Last week I published an article that referenced the spirit of Christian Nationalism at the Charlie Kirk memorial service. For those who see this doctrine for what it truly is, it was a very disturbing event. That is made even worse by the widespread celebration and apparent delusion among many American Christians in the days since. Many perceive this as a rally point for national revival, utterly missing the sinister reality that is unfolding.
This post from a pastor serves as a random example:
“I’ve seen enough clips to cry and feel a fire shut up in my bones. When leaders of our nation are declaring Christ, we need to rejoice! Paul rejoiced even when Christ was reached from false motives. (The last sentence is to shut down some those who want to call these leaders hypocrites.) We are at a Turning Point people! Repent and let’s run together!”
Following this leader’s encouragement, a flood of supportive social media responses appeared, ranging from hallelujahs and “praise the Lord” to outright celebrations of Charlie Kirk’s sacrifice, which bolstered the confidence of the Trump administration and cabinet members.
There is a vast difference between the gospel of the Kingdom of God and Christian Nationalism. Christian Nationalism happens when the words, symbols, and ideology of the faith are leveraged wholly for political power and gains. The Roman Emperor Constantine was the first to use this tactic. As Christianity spread across the western Roman Empire, he claimed to have a vision of the cross, and God said to him, “Under this sign conquer.” Never mind that this supposed call from God directly contradicts the teachings of the New Testament and Christ – it worked!
The Crusaders went to Palestine and slaughtered “infidels” in the name of Christ, wearing crosses on their chests. Even the Nazi regime used a swastika on their “iron cross” to exploit the influence of Christianity for their own power.
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- See my three part video series on Christian Nationalism here (recorded in 2024)
At the end of the day, Christian Nationalism is no different from Muslim, Hindu, or any other form of religious nationalism. It always exploits popular ideology to transfer power into the hands of those skilled enough to manipulate the masses. That’s the great shame of what is happening in our own generation. We, the followers of Christ Jesus, have access to such higher truth, and yet many are missing it due to common run-of-the-mill deceptions that everyone else falls for.
There are many historical examples and Biblical refutations of Christian Nationalism, but let’s briefly examine a clear and obvious distinction between the true gospel of the Kingdom of God and the path of Religious Nationalism. This example is exemplified by none other than the author and finisher of our faith – Jesus Christ.
Tempted in the Wilderness
Around the time Jesus reached the age of 30 years, we find this interesting description of events in the book of Luke.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. Luke 4:1-2
I always find it fascinating when I read this passage and see that He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. There, in His weakened physical state, Jesus was confronted by the devil himself. This entire encounter sets the stage for the start of Christ’s ministry (found in verse 14 of the same chapter). Would He be a man of the Spirit, or a man of the flesh? A man aiming to accomplish a mission, or a man aiming to fulfill that mission exactly as God intended?
That’s where the temptation occurs. Observe the temptations that the devil offers to Jesus.
Temptation #1
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Luke 4:3
This was, in fact, a temptation. Jesus was no robot. He had gone forty days without food. The power to perform this miracle was within His reach. Why not do it?
He resisted because Jesus only did what He saw God the Father doing (John 5:19). He resisted the devil with the Word of God and stayed true to His faith in God – even though it must have been incredibly tempting at the moment.
The great temptation of Christian Nationalism that the devil presents to us is that we can take matters into our own hands. We are led to believe we can and should control everything. There are actually false doctrines and theologies supporting Christians seizing power and dominating everything. (It’s called Dominionism if you want to explore it further.) Although many issues exist with these false doctrines, the main problem is they are not what Jesus modeled for us. He clearly could have turned stones into bread, and there was nothing inherently sinful about that act. However, it was not God’s will, and therefore, it was not permitted. It didn’t matter how much He needed, wanted, or longed for a piece of bread. What mattered was God’s will and His Word.
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.’” Luke 4:4
Temptation #2
And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Luke 4:5-7
The only way this would be tempting is if the devil had the power to actually follow through on his promise here. The kingdoms of this world work in partnership with the ruler of darkness.
The remarkable thing is, on the other side of the cross and the resurrection, all the kingdoms of this world and every other realm were given to Jesus by God. (Matthew 28:18, Philippians 2, Colossians 1:14-19) The real temptation here isn’t just the power itself, but how easily the power over the nations could be gained. He could bypass the cross, avoid the suffering and death, and even sidestep obeying God. He could go straight for the prize.
This is what Christian Nationalism ultimately teaches us. We can have the authority that God intends for His people over the earth without following His pathways and preferences. The truth is, we can’t shortcut God’s ways and still receive His promises. That approach never works.
There is no such thing as partial obedience. Obedience that is only halfway is another form of disobedience. Disobedience to God is always giving honor and glory to the devil. He is the dark whisperer who is always trying to find grounds to accuse us of unfaithfulness before God. As Jesus said, the wise are those who hear AND OBEY the will of God.
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” Matthew 4:8
Temptation #3
And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Matthew 4:9-10
This one is especially laughable because the devil is actually quoting scripture to Jesus in the form of temptation. It provides a clear example of a tactic used by Christian Nationalism. He uses the Word of God but separates it from the nature and character of God.
When we genuinely know God, that becomes the best protection and shield against the dangers of Christian Nationalism as well as other forms of deception. Christian Nationalists quote Bible verses and sing praise songs to God while they promote policies that dehumanize and even demonize “the least of these” that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 25. This is not hard to recognize unless our discernment is clouded by deception.
Resistance
I do not fear the threats that Christian Nationalism poses to me or my home. Throughout history, the religious foundation of this wicked doctrine has always turned against those seeking to follow God rather than the powers of this world. I believe this is something we can expect soon. But, in the end, my God wins. Every nation, every knee, will bow (Romans 14:11).
As Jesus showed us during His temptation in the wilderness, when we resist the devil, he will flee. That should be our guide today. Recognize what is truly happening and the dangers that are truly unfolding. But don’t live in fear.
This article was initially published as our Monday Morning Devotional.
