Christian Nationalism: I am not now, nor will I ever be, a Christian Nationalist (CM). It’s not that I don’t love God and want Him in my life and in the life of my community, state and country.
We are all invited to be a part of God’s family, to pattern ourselves after our Lord and Savior and to conduct ourselves in a way that is honoring to Him. But in the case of Christian Nationalism, what is under the surface is troubling.
On the one hand, CM’s proclaim that God should be in charge of everything in government. Not just God, but Christianity, a creation of a Christian Theocracy. They might claim that they will tolerate every religion, as was the idea of the founders of the Constitution, but they don’t necessarily agree that religious liberties are for everyone.
The Establishment clause separates church and state
The “Establishment clause” of the 14th Amendment is the main argument against making the US a Christian nation. It states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Although “separation of church and state” is not found anywhere in the Constitution, Christian Nationalism would usher in a Christian theocracy and go against that idea. Thomas Jefferson was a champion for not combining government and religion, even though he had strong religious beliefs.
Most Christian Nationals Decidedly Unchristian In Their Behavior
The biggest flaw in the CM movement is the heart of the people who subscribe to it. They are loud, militant and decidedly not Christian in their actions and approach.
The prospect of a Christian theocracy is just as troubling as what we see with Islamic theocracies, where individual rights are trampled upon. In the days when Jesus walked with us, the Pharisees, like Islamic rulers today, forced their will on society.
Jesus opposed autocratic rule
Jesus opposed their autocratic rule. He called for people to repent of their sins, to follow God and develop a close, personal relationship. This cannot happen when people are forced to adhere to a specific doctrine.
It is easy to connect the dots and see that Christian Nationalism would violate free-will and make “Christian” faith the law and not a choice or decision.
In the words of Jesus:
Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him. (Mark 12:17)
EFCA a major evangelical denomination is also against CM
EFCA states: “We are not Christian Nationalists who believe the federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation or who believe that Americans are “God’s chosen people,” but we do believe that a patriotic love of one’s nation is appropriate and that Christians should be good citizens who may freely advocate for God-honoring public policies.”
Love for Jesus is unifying not dividing
Christian Nationalism is also closely associated with right wing politics, making it a dividing point, not a unifying force. The love of Christ is unifying. By the grace of God we are saved, through faith in Jesus. That cannot be forced.