Denial and Affirmation Four

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. 

Commentary  

Christ calls his Church to live as salt and light, a city on a hill, so that others “may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:13-16). Peter called us sojourners and exiles, brought out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light and called to do good (1Pet. 2:9-12), using language tied to God’s message through the prophet Jeremiah to God’s people exiled in Babylon, when God called them to invest into the place of their exile and seek its shalom—its goodness, wholeness, and welfare (Jer. 29:4-7). 

We affirm that advocating for God-honoring public policies is one way for us, as Christians, to seek the common good and welfare of all people. As citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, we have the freedom to do so, while submitting to the governing authorities and honoring them (Rom. 13:1-7; 1Pet. 2:13-17). It is appropriate for Christians to exercise rights as citizens of earthly kingdoms (e.g., Acts 16:37-38; 22:25-29), and to have a love of our own people or nation (e.g., Rom. 9:1-5). We also must affirm that Christ’s Kingdom is not bound to earthly borders or nations but is multi-national, multi-ethnic, and multi-lingual, transcending these divides (Rev. 7:9-12). 

We recognize that “Christian Nationalism” has become a buzzword that is used in a variety of ways, losing any common meaning. In this statement, we have sought to provide a brief definition of what we mean by that term in this context. The “Christian Nationalism” we deny includes the belief that the United States of America is a “Christian Nation,” not only as a sociological description, but also as a prescriptive mandate, or that Americans are “God’s chosen people.” This often stems from a conflation of the United States with the role and calling of Israel as God’s chosen people, a theocratic nation in the Old Testament, neglecting the application of the terminology in 1 Peter 2:9 that Christians are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for [God’s] own possession.” 

“Christian Nationalism” labors to bring the kingdom of God through human political means, neglecting the truth that Jesus is the King of all kings and no national or partisan platform fully conforms to or reflects the fullness of his Kingdom (cf. Josh. 5:13-15). In light of the glorious truths of the gospel in Christ’s Kingdom, we must not hesitate to say that “Christian Nationalism,” so defined, is wrong and idolatrous. Through history, the alignment of the Church with political power has only diluted the Church’s witness to Christ’s Kingdom. To lift up any nation over another as a “Christian Nation” or an earthly citizenship as “God’s chosen people” is to deny the sovereignty and reach of the gospel through Christ’s Kingdom (Acts 1:8; Rev. 5:9-10). 

We must not forget that, in his incarnation, Christ did not reach for political power because his Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36), but he associated with the lowest, least, lost, and leprous. Even up to the moment of His ascension, his disciples looked for political conquest, but Jesus did not succumb to their expectations. Instead, he ascended to a higher throne as the King over all kings and Lord over all (Acts 1:6-11). So, we are free to engage in political work for the common good, but never to neglect, diminish, or limit our witness to Christ’s sovereignty over every nation.