Over the last several years, the term Christian nationalism has been thrown around without much of a definition. The point of the term has been to scare Christians out of participating in politics at any level, as if being called a Christian nationalist is tantamount to being called racist, Nazi, or white supremacist. How dare Christians bring their worldview into the ballot box, effectively forcing their views on the rest of the world?!
When this term is thrown around by the world, it is a projection. In other words, the world is being intolerant of Christians, so they must accuse Christians of being intolerant instead.
Unfortunately, this term has also created much division within Christian ranks presumably because we accept the world’s definition of the term, and we want to avoid anything that might turn an unbeliever away from following Christ. This could go into a deeper discussion about how the church has failed to stand for truth in an effort to “win souls,” but that’s another topic for another time. (If you’re interested in this topic, I recommend reading Eric Metaxas’s book Letter to the American Church and focusing on his chapter about the idol of evangelism. Sooo good!)
The American people have been quick to pick up the moniker “garbage” after Biden’s statements in a speech before the election. The Canadian people relished being called “the fringe minority” after Trudeau chose to describe the rebels in that way. The French population adopted the name of “Jacques” when the bourgeoisie claimed you couldn’t tell one from another. Yet Christians are so scared of being called anything that might offend the world, who are, might I add, enemies of God, and therefore our enemies, as well.
In the interest of full transparency, I haven’t read everything out there on this topic. I own but have not read Stephen Wolfe’s book A Case for Christian Nationalism. I don’t know how everyone is defining this term in their books or articles, but I wanted to take a look at the words themselves to see how I would define this moniker.
So let’s take the term Christian nationalist apart and analyze it.
Christian Nationalism
The term Christian in and of itself began as a slur. As Christ’s followers shared the good news of the Gospel and preached His Word, they were dubbed “little Christs” or “Christians.” While the world intended for the term Christian to be derogatory, the believers of that time claimed it as a compliment. Yes, they were trying to imitate Christ, just as His Word tells us to do. So a “slur” that showed them they were accomplishing that goal was actually high praise.
But let’s be honest: It isn’t the “Christian” part of the phrase that makes us uncomfortable. The word that conjures up visions of white supremacists and Nazis is nationalist. So let’s dive into that one.
Christian Nationalism
Until recently, none of us really thought about the word nationalist. In fact, the word we used to use was patriot. While in certain circles of our society today the word patriot carries the same negative connotations as the word nationalist, for most of us, patriotism isn’t in conflict with Christianity. So I would argue, neither is nationalism. (If you are uncomfortable with a Christian being patriotic, keep reading.)
There are two facts you need to keep in mind:
- God created nations, and
- Nationalism is the opposite of globalism.
When we read Genesis 11:1-9, we learn about the Tower of Babel. Before this time, there was globalism. Everyone spoke the same language and was working toward the same goal. God said this globalism wasn’t good, so He created different languages, forcing the people into nations.
As we continue to read the Old Testament, we see the guidelines God put in place for a godly nation. As He molded Israel, we get a front row seat to see what He expects from a godly nation. Isn’t this Christian nationalism? And if this is Christian nationalism, what is the alternative? Secular globalism? Secular nationalism? Would either of these be better?
Not only did God give Israel their guidelines for sovereignty, but He also gave them guidelines for when they were living among other nations due to captivity. In Jeremiah 29, we get to see a letter that was written from God to His people who were living under the control and power of Babylon. Specifically in verse 7, God tells His people to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” So no matter where we live, we are to seek the welfare of that nation. That would mean we are to oppose any nation seeking to harm that nation.
Not all nations are created equal
Nationalism in a country that is evil leads to more evil. For example, a Chinese nationalist would be promoting communist ideals and perpetrating the injustices inherent in that worldview. But nationalism in a country that is founded on biblical principles would promote the ideals laid out by God in His Word. In America, nationalism promotes individual worth, dignity, and freedom.
Not only should this set your mind at ease about being called a “Christian nationalist,” but also this should explain to you why the world hates it so much!
While I’m not promoting wearing t-shirts or ball caps that have the phrase “Christian Nationalist” emblazoned on the front unless you feel inclined to do so, I am saying that this is a title we can proudly adopt. It is one more example of the importance of defining your terms. So the next time someone calls you a “Christian nationalist,” I encourage you to respond with “Yes, I’m a Christian, and I love my nation.”
We must stop caring about what the world thinks of us, and to a certain extent, even what other Christians think of us, as well. We have an audience of One, and if we are pleasing Him, approval from others is insignificant.
You may also enjoy:
0 Comments