Is Christian Nationalism Biblical?
Christians have always found themselves championing two causes: following the Carpenter with a cross and cheering the candidate with a crown. But what if trying to build God’s kingdom through politics becomes the very thing that keeps us from it?
I hear the phrase Christian Nationalist being thrown around a lot lately. Do we really understand that phrase? Living in a Christian nation sounds ideal, but is it? Perhaps the fiercest battles for God’s kingdom aren’t fought at the polls, but in the human heart.
Lately I have pondered, if the Son of God left his throne to become a fragile, ordinary man, then humility isn’t just something he asks of us—it’s something he modeled.
Think about it; the Creator of galaxies wrapped himself in skin, walked dusty roads, and ate meals with fishermen. That means our calling isn’t to climb higher, but to bow lower. To cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus!” For he is our only hope; it’s surely nothing else.
Am I suggesting that embracing adversity means we should cower and tolerate mistreatment? No, we should stand for what’s right, even in the face of persecution. What outspoken Christians do is inspiring to me and millions of others. But let’s clearly define the difference between a “patriot,” a “nationalist,” and a “Christian nationalist.”
Patriots appreciate and love their country, but not above God. Lots of us are patriotic, up to a point.
Nationalism takes it further. It is an ideology centered on loyalty to the point of idolatry. It involves superiority and placing its priority above everything else.
Finally, Christian nationalism is a specific form of religious dominance that advocates fusing Christian and national identities. A key difference is the role of religion: while a nationalist merely loves his country, a Christian nationalist (much like Islamic leaders) believes the nation should be defined by and be governed according to religious principles.
While this might sound nice for us believers, we must understand that Christ’s kingdom doesn’t come through voting or military victories. It doesn’t grow by legislating morality or seizing political office. In fact, Jesus told His disciples the opposite: the greatest in his kingdom will be the servant of all. He flipped the script. The first will be last–the last will be first.
So, when we hear teachings about Christian dominionism—the belief that Christians must control government, culture, and society to establish God’s rule on earth—we should pause. It may sound bold, even patriotic. But Scripture tells to merely influence our culture by being salt and light to bring about change. The Bible consistently shows us that Jesus initiated his kingdom and said it’s like a mustard seed that grows. Christ will complete his kingdom at his second coming. Until then, we are living in the now and the not yet. Meaning the kingdom is already here in our hearts (Luke 17:20-21), not as a physical territory. But it can’t be finalized until he comes to reign. Until then, we are to serve, not dominate.
Can we vote against ungodly laws? Of course, and we should. We are not meant to passively embrace every pagan legislation in the name of love and acceptance. But we also don’t want to create a nation that fines or imprisons those who don’t obey God–that’s what some Middle Eastern nations do. It’s about a heart change (being born-again), not Christian Nationalism.
Without the gospel and salvation, we are merely asking the nation to mimic the children of God rather than become children of God. When we replace heart transformation with demands for morality, we undermine the gospel. It’s a foreign gospel. No one is getting saved; they are just forced to comply.
A Kingdom Not of This World
Pilate once asked Jesus if he was a king. If there was ever a moment for Jesus to rally his followers and declare an earthly revolution, this was it. Instead, he answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight… but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). When the Pharisees asked him when this kingdom would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).
Those verses dismantle the domineering dream of ushering in God’s reign on earth through policies or political systems. It’s very prideful and points people to us and our self-righteousness rather than pointing people to Christ. If Jesus wanted his followers to seize control, he would have said so then. Instead, he pointed away from earthly kingdoms and toward a spiritual one.
You can’t map it on a globe. You can’t point to a Capitol building and say, “There it is.” The kingdom is spiritual—it begins in the hearts of believers.
In the Old Testament, Israel was a theocracy ruled directly by God. But when Jesus came, everything shifted. Under the New Covenant, believers live under earthly governments. Paul told the church in Rome, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1).
Keep in mind, Paul wrote this under Nero, a violent persecutor of Christians. Yet he never told believers to overthrow the empire. His counsel was to respect leaders unless they directly opposed God’s commands. That’s when we can stand up and refuse to do so. That’s an individual act we are to do, to show our devotion to God’s precepts. (See the story of Rahab in Joshua chapter 2, or Daniel chapters 3 and 6, or Peter in Acts 4 and 5).
We are to fear God more than human authorities, and if this leads to a quiet and peaceful disobedience, so be it. But be prepared to accept the consequences of your disobedience and suffer in the name of Christ. Yes, we do need to get godly leaders into places of high authority, not to create a bubble of moral uprightness but to be a light to the world that points to Jesus as the answer.
What Jesus Actually Commanded
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus made His mission clear, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19-20).
As a full-time missionary for the past 24 years, may I remind you that our mission is disciple-making, not empire-building. Paul echoed this when he urged Timothy, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Notice the verbs: preach, teach, baptize, love, serve. You won’t find “seize power” anywhere in Jesus’ commands. When asked about paying taxes, Jesus answered, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). This wasn’t political wordplay. It was a dividing line. Governments belong to this world, but God’s kingdom is eternal.
I try to live this out well by paying my taxes and respecting the law, but my hope isn’t in Washington D.C., nor is it in my ministry efforts. It’s in Christ. I’m a citizen of two kingdoms—but I know which one is more important and eternal.
The Danger of Christian Nationalism
Christian nationalism is seductive because it promises security, power, and influence. But it reduces the gospel to a political ideology. While it is a noble cause, it implies that faith is only real if it dominates. It is salvation by another means than Christ, a distraction from truth.
A fellow believer once confessed to me that he felt hopeless because his candidate lost an election. He said, “I just don’t see how Christianity can survive now.” That concerned me, because the gospel has thrived under emperors, dictators, monarchies, democracies—every government system imaginable. But Christians are still around today—even after several attempts of mass genocide. That’s because Jesus doesn’t need a president or a king to validate his kingdom. He already reigns.
The early church had no voting rights, no lobbyists, no political parties. Yet their influence transformed the Roman Empire. How? By radical love. Even earlier than that, God’s people in the Old Testament rescued abandoned babies, cared for the sick, forgave their enemies, and showed kindness when cruelty was the norm. We can do the same today. Love your neighbor. Pray with a co-worker. Forgive those who wrong you. Your quiet faithfulness speaks louder than any political rally.
Citizens of Two Worlds
Paul reminded us: “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). That doesn’t excuse us from earthly duties. We still vote, pay taxes, and pray for leaders. But our ultimate allegiance is to Christ.
I think of some of the public school teachers I know. They don’t always agree with district policies, but they view the classroom as their mission field. They pray over the students’ desks before they arrive. These teachers offer encouragement and model Christ’s love. Their influence doesn’t come from power—it comes from God’s presence in their lives.
Christian dominionism is not biblical. The gospel doesn’t need government endorsement. It doesn’t need power to thrive. The teachings of Jesus point us to humility, servanthood, and spiritual transformation.
So, if your ministry is in the limelight, use it! Count the cost but don’t stop, don’t cower (even if it means certain death). People desperately need a Savior and you know the only solution. Proclaim it!
My prayer for us is “Lord, help us remember your kingdom is not of this world. Forgive us if we have placed too much hope in human leaders or systems. Help us stop trying to create heaven on earth but to live faithfully as aliens, your ambassadors—humble, loving, and bold in sharing the gospel. May our actions reflect your reign in our hearts. Teach us to trust that your return will set all things right—we humans cannot. Until then, make us a floodlight in a world that desperately needs you.”
Ballots, presidents, or armies will not bring the kingdom of God. It will come when Christ returns in glory to make everything new. Our calling is clear: live humbly, love deeply, and share the good news boldly while crying out, “Come Lord Jesus. Our only hope!”
Reflection Questions
- In what ways are you tempted to put more hope in politics than in Christ’s return?
- How might you live as “salt and light” in your workplace, school, or community this week?
- When you think about Jesus’ words, “My kingdom is not of this world,” how does that change the way you view current events?
- What small act of humility or service could you offer someone today that reflects Christ’s kingdom?
- How might you change what you post on social media, knowing that 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 teaches us to live quietly and mind our own affairs?
