What is the Christian Response to Christian Nationalism? The answer is a bit complicated because language is complicated.

The 1913 Webster’s dictionary doesn’t even have the word nationalism in it. But “nationalist” is there, and it describes “One who advocates national unity and independence.”

Of course unity is a good thing, what about “independence?”

In this day of globalism many seek to see national borders torn down and everyone operating on a common currency and government.

That’s historically and logically a horrible idea.

The Greek and Roman empires are good examples of being bad examples. When the central government becomes corrupt, the whole empire suffers.

When there are separate countries, one country going bad may impact neighboring countries, but hopefully the pain is restricted to just the one country.

The Catholic church is another example of why independence is a good thing.

The Bible proscribes independent churches led by elders (also called shepherds or bishops). While the Catholic church grew from the original church the joining together under a central church government with a top elder (a.k.a., the Pope) was a man-made corruption of the original.

The abuses of the church that have occurred over time and continue (witness the radical and unbiblical comments/actions of the current pope) to this day are a loud testimony to the value of independent nations.

The 1981 edition of the same dictionary notes that nationalism is “Loyalty and devotion to a nation; esp: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.” (Websters New Collegiate Dictionary, 1981, G. & C. Merriam Co., USA)

If that were truly a good definition of nationalism then I would agree that Christian nationalism is evil.

The problem is, that 1981 definition is ridiculous.

Realistic nationalism

Think about that “exalting one nation above all others” statement.

In the Vietnam war the leader of North Vietnam was Ho Chi Minh. He was a self-proclaimed Communist, but historians generally agree that he was primarily a nationalist. 

Vietnam had gotten a raw deal after World War II. They had fought with the allies against the Japanese. When the war was over, a decision was made by two individuals–one that gave half the country to the people who lived there. The other half was given to France, who had owned it as a colony prior to the war.

Bad deal. As a reward for fighting for the allied forces, Ho Chi Minh found his country divided. The communists saw a grand opportunity to jump in and “help” fight by providing weapons and training to the Vietnamese.

It was a better deal than anything else being offered, so Ho Chi Minh accepted. Was he dedicated to the anti-human principals of communism.

I doubt it.

He just valued the unity and independence of his country.

Back to the definition of nationalism above though, was he promoting Vietnam above other nations?

I mean really, that was not even on his radar. He could only help his own nation. The 1981 definition of nationalism is obviously from a globalist advocate.

Nigerian Nationalist?

Nigeria is in a bad way right now–it has some of the highest violence against Christians.

Let’s say there is a Christian family there who desires the unity and independence of Nigeria.

Does that make them enemies of Libya, or Canada, or the United States?

Of course not. They, as people living in a community in Nigeria have no way to impact any of those nations–but they can impact Nigeria! 

They, as “Christian Nationalist” can share the love and light of Christ and through the power and mercy of God, bring unity to their embattled nation.

Is that sinful?

No, it is beautiful and loving to be a Christian nationalist by the definition that makes sense. Knowing Christ, versus knowing about Christ, makes this “nationalism” make a whole lot more sense.

WheN God Commended Nationalism

In the book of Jeremiah, Judah finds itself taken away to Babylon. Due to their persistent rebellion against God, they have once again been sent into captivity. 

It had to miserable, right? They likely prayed contrite prayers asking God to bring them back to Israel, the land they knew and loved.

You know what God told them?

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jer. 29:7)

Seek the welfare of where God places you…he places each of us in a city, in a state, and in a nation. Our primary citizenship is in his kingdom. But as with Judah during this horrible captivity, God wanted them to seek the good of where they lived.

The best they could do was to slosh the love of God over everyone they lived near, for that would bring unity. A unity hopeful found in the grace and mercy of God.

Don’t be ridiculous

How could it ever be that Jim Bob Christian living in Iron City, Tennessee (yes, it’s a real place) could somehow seek the betterment of some foreign nation day-by-day. For the globalist, the desire is to vote someone else’s money to that nation to “benefit” them.

But in reality, it does not work that way. That money is nearly always corporate welfare, it is used to buy stuff from a company a Congressman holds stock in to increase the wealth of the “charitable” government official.

Sure, she’s charitable, but she is her favorite and only charity.

But Jim Bob Christian can only seek the welfare of where he is, unless he just happens to go on or support a mission trip to some other nation.

Christian nationalism is a good thing, when done by God’s exhortation found in Jeremiah 29:7. Allow me to paraphrase: Wherever God has placed you, seek the welfare of that place, and pray for unity and independence.

Want to Grow in this area?

This is the second in a series of “Christian Response.” A lot of ideas pop up in our culture, with nationalism just being one.

But do you know why you are where you are, now? Do you know how to find your purpose in seeking the welfare of wherever God has placed you? If you want know more, keep checking back for more in this series, or if you want a more complete plan, click here to get my book Superhero: Being Who God Says You Are.

Or, if you find yourself fearful and stuck in a place of anxiety and uncertainty, click here to order my book Freefall: God’s Path to Courage and Boldness.

If you feel you need to know Jesus in a transformative way, get my book First-Person Messiah: Transforming Your Life Through Amazing Encounters with Jesus. 

Let’s do this…

(Image by alancrosthwaite/Istockphoto)

MiW