What Does the Bible Say About… Christian Nationalism?
Earlier this spring, we began our What Does the Bible Say About…? series by tackling the topic of Christian Nationalism. As I’ve continued to reflect on that sermon and the conversations that came from it, I’m thankful our church is willing to engage difficult cultural topics through the lens of Scripture.
At Soteria, our normal rhythm is to preach verse-by-verse through books of the Bible, and that continues to be our foundation. But from time to time, it’s important to step back and address issues that are shaping the way Christians think, live, and interact with the culture around them. My burden in this series was never simply to talk about politics or current events. It was to help shape a biblical worldview.
Every person has a worldview. Every law, policy, and cultural movement is flowing from what people believe about truth, morality, human nature, and authority. All of that is shaped from a view of a higher power. Even the humanistic atheist is worshiping self, and ultimately government.
We spent time in Psalm 33, where Scripture says:
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” — Psalm 33:12
That passage reminds us that God is sovereign over nations. He raises nations up and brings nations down. Human governments may believe they are powerful, but ultimately God rules over all. God rules through governments, and governments shape laws based on worldview. As Christians, we should desire that our nation can flourish by governing on the basis of a basic, Christian worldview.
During the message, I also made the point that America is not a “Christian nation” in the sense of being a biblical theocracy like Old Testament Israel. However, many of the principles that shaped our nation historically came from a biblical worldview. Ideas like equality, dignity, freedom, compassion, and moral accountability have deep roots in Christianity. When people and nations operate according to God’s design with His “owner’s manual” there is blessing and flourishing.
We also talked about how confusing and politically charged the term Christian nationalism has become. In many cases today, Christians are labeled with that phrase simply because they hold biblical convictions about issues like the sanctity of life, marriage, or gender. Some Christian Nationalists want to nationalize Christianity. That’s not us. Some are white supremacist racists. That’s not us. Others simply view Christianity as the worldview that contributes to the greatest human flourishing. As Christians, we should do what we can to elect leaders and promote policies shaped by God’s Word.
At the heart of the sermon was this reminder: our mission as the church has not changed. The primary mission of the church is not winning political arguments or building earthly kingdoms. Our mission is to share the gospel, make disciples, and help people follow Jesus faithfully. Real cultural transformation happens when hearts are changed by the power of Christ.
As we continue navigating a rapidly changing culture, my prayer for our church is that we would remain grounded in Scripture, thoughtful in the way we engage difficult topics, and unwavering in our commitment to truth and grace. More than anything, I want us to be people who love God deeply, think biblically, and faithfully carry out the mission Jesus has given us: making more and better disciples.
