Patriotism and Christian Nationalism
I wrote last week about Christian Nationalism and our great need for humility in this hour. I have been concerned and preached about the danger of this mixture for the last decade. National allegiance isn’t wrong in and of itself. There is a godly and healthy version of patriotism that the bible encourages and there is an unhealthy pride and national allegiance that the bible repudiates. If our national allegiance supersedes our allegiance to Jesus and His Kingdom we are on dangerous footing and we need to re-evaluate where our devotion truly lies.
Several years ago I addressed the mixture of Christianity and nationalism directly in a message. I’m posting the unedited version of those notes here in hopes that it will offer you some clarity as to what the Bible says about patriotism, our role with government, and our posture toward our nation.
As believers our citizenship is firstly in heaven (Phil 3:20, Heb 11:13-16, Heb 13:14).
We are to prioritize the values and expansion of the Kingdom of God above everything else (Mat 6:33).
Believers are to be subject to and honor their earthly governments and leaders (Romans 13:1-5, 1 Peter 2:17).
Believers are to pray for their nation and its leaders (1 Tim 2:1-3).
Nation’s who claim the Lord as their God and serve Him according to His way will experience His blessing. (Psalm 33:12)
Patriotism simply means, “to love one’s country.” There is nothing wrong with showing your support and loyalty to your country. In fact believers are encouraged to pray for their government and the good of the nation in which they live.
The only time patriotism becomes sinful is when our pride and love for our country supersedes our love for God.
Confusion arises when believers identify a political party as “God’s party” or a specific nation as “God’s nation.” God doesn’t favor any political party. And the only nation identified as the Lord’s is the nation of Israel (Ex 4:22, Jer 31:9, Zec 2:8).
Some believers mix their faith with patriotism and the result is “Christo-nationalism”. There is a vast difference between Christianity and Christo-Nationalism. A Christian submits to the values of the kingdom of God to further the agenda of the kingdom. Christo-Nationalists submit to Jesus’ teaching to the extent that they strengthen national interests and further the agenda of a political party or nation.
There are multiple instances in the Scripture of how Nationalism was repudiated and judged by the Lord. One example is when Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day in the temple courts of Jerusalem saying, “You have made my house a den of thieves.” Most don’t realize that His words were a quote from Jeremiah the prophet.
Jeremiah had stood before the religious leaders of His day and made the same declaration (Jer 7:11). His words were a judgment on the system of Judeo-Nationalism the people embraced. They believed they were above God’s judgment because they were “God’s People” and hosted God’s temple. The result in Jeremiah’s day was the same as in Jesus’ day, God raised up a foreign nation to bring judgment on His people and destruction to the temple. God proved definitively that He was for His own glory and kingdom above ANY nation’s pride.
The similarities between ancient Israel and America have long concerned me because of the common assumption that America is God’s nation and somehow beyond His judgment. In recent years my concerns have continued to grow, as I’ve watched popular Christianity become more and more intertwined with American politics. In recent days I have received surprising negative responses to what are simple biblical truths about how our allegiance to Jesus and His Kingdom should be above any earthly kingdom or political party. I believe there is a great reckoning coming. The Lord is going to have a people who are pure and spotless without wrinkle. My posture today is to continue to bow low before the Lord and ask Him to conform me to His image and make His name and nature known to His Church. We need Him to move now more than ever beloved. Will you pray with me unto this end?