Do you find politics creeping into your coffee shop conversations? Is politics so polarizing that you can’t have a sensible discussion without tempers flaring? And what’s the deal with Christian nationalism?
Gluttons For Pain?
If you haven’t already tuned out the media to salvage some semblance of sanity, you might be a glutton for pain. Disinformation is coming at us a mile a minute.
In the US, a block of voters elected President Trump. It’s a fact that evangelical, white Christians, many who identify as Christian Nationalists put Trump in the White House. Nearly two-thirds of White evangelical Protestants in the US described themselves as sympathizers or adherents to Christian nationalism in a February 2023 survey.
Is there Christian nationalism in Canada? Think “trucker convoy” or Take Back Alberta.
For one, it’s not Christian. At least, it’s not what you would observe in Jesus’ behaviour.
So what is Christian Nationalism?
Star Spangled Crosses
Dr Paul Miller, Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Georgetown University, says, “Anytime you see an image of a star spangled cross, you’re probably looking at Christian nationalism.” 
Christian nationalism isn’t about Christian participation in politics but rather the belief that there should be Christian primacy in politics and law.
The New Apostolic Reformation and the 7 Mountains Mandate were prominent during the last US election. Their objective is to impose God’s kingdom through legislative force.
David French is one of my go to writers for the New York Times. He says, “Christian nationalism is an emotional attachment to history that’s incomplete, to a culture that’s exclusive, and to a false sense of marked national superiority.”
My friend, Tim Schindel, founder of Leading Influence, observes, “History shows us that Christian Nationalism never ends well for anyone. Power is abused. Testimony is destroyed. Dissenters are punished, and the complicit church is blamed for the failures of the government.
If the Old Testament teaches us anything, it would be that you can’t legislate people into living according to a moral/religious code. The law points us to the fact that we need a Saviour because we are incapable of keeping/following the law.
The idea that we can elect Christian leaders who will pass Christian laws that will make us a Christian nation is to abdicate our role within the world. The government can’t do what only the church is anointed to do.”
Values of the Kingdom
Tim works with politicians of all stripes at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government. I like his perspective on political parties. “No party has a corner on God’s idea for government.”
“The values of the Kingdom are spread across the political spectrum. We live in a broken world. The idea that government should hold to a Judeo-Christian ethic, is long past it’s best before date and that’s a good thing.”
“When the church started expecting government to do its job around shaping society and we retreated into our buildings we gave up the privilege of having broad-based impact.
The difficulty is that we still think we should have privilege and that our voice should be heard. We haven’t dialed into the reality that while we’ve been holed up in the church, the world has marched on without us.
Salt and Light
Where there is no salt or light, only bad things happen.”
If politics is irking you, the wisest thing you can do to level up your peace is turn off the cable news and focus on working out the good news. The way to influence as Jesus did is to follow him and his ways.
David French gets the last word here. His counsel is to not lose focus on what makes or breaks a Christian in moments like these. “Remind Christian believers of the toxic effects of fear and the reassuring reality of God’s sovereignty — that God preserves and protects his people, not a political party. God admonishes believers against fear and commands them to react to people who hate them with love and kindness.”
The answers to the problems are more complex than we tend to think they are. Interceding for governments and those in authority is a biblical, positive action. We’re better to fully speak out of our love for people than out of a pursuit of power and influence.
It’s the Jesus way.
What do you think? Have you turned off media? Join the conversation and post a comment below.
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Great article Bob. I am so grieved at how the evangelical/charismatic church in Canada and the USA has traded its prophetic voice for a ‘bowl of potage’.
Thank you for your views on Christian Nationalism. I have friends and family who only vote for one party no matter who is in charge or what they say because apparently that party represents “Christian Values”. I have become a “swinger” in my old age; now I tend to place more value on a politician’s character and competence and not on the promises he or she makes.
One of my boys told me about a book he read on US politics (it was over my head…ha). In a nutshell, the author said that throughout history, leaders tend to act the same way when faced with troubles like war, recession, pandemics, etc. no matter where they land politically. Thought-provoking. As we have witnessed of late, problems indeed will result when the electorate commits unconditionally to a party or leader.
Hi Ralph. That means a lot that you are joining the conversation for the first time. Thank you for leaning in. The North American church is struggling as it is. This tack will hurt but hopefully in the long run, invigorate the church with a return to radical discipleship.
The Canadian and American electoral systems are quite dissimilar. I engage in elections and choose to vote for the person over the party. Just my opinion. Other disagree. It’s my way of supporting a candidate who aligns with biblical values even if they are not a Christian. It is possible.