The Flawed Theology of Christian Nationalism

Families traveled to the nondescript hall each week from across Michigan and even Ontario.

Some drove up to two and a half hours one way — my family drove an hour and twenty minutes — to gather on Sunday with like-minded believers. The hall was split into two areas: one lined with tables where families set up their lunch spot, and the other with rows of old metal folding chairs gathered in a semi circle around an electric piano and a black, collapsible podium.

In the back of the room near the kitchen, they set up PVC pipes with curtains as a space for the nursing mothers and babies. There was no nursery or children’s church because families worshiped together. For over two hours. Then took a break for lunch, and then sat through a second service. Our pilgrimage each Sunday was an all-day event.

The four-part harmony echoing through that old hall as we sang hymns was beautiful, even exhilarating. The Pot-Blessing meal (because luck was bad) was something I looked forward to each month. Spending the day with people who looked like me and believed like me made me feel less strange.

I’ve had to unlearn most of my theology from those days in my Christian cult. The fancy term is deconstruction. It’s been a process. Much of the twisted truth I grew up with was based on Scripture taken out of context — making a verse or two mean something that the author ever intended by removing them from the surrounding verses and chapters. This is a pretty serious issue and it’s not just done by cults.

Although I don’t think it was ever specifically preached from the pulpit, one of the popular beliefs I picked up on was that America was God’s new Israel. It was our job to bring her back to God by influencing society around us even as we stood out from it. They used verses like 2 Chronicles 7:14.

“If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Some of the ultra-conservative fathers in our group ran for local or state offices. We railed against abortion, homosexuality, public schools, and sex before marriage. There was this unspoken idea that if we imposed our own strict moral beliefs on the general public then somehow they would find God and America would be a Christian nation again. There were more than a few flaws with this belief system.

Christian Nationalism

Christian Nationalism is a buzz word that is causing some serious conflict right now between the sides of our ever divided nation. I think part of the controversy stems from the fact that we don’t really know how to define it. That and the fact that it often gets used to smack people on the head so maybe they are rightly defensive.

As someone who lived Christian Nationalism, I would like to gently explain it to you and then reveal the flaws within that belief system.

Christian Nationalism starts when someone combines patriotism with righteousness. It’s like an awkward marriage between the true Kingdom of God and a worldly government. People see political might and greatness as a way of saving the world. And sometimes — like my Christian cult — it even goes so far as to give America a Messianic identity. We truly believed that America was God’s new Israel and we had no problem claiming prophecies for Israel as our own.

I didn’t even know that Christian Nationalism was a thing back in the 90s, but we definitely felt that Christians had the right to create the rules. We believed that our founding fathers were devout Christians who wanted a specifically Christian republic. And our goal was to restore and reclaim our imagined Christian nation. So why are these beliefs a problem? Because they aren’t founded in fact.

Founding Fathers

Although most of the Founding Fathers believed in a Deity and were respectful of the Bible, they were not Evangelical Christians. Read their original writings. Over the years some Christian historians have to tried to emphasize certain quotes over others in order to create a version of history that fits their narrative. But that’s not how history works. No one should be erasing or tweaking events, quotes, and people to fit their own agenda.

Twisted Theology

To understand how people can see America as God’s special nation we need to understand a little bit about theology. Theology is the study of God. And within theology there are various camps. It’s important to note that no theological camp is perfect because they are all created by people who are trying to understand God. Two popular camps of theology are Dispensational Theology and Covenant Theology. One of the biggest differences between Dispensational Theology and Covenant Theology is the way they view Israel and the Church.

In Dispensational Theology Israel and the Church are seen as two unique entities even within our modern world. Prophecies that are intended for Israel cannot be taken and applied to the Church because Israel is still playing a part in God’s plan for the world. In Covenant Theology the lines between Israel and the Church are blurred and often the Church is seen as God’s new Israel. Believing America is now God’s Israel is just one more jump away when you believe it was originally a Christian nation.

In truth, Israel is the only nation that God has ever singled out as special. And He specifically told them that it wasn’t because they were any bigger or better, but because He just chose them (Deuteronomy 7:7-9). And it’s ultimately because of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

And this, my friends, is why I am so passionate about reading the Bible accurately and in context. This is why we need to research for ourselves what to believe.

In 1999 when I graduated from homeschool, I really believed that my job was to influence the world by imposing my personal morals on others. I thought that if I somehow convinced them to change their behaviors then they would find God. If I could have seen the dresses Target is selling this year I’d have believed that we succeeded. Haha!!

But I am now convinced that making people change their behavior does nothing for their hearts. Only Jesus can change hearts through a relationship with Himself.

Worldly kingdoms will always be broken because people are broken. This world is a mess because people are a mess. And we will always long for resolution because it is coming someday when the Messiah reigns. But we cannot save ourselves using political power. We need Jesus.

Jesus lived during a politically tumultuous time as did His disciples after Him. But they were not focused on Rome vs Israel. They were obsessed with a different Kingdom. Despite persecution, and danger, and death, the early Christians shared the good news that changed their lives. The story of a God who became a Man so that we could know Him. The story of a humble rabbi from a small town who never sought power or fame and who died for the sins of the world. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Fellow believers, this is not the time for despair (or gloating depending on our side), this is the time for humble repentance. The time to change our minds and agree with God about what is vital: sharing the good news of Jesus with everyone who will listen.

God send revival, and let it start with me.

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