Some of us recently attended a presentation on Christian Nationalism which was informative, but not, in my opinion, a “home run.” I left with a better idea about the mission of some who are post-millennials as to how they propose to bring about a utopian world that will then bring on the second coming of Jesus, but I also left with no clear picture. So, I have been doing some reading and will continue to do so. Here are some thoughts at this juncture:
Christian Nationalism is still not clear in definition or direction as it seems to have a number of ideals or wings. It certainly has differing ideas in our political parties. One sees the Jan. 6 “riot” as an example of the movement and the other sees it as a wall against the onslaught of globalism, the swamp and immorality.
Some of the movement (as presented at the presentation) believe that nations, all nations, must become Christianized for Jesus to come physically.
In some senses, the idea that all nations be Christianized is the call of the Great Commission: “GO, make disciples of all nations.” I don’t think that means each and every government and national entity be ruled by the Bible, Christians and Christian principles. Rather that Christians be found in each country practicing their faith in ways pleasing to God.
In the thinking of those who are laboring toward a utopia that brings Jesus, any person who claims to be a Christian is a Christian. That is, if baptized as an infant – one is a Christian. If a person prayed a salvation prayer at some point, they are a Christian even though there was never a change of life and there has been no evidence of Christianity since. A Christian to them is anyone who says they are Christian making the number in the United States very, very large thus making the United States a “Christian nation”. Now, the project for that branch of Christian Nationalism is getting other nations to that state.
Interesting here. The separatists on the Mayflower were fleeing a “Christian Nation”. And those first years at Plymouth were quite Christian. So, the America that sprang up from those European colonists started “Christian” but by almost all indicators is today NOT very Christian. [For those of us who are true Christians, the United States is NOT a Christian nation.] That means, the idea of Christians building a Christian world for Jesus is on the slide and looking like a failure, so how do they ever hope to make this worldwide?
There seems to be another strain of Christian Nationalism that is not focused on the second coming of Jesus as a goal but looking back to glory days behind. It is their belief that America was indeed a Christian nation at one time and there needs to be some radical efforts to get us back to those days. It is the belief that the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the founders were ‘inspired” by God (does that make it on par with the Bible?). If so, that idea puts the United States in the same camp with the Israel of David and as a “replacement”.
[I do believe God was active in our founding to raise up a nation as a tool in His hand, if for no other reason than to see the protecting and restoration of the Jews and the nation of Israel as we have today.]
The view of a “Christian” founding often casts most of the founders as vibrant Christians which is not borne out by their words. While many acknowledged God as existing and active in the world, any statement about a personal relationship with Jesus by faith alone is almost non-existent. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia seems to fit into this camp of restoration to those days past.
A third driver of the Christian Nationalism idea might be that the United States was at one time heavily influenced by the Bible and Christians and that is now waning. The drive of that Christian Nationalism element would be a return to the Bible having a dominant or select voice in the halls of power. While noble, the United States never had such directly but had men and women who were vibrant in their living out and speaking out Biblical truth. And most of the country, while not Christian, were churched and thus open to the ideas of Christians. After all, we were “One nation under God” and “In God we trust.” While such are not statements of saving faith, they are ideas that gave Christians and the Bible a voice.
Christian Nationalism is an “ism” – a strain of truth that is not whole or wholesome – to it we must not affirm or join. We are Christians living in a country that was heavily influenced by Christian thought and people, has Christian principles embedded in her founding documents and has seen God bless her and use her in a host of ways. She was not then and is certainly not now a “Christian” nation (think of slavery). We are not about a Christian Nationalism to bring back Jesus or to demand Christianity of others and thus step on their First Amendment rights or of a belief that quoting Scripture in Congress will bring forth greatness. We are to be vibrant and strong Christians living as lights that God might use to influence.
a PK Musing 
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