Posted on 10/02/2025 7:05:28 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
I am a Christian nationalist.
In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s worshipful memorial service, the political left has predictably busied itself with slander, labeling the event “Christian Nationalism’s biggest moment” or even a Nazi rally.
Neither of these heinous descriptions are accurate. The Babylon Bee satirically mocked these claims with the headline “Nazi Rally Inspires Millions to Forgive And Love Their Enemies.” Indeed, Erika Kirk’s public and emotionally charged forgiveness of her husband’s murderer was one of the most powerful redemptive moments of our time.
It’s now undeniable that the Left aims to label everyday conservative Christians who are politically active as “Christian Nationalists.” Their exaggerated smear tactics are now widely recognized, consistently branding anyone who disagrees with them as Nazi, racist, homophobic, transphobic, “far right” and other melodramatic terms.
This lengthy list of slanderous accusations has lost its ability to intimidate. It has so altered and diluted the meaning of these terms that some on the political right are now proudly adopting them. The Left intends to attach a negative connotation to Christian nationalism and use it as a cudgel to slander Christians. We should embrace the term and welcome the challenge.
But what is Christian nationalism? Why does the Evangelical community seem so divided on this issue, with some condemning Christian nationalism as heresy and others embracing it as the conduit for the coming millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ?
The phrase has sparked lively debate within the Evangelical community as different interpretations emerge from Christian pulpits and publications across America. Since there is no widely accepted definition, many argue from an ideological standpoint that is more shaped by preexisting political views than linguistic accuracy.
The term needs a standard and reductive definition. Simply put, Christian nationalism should be defined as obedience to Jesus Christ that manifests itself in working for the good of the nation.
There are many precedents for this idea in both the Old and New Testaments. In Jeremiah 29:7, Jeremiah instructs Jewish exiles in Babylon to seek the welfare of their resident city. In 1 Peter 2:17, Peter reminds Christians to honor the emperor.
Two mistaken ideas at each end of the theological spectrum are fueling the debate about Christian Nationalism. On one side: the idea that Christians should be entirely focused on the Gospel and nothing else. This view suggests that the Great Commission calls for a singular emphasis on spreading the Gospel, and any distraction into worldly politics is a detour.
The opposing view argues that America should be restored as a Christian nation led solely by Christians and equipped with Christian institutions. They believe the government should promote Christianity as the only valid faith. While most in this group acknowledge that believers cannot be forced to have saving faith in Jesus Christ, they correctly see that the Christian worldview is true but also believe it should dominate government.
Both ideas are embraced by faithful conservative Christians who belong to Bible-believing churches committed to solid doctrine and living out their Christian faith in a hostile world. Most in both groups love America and want the best for its citizens.
But both extremes go too far. God has established three institutions to promote human flourishing: the government, the church and the family. All three divinely appointed institutions have specific roles, and when they overstep their functions, the results can be disastrous.
Attempting to spread the Gospel without addressing societal issues does not align with the biblical model. Good always opposes evil, and the Church must stand against unjust governments and harmful cultural trends. Over the past four decades, the American church has often fallen short in this mission, leaving the nation in moral and spiritual turmoil.
On the other hand, the pendulum cannot swing too far. There is no biblical mandate for Christians to establish a church-run government. The role of the government is clearly outlined in many biblical passages, especially in Romans 13:1-7. The government is to bear the sword as a servant of God and deliver justice to wrongdoers.
There is no requirement for the Church to assume this role. However, individual Christians can and should participate in all areas of government as part of this process. However, every Christian should get involved in the political process. The primary obligation is to stay informed about policies and candidates, and to vote wisely in accordance with a Christian worldview.
Some Christians will be called to serve more actively, including speaking out politically or culturally, especially in resisting evil or misguided ideologies. Charlie Kirk dedicated his life to this mission and paid the ultimate price. The political left could not counter his arguments with logic, so an assassin inspired by their ideas ended his life with violence. His influence only grew stronger; the truth will always prevail.
The Left responded to Charlie’s memorial by derogatorily labeling those who gathered to honor Charlie Kirk as Christian nationalists. Therefore, let us become so — for the glory of God, the furtherance of the Gospel and the good of America.
Dr. David Murphy is a Faculty Fellow at the Centennial Institute and the Dean of Behavioral and Social Sciences, College of Adult and Graduate Studies at Colorado Christian University. He served 25 years as an Air Force fighter pilot and Group Commander before retiring in 2014. He writes extensively on national security and domestic policy. The views expressed by the author are his own and do not represent the views of Centennial Institute or Colorado Christian University.
It is a tried and true way to deal with bullies like the Left. We have done it politically many many times. We called ourselves Deplorables after Hillary's attack on us. We made the media's pathetic "Let's Go Brandon!!" dodge into a rallying cry at major sporting events for years. Pres Trump's constant trolling of the Left using their own stupidity is nearing all-time great proportions. ("I don't feel like a King", etc)
But in this case, I agree with you. The swayable folks in the Mushy Middle are certainly moved by humor and these kinds of retorts to Leftist nonsense, but the term "Christian Nationalist" is essentially undefined to the vast majority of folks, and that allows the Left to fill in the definitions, no matter what we support.
I would say that the retort of "I am a Christian, and I am a proud American Patriot" is pretty solid, though. "God, family, country" is pretty strong as well. Let the Left try to stand against those slogans in public, and not just among their hate-filled campus drones.
Where are the documents that show the positions of Charlie Kirk or Christian Nationalists? Is there any document of Charlie Kirk in which he says he is a Christian Nationalist?
In a google search absolutely no source document is returned. google results are all over the map in 3d hand descriptions from all directions. But there seems to be no first hand documents that cn be easily found.
The author advocates “Christian nationalism” defined as:
“Christian nationalism should be defined as obedience to Jesus Christ that manifests itself in working for the good of the nation.”
He explicitly rejects two extreme views: A) avoiding politics and B) seeking a Christian state.
I can go along with his definition. I don’t see that the label does much good. Perhaps it’s better to define yourself than to let others define you.
No thanks.Hear, hear!
I’m a Christian and a patriot.
Everything else flows from that position.
Don't play into the hands of the left.
"Nationalist" (whatever that might mean in some other context) is a left wing weasel word meaning something like the Nazis but without the fashion sense.
Lefty Newspeak -- "Christian Nationalist" == All patriotic Christians are basically Nazis.
It's also an attempt to isolate Christians from other patriots, most notably right wing Jews.
“Christian Nationalism” is what I see when a Mass (or other service) is being conducted on the deck of a WWII aircraft carrier.
From the article: “Christian nationalism should be defined as obedience to Jesus Christ that manifests itself in working for the good of the nation.”
I happened across a much more controversial viewpoint and am just curious to hear feedback, pro or con: https://www.biggertruthmedia.com/p/christian-nationalism-the-greatest
Christians sin and screw up in all sorts of ways, but the slander of the left has no basis in reality and should be ignored. Look at what Christians ACTUALLY advocate and think in their own books and articles on the subject, rather than the lies and distortions manufactured by leftist ideologues.
“campaign by leftist propagandists”
Thanks. I think I see what you mean, in that the article’s title alone can be seen that way. But I think the ultimate gist of the article is saying something surprisingly and radically different and is actually coming from a conservative, Christian, pro-nationalist viewpoint.
“It’s also an attempt to isolate Christians from other patriots, most notably right wing Jews.”
Probably so. There are also right-wing atheists, for example Ayn Rand and some of her followers. For every atheist, there may be ten or more agnostics, some of whom are conservative.
I think Democrats know better than to come out and say that patriotism is bad. They know better than to come out and say they oppose Christianity. So, they run a scare campaign against “Christian Nationalism.”
Haven’t we seen it before?
I remember lots of scared talk about “evangelical Christians.” Don’t all Christians believe in the Great Commission? The left managed to get some Christians to denounce those scary “evangelical Christians.”
Then there are those “MAGA Republicans.” Oh, these aren’t average Republicans. These are the scary kind. Even worse than “Tea Party Conservatives,” which is saying a lot.
Then there was scary talk about the “Alt Right.” I never heard about the “Alt Right” until some liberal told me about them. I have yet to meet a conservative who mentions the alt-right.
bump
Newt Gingrich repeatedly referred to our Judeo-Christian heritage in his TV series on American history. I feel very comfortable with the term. However, I don’t recall that it was ever defined.
I can think of two approaches. Judeo-Christian as Jewish and Christian. I’m fine with that. Most of the founders were Christian, but I do remember reading about a Jewish founder who lost two fortunes for the American cause.
Under my wife’s influence, I’ve attended Methodist Church service for several decades. The Old Testament is discussed at least as much as the New Testament. It is taken as Our (Christian) history. It is not presented as Their (Jewish) history. It’s hard to find a Christian who does not realize that Christ was born to a Jewish family, spoke primarily to Jews, and that most of his followers were Jewish. Looking for the moment at Christians only, there are ample Judeo-Christian beliefs and values.
Possibly related. Someone said that Western Civilization stands atop Jerusalem and Athens. Ancient Greek texts advance Reason and the power of Reason. The discovery of these texts combined well with a Monasticism that the Greeks lacked.
Now, for the first time, there was a single rational God who provided both natural laws for the universe and moral laws for man. This combination led to our modern world with its science, technology, and free enterprise. I think it noteworthy that Western civilization stands on Jerusalem (not Rome) and Athens.
Exactly.
Well put.
Love it.
‘They often add “White”’
Good pick-up. “White Christian Nationalists.” What next? Southern White Christian Nationalists? Or, White Protestant Christian Nationalists? Of course, one can always throw in “right-wing” or “extreme.”
Besides creating a phony bogeyman, it’s an effort to divide. Even White Christian Nationalists might want to reject Extreme White Christian Nationalists. LOL.
Who is trying to merge church and state power? As a Christian Nationalist, I want both church agents and state agents to sumbit to the Lord Jesus Christ, but I don't want anyone to simultaneously serve as an officer in both.
An awful lot of words to explain a term that just came into the limelight. All we have to do is show that we don’t object to what the libs want to label us and they will move on to something different..
“”but it takes a lot of careful study to understand his points.””
Exactly what made me pause and wonder how a person would have found the time to dissect a phrase that hasn’t been around that long.
>> I see myself as ...
many seem to be getting their panties in a bunch regarding this recent Leftwing smear... but I really don’t GAF about designations as long as Christianity is sustained and the antagonistic Left & Islam are suppressed to an incapacitated/peaceful existence
I’m reminded of a turret painted with the term “New Testament”
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