us do the good work of cultivating and improving the part we happen to live in. As Christians, we can and should love the United States – which also means working to improve our country by holding it up for critique and working for justice when it errs.” (Miller, 2021)
Both the Old and New Testament are full of passages commending righteousness in civil affairs and exhorting Christians to pursue righteous and just government:
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)
“It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:12)
“Take away the wicked before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.” (Proverbs 25:5)
“Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:17)
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior…” (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
Therefore, it is neither impartiality, nor idolatry to seek the welfare of our community, state and nation. In fact, God encourages us to do so, so that we and our fellow citizens may experience the blessings of living peacefully under justice and righteousness.
Conclusions
Christian Nationalism is an oxymoron that appears to have been created as a pejorative against Christians who seek the welfare of their communities, states, and nation by actively engaging in civil and political activism. Nationalism is a sin because it is an impartial adherence to a single nation, elevating it above others. Nationalism transitions to idolatry when the nation is elevated above God Himself.
On the other hand, it is not sin for Christians to seek the welfare of the region in which God has placed them. He desires us to engage our community, state, and nation to seek righteousness and justice, teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:20).
It is important that as we engage the culture, the civil society, and political institutions, that we do so with humility. We should continually examine our hearts for partiality and idolatry. We should implore the Spirit to guide us to pursue righteousness and justice, for without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will surely fail.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
Works Cited
Merriam-Webster. (2022, May 23). nationalism. Retrieved June 2022, from Merriam-Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalism
Miller, P. (2021, February 3). What is Christian Nationalism? Retrieved from Christianity Today: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/february-web-only/what-is-christian-nationalism.html
Quine, B. (2021). Answers for Difficult Days: Justice. Richardson: Cornerstone Curriculum.
Webster, N. (1828). American Dictionary of the English Language. New York, NY, USA: S. Converse.
Wikipedia. (2022, May 27). Christian Nationalism. Retrieved June 2022, from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Nationalism#United_States