What Is Christian Nationalism?

In the United States of America (USA), Christian nationalism is a form of patriotism held by Christians of various backgrounds and genders who believe the USA is the central player in God's historical purposes because it is a country founded on and defined by Christian religious principles. Those who want Government policies and the broader culture to reflect these ideals are not necessarily incompatible with religious freedom.

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines patriotism as “loyalty and devotion to a nation, especially as expressed in a glorifying of one nation above all others and a stressing of the promotion of its culture and interests.”

The words “Christian Nationalism” do not imply that God loves Americans or Christians more than other nations and peoples. God loves EVERYONE – including those who hate Him or deny He exists. Many Christians believe the word ‘nationalism’ refers to people who understand the USA has many flaws and idiosyncrasies, but they still love it and advocate for liberty, freedom, and sovereignty for all legal citizens over their personhood. To them, it is about being morally pure, and it is something that defends what is good; they earnestly want their leaders to be morally just and good.

There are some people who go so far as to proclaim the USA replaces Israel as God’s promised land, so the USA should remain identified as a distinctively Christian nation and actively promote its teachings, values, symbols, and apply them to public policies, which is a departure from historical, traditional Christian teachings.

There is a belief that the USA was divinely inspired and founded on Christian religious principles; therefore, wanting policies and culture to reflect those ideals is not incompatible with religious freedom. However, if the government imposes any single belief system on people and takes away someone’s freedom to practice their religion or choose not to, it is antithetical to the First Amendment, which protects people’s deepest beliefs and their petitioning for laws and policies that they believe in.

Nationalism Vs. Patriotism

According to many critics, the phrase “Christian Nationalism” has become ubiquitous and a variation of Islamic Shariah law, which it simply is not in any way, shape, manner, or form. Christians see the proliferation of lawlessness, abortion, and transgender ideology and are concerned their country is falling farther from the morality of its roots.

People most often use the term “Christian Nationalism as religious rhetoric that mean the same thing as calling somebody a racist and as an insult because they consider it a form of fascism using identity politics that can lead to the marginalization of religious and ethnic minorities, as well as the conflation of political and religious authority, which undermines the separation of church and state, as well as distorts both Christian faith and democracy because it is seen as political idolatry that prioritizes a nationalistic, militarized version of Christianity over true biblical teaching.

Some believe it is far more than pride of citizenship and loving one’s country, because it is actually anti-democratic and includes nativism, white supremacy, bigotry, authoritarian control, and militarism. Those opposed to it blame Christians for such things as cruelty to illegal immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the destruction of Abortion rights.

Contrary to the ramblings of the antagonists, Christian Nationalism is not an extreme form of patriotism that demands a position of superiority and has little or no room for dissent or disagreement. Patriots are those who love their country and express it in many positive ways. The vast majority of people who consider themselves Christian Nationalists do not promote a governmental theocracy, demand conformity to their beliefs, nor do they promote exclusion policies or any behavior that solidifies their power or status against non-Christians.

Christian Nationalism and the First Amendment

Believing in Christian Nationalism doesn’t violate the First Amendment. Many religions play a major role in U.S. public life and its history. The USA was founded on the freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. The words “separation of church and state” are not in the U.S. Constitution. It was President Thomas Jefferson who actually coined them in a letter he wrote in 1802 to a Pastor of a church in Connecticut. However, its ideas are present in politics and public policy, and are entrenched in the legal system, which determines whether a government action or law violates the Constitution.

The term “separation of church and state” has been used as a weapon, with many unaware of its exclusion from the Constitution. It seems impossible today to state one’s Christian faith without being labeled a Christian Nationalist – used as a vehement insult – by those of a differing viewpoint.

The United States is not a democracy, but a Constitutional Republic based on a constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, and was founded using biblical principles, which do not imply ‘Christian nationalism.’ It was established as a federal constitutional republic form of government and is an indivisible union of 50 sovereign States. In a democracy or other forms of government that aren't theocratic, it is the people who choose or vote.