There is a growing movement—loud in voice and powerful in influence—that insists the only faithful Christian is a patriotic one. That to follow Jesus is to defend a particular nation, political agenda, or cultural dominance. It wraps crosses in flags and confuses political power with spiritual authority.

This is the doctrine of Christian nationalism.
And make no mistake: it is not the Gospel.
It is not faithfulness. It is idolatry.

What Is Christian Nationalism?

Christian nationalism is the belief that a nation—most often the United States—is specially chosen by God and should be governed by Christian values as interpreted through a particular political lens. It often suggests that to be a “true” American is to be a Christian, and to be a “true” Christian is to align with specific nationalistic or partisan views.

But this isn’t just about personal belief. It’s about systems, power, and control. It seeks to conflate God’s Kingdom with earthly rule, to wield Scripture as a weapon for dominance, and to reshape civic life around a narrow religious identity.

The Dominionist Roots

Christian nationalism is deeply influenced by dominionism—a theological movement that emerged in the late 20th century, especially among some charismatic and evangelical circles. Dominion theology teaches that Christians are meant to “take dominion” over the Earth by influencing or controlling the “seven mountains” of culture: government, media, education, business, family, religion, and the arts.

While rooted in a misinterpretation of Genesis 1:28 (“have dominion over the earth”), dominionism distorts this call to stewardship into a call for control—as if Jesus came to install a theocracy rather than to redeem hearts.

This ideology reimagines the Great Commission not as a call to make disciples of all nations through love, presence, and truth—but as a mandate to seize political power and enforce religious conformity. That is not biblical. That is empire-building.

Why This Grieves God

Jesus refused political power. When offered all the kingdoms of the world, He said no. When pressured to become a military leader, He withdrew. When questioned about allegiance, He said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.”

God does not need a flag to move His Spirit. He does not bless power grabs, fear tactics, or supremacy cloaked in religious language. In fact, He consistently speaks against them.

The prophets condemned Israel not for a lack of nationalism, but for a lack of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus rebuked the religious elite not for failing to enforce purity laws, but for neglecting the weightier matters of the law—justice and compassion. The early church grew not by wielding power but by laying it down.

Christian nationalism attempts to force what Jesus invites us to freely receive—the transformation of hearts and the ushering in of God’s Kingdom, not by law, but by love.

The Danger of Idolatry

Idolatry is not just bowing down to golden calves. It’s trusting in anything other than God for our identity, security, or salvation.
Christian nationalism turns the nation into a god.
It turns political leaders into messiahs.
It turns allegiance to a country into a test of faith.

And that, friend, is dangerous ground.

Whenever faith is fused with political identity, the Gospel gets distorted. It stops being good news for the poor, the refugee, the oppressed—and becomes a tool to preserve privilege and power.

Faithful Resistance

Following Jesus means resisting the pull of empire. It means remembering that the Kingdom of God is not built through elections or policy platforms, but through love, sacrifice, humility, and truth.

It means seeing our neighbors as image-bearers, not enemies. It means standing against systems that oppress, even when those systems benefit us. It means refusing to baptize nationalism as Christianity—and instead proclaiming a Gospel big enough for every tribe, tongue, and nation.

A Better Allegiance

Our ultimate allegiance is not to a country, a party, or a flag.
It is to a King who rode in on a donkey, not a warhorse.
Who wore a crown of thorns, not one of gold.
Who conquered not with violence, but with self-giving love.

To follow Him is to live in a way that confronts injustice, welcomes the outsider, and tells the truth—even when it costs us.

So may we repent of the idols we’ve made. May we resist the temptation to confuse patriotism with discipleship. And may we remember:
The Gospel does not need a flag to be powerful.
It only needs a willing heart and an open hand.