In recent years, the phrase Christian nationalism has gained traction among those who want to merge faith and politics, claiming that a nation (often the United States) is a Christian nation by divine right. But the Kingdom of God revealed in Scripture is not built upon borders, ethnic identity, or earthly governance.
Christian nationalism confuses loyalty to Christ with allegiance to a nation-state, but the Gospel calls us to a Kingdom “not of this world” (John 18:36). True discipleship means our first and ultimate citizenship is in heaven, not in any flag or constitution.
1. The Kingdom of God Transcends All Nations
Jesus said plainly before Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight… but now My kingdom is not from here.” —John 18: 36
Christian nationalism insists on defending or restoring a particular nation as God’s chosen vessel. Yet Jesus refused political power, military defense, or worldly rule. He announced a Kingdom that reigns through love, truth, and righteousness, not through domination or cultural supremacy. The early Church understood this. They lived under oppressive regimes, yet their mission was not to reform Rome, it was to proclaim the Gospel of a risen King who rules over every tribe, nation, and tongue (Revelation 7:9).
2. God’s People Are a Holy Nation, Not a Political One
Peter declares: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” — 1 Peter 2:9
Notice that this “holy nation” is not defined by geography, ethnicity, or politics, it is defined by faith in Christ. God’s true nation is the global community of believers, united by the Spirit, not by national borders. When Christians tie God’s Kingdom to a single earthly country, they exchange the universal mission of the Gospel for a smaller, earthly agenda. This is a form of idolatry, attempting to place Caesar’s image where only Christ’s belongs.
3. The New Testament Rejects National Supremacy
Paul wrote to a divided church in Galatia: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” — Galatians 3:28.
The Gospel dissolves all ethnic and national hierarchies. Christian nationalism resurrects what the cross destroyed, dividing the body of Christ along political, cultural, and racial lines. The Kingdom of God is a multi-national, multi-ethnic family, born not of bloodlines but of the Spirit (John 3:5–6). Any ideology that elevates one nation’s destiny above another’s contradicts the very essence of the Gospel.
4. The Mission of the Church Is Not to Rule, But to Serve
When the disciples argued about power, Jesus corrected them: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them… Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” — Matthew 20:25–26
Christian nationalism seeks control; laws, institutions, and authority under the banner of religion. But the Church’s calling is service, witness, and sacrifice, not political dominance. Christ rules by transforming hearts, not legislating morality. When the Church aligns itself too closely with power, it risks losing its prophetic voice and becoming just another empire in the world system Christ came to redeem.
5. The Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
The writer of Hebrews reminds us: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” — Hebrews 12:28
Every nation will rise and fall. History is littered with the ruins of empires that claimed divine favor. But the Kingdom of God remains unshakable, not because it is powerful in worldly terms, but because it is eternal and governed by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
To pledge ultimate loyalty to any nation is to anchor your faith in what can and will be shaken but to pledge loyalty to Christ’s Kingdom is to stand in what will endure forever.
6. Our True Citizenship
Finally, Paul writes: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 3:20
The Gospel calls believers to transcend nationalism. We are ambassadors of a higher realm (2 Corinthians 5:20). Our mission is not to make any nation Christian, but to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).
Conclusion
Christian nationalism is not biblical. It replaces the Kingdom of God with a kingdom of men and mistakes earthly power for divine calling. The Gospel calls us to a higher loyalty; to a Kingdom not built by human hands, a community that transcends race, borders, and political parties.
It is an error to confuse cultural dominance with divine mandate, or to mistake patriotic zeal for spiritual fidelity. The Kingdom-centered believer is Christ-centric. They may love their country, but they worship only one King (Christ Jesus). They are ambassadors, not nationalists; they serve the nation they live in, but they belong to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.
May we, therefore, lay down every banner that competes with Christ’s and lift high the only name under heaven by which we are saved; Jesus Christ, the Lord of all nations.
Kingdom Blessings!🙏🏾
—Benhail E. Chris ✍🏾
