What is Christian Nationalism?

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Since January 6th, 2021, I have heard the term Christian Nationalism used by friends, media outlets, scholars and podcast hosts almost daily.

While the term’s popularity has certainly picked up, the concept of Christian Nationalism has been around for a long time. It was one of the main motivations for some European Christians during the Crusades and a primary motivation for many who participated in the American Colonization Society which advocated for the repatriation of freed slaves back to Africa.

Christian Nationalism is also not unique to America.

Constantine, Charlemagne, European Colonizers and many others sought to justify their governing authority by connecting it to Christianity.

While this term is both global and historic, in contemporary America, the term has taken on a variety of meanings.

For some, Christian Nationalism is a pejorative term usually connotating xenophobic, racist, supremacist ideas lurking beneath religious politically conservative ideals.

For others, Christian Nationalism is a wise philosophy of nationhood based on ‘Christian values’ and the only feasible option to ‘godless globalism’ or a ‘one world government.’1

While I contend that Christian Nationalism does not fully account2 for the phenomenon we see playing out in many American Evangelical circles today, it is a favored tool of the fear-mongering, rage-inducing power players.

So, what is Christian Nationalism?

This question seems to hound many scholars and historians. The term itself appears to be notoriously difficult to define.

I have encountered multiple definitions, some of which I have included in the list below. When I meet someone that self identifies as a Christian Nationalist they likely mean one or a combination of these options:

  1. I want the people of my nation to follow Jesus.
  2. I recognize that the majority of the citizens of my nation identify themselves as Christian.
  3. I believe that my nation is founded3 on Christian (or Judeo-Christian) values.
  4. I believe my nation should preserve and propagate ‘Christian values.’
  5. I believe that my government should recognize Christianity as the official religion4.
  6. I believe that my government should govern and fund ‘the Christian Church.’5
  7. I believe my government should enforce ‘Christian values.’6
  8. I believe that my government should be ruled by Christians and/or ‘the Church’.7
  9. I believe that God has a unique plan8 for my country, similar to His working with Israel in the O.T.9

1 “The nationalism I grew up with is a principled standpoint that regards the world as governed best when nations are able to chart their own independent course, cultivating their own traditions and pursuing their own interests without interference. This is opposed to imperialism, which seeks to bring peace and prosperity to the world by uniting mankind, as much as possible, under a single political regime.”
Hazony, Yoram. The Virtue of Nationalism. 2018, 3.

2 As I have written elsewhere this phenomenon is better understood as the ancient evil-chaos power described in the Bible as the Serpent, the Beast, or, my name of choice, Leviathan.

3 “a careful study of the facts of history shows that early America does not deserve to be considered uniquely, distinctly or even predominantly Christian, if we mean by the word “Christian” a state of society reflecting the ideals presented in Scripture.”  
Noll, Mark A., et al. The Search for Christian America. 1989, 17.

4 Similar perhaps to the U.K., Russia or others that officially recognize Christianity (be it Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox et. al.) as the “state religion.”

5 In the U.K. the Queen is the ‘Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.”

6 Miles Smith notes in his article in the American Conservative that Christian National can be defined as Christian values in government leaders. He points to Calvin, Luther etc.

7 A public servant elected to public office in Colorado recently spoke to a church gathering stating “The church is supposed to direct the government. The government is not supposed to direct the church. That is not how our Founding Fathers intended it.”

8 Thomas Kidd states “Christian nationalism provides an “exaggerated transcendent meaning to American history.”

9 “(Christian Nationalism is) an understanding of American identity and significance held by Christians wherein the nation is a central actor in the world-historical purposes of the Christian God.” McCullough, Matthew. The Cross of War. 2014.

10 Bosanquet, Mary. The Life and Death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 1968, 89.

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