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The term “Christian nationalism” is often used and (I would argue) misused to describe Christian efforts to influence public life and Christian public servants, including (most recently) the new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson. But what exactly is Christian nationalism? And how do we respond to accusations of nationalism without abdicating our Biblical role in culture and government? In this episode, I dive into these questions and explain a better, Biblical paradigm for engaging in the public square.
Key Takeaways:
- A contrast of two recent works on this topic: Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, by Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry and The Case for Christian Nationalism by Stephen Wolfe.
- Kevin DeYoung’s review of The Case for Christian Nationalism.
- Neil Shenvi’s review of The Case for Christian Nationalism.
- Why I think the term “Christian nationalism” is being overused and even weaponized against Christians engaged in public life. Essentially, this is an argument for Christian silence in and withdrawal from public life.
- Why Christian nationalism or a “theocratic Caesarism” is not supported by Scripture and has a checkered historical record.
- Why we should mount a “courageous resistance” to cultural and political change rather than just a “respectable retreat.”
- My blog post defining nationalism, patriotism, and Christian citizenship.
- A better paradigm than Christian silence or Christian nationalism: Christian citizenship (and what I mean by that).