Church Nationalism

 Hi, everyone!

If you are reading this, you are jumping into the shallow end of my mind. I say the shallow end because I was going to start with something more controversial than church nationalism. However, my loving wife Fiona says that the topic of sex and the church is too early for a first blog. So as you can see, this is filtered. 

Church Nationalism has become a hot topic among ministry leaders from America. The reason being many churches in America are looking more to their blessing instead of their responsibility. This problem has gone on for decades. The late Keith Green incorporated this reality into his song "asleep in the light." During the Trump administration, this mentality seemed to polarize. This response is inappropriate behavior for the body of Christ, which is why so many leaders have started talking about what to do regarding Church Nationalism. That does not mean I wouldn't rather have Trump than Biden and hope for better options in the future.

What is Church Nationalism? Church Nationalism is the belief that political allegiance and government obligation is a primary aspect in serving God's kingdom because God has a form of favoritism regarding their country. This belief makes the country itself and its preservation Holy at all costs. Christian Nationalism often taking a more prominent role in the Church than Evangelism, Discipleship, Missions, Intercession, or any other primary function of the Body of  Christ often being seen as an equal counter part to them or even a greater priority because the country its self is seen as Holy.

Why Not Church Nationalism? We may ask, maybe you believe it's just patriotism. I believe it is much deeper. Just like false humility presents itself as humility even though its pride such is the reality of a Nationalized Church. This concept really becomes evident as sin when we analyze its prideful character. Let us look at some fundamental aspects of pride, which Scripture defines as sin, entitled, selfish, arrogant, dishonest, etc. The list can go on forever. An excellent recourse for pride is an old series by Floyd McClung called the root and fruit of pride. I watch it once a year to remind myself of how prideful I am.

Pride is not God's Character! Pride is not the Gospel, so it Can not be our character as believers. If we don't understand Scripture in its context, we can all easily be tricked into Nationalism. The answer to God's perspective is simple. The most accessible place to find the answer is the book of Galatians. Here I will paraphrase the content, but I beg you to double-check or prove me wrong. Paul states roughly: "there is only one Gospel; it was first shared with Abraham by God stating that through your seed will all nations come to know me." He points out that the seed is Jesus, not the Jews. Here is the kicker it is one of many references to this reality. The word Nation in Genesis actually means Family Clan. It is not a reference to geography. Since many of you probably don't understand this concept because you, like me, are a few centuries removed from a family clan. If you talk to a tribal person and say," tell me of your tribe." They start with the roughly 15 generations of genealogy that compose their family clan, commonly known as sub-clan. America has not even existed as a country long enough to form new primary tribes, much less clans, and subclans. The former inhabitants that the Europeans treated in an UNGODLY manner fit that definition. In the New Testament it's a Greek word (ethnos) but has the same meaning. It's where we get the concept of ethnicity. All that to say, God's focus in Scripture is not geography but people, specifically tribes knowing him. God doesn't care about our geography or our government. He cares about all tribes coming to know him, which half the world doesn't have access to him. 

So if we really accepted the Gospel and are really following Christ, then we can not accept Nationalism in the church. Scripture calls us to pray for our leaders, but leaders, governments, and cultures are subject to Christ. We as believers must disciple well so we can have Godly people to elect. No government is more important than the spread of the Gospel. In fact, I will go so far as to suggest that Church Nationalism is a misnomer because the very concept is contrary to the Gospel. Patriotism bows to The King of Kings. Church Nationalism is not the church. It is a social club corporately sinning and defiling the bride of Christ. 

I do not know you, the reader personally, probably. I know for myself even today that many times my National Pride has to be checked, times I need to repent so the kingdom of God can flourish by keeping my patriotism where it belongs with Jesus on the throne and my life being lived in submission to The King and not an ideology or government. Just a life recklessly lived out for God's glory, only taking steps for those billions of people that are the Tribes Without Access to the Gospel to come to know the only Living God and King of Kings.

May the Lord reveal His Love and Glory!