Over the next few weeks we will do a series of bulletin notes on Christian Nationalism. Some of you may have heard the term but not know exactly what it means. In recent years, the term Christian nationalism has become much more common. We hear it in the news, in political discussions, on social media, and even in conversations among Christians. Some people use the term as a criticism, while others have begun to use it positively to describe their own beliefs. Since we are likely to hear more about Christian nationalism, it is important that we understand what people mean when they use the term.
One difficulty is that there is no single definition that everyone accepts. In general, Christian nationalism connects Christianity in some way with the identity and public life of a nation. The disagreement begins when we ask what that connection should look like.
For some people, calling America a “Christian nation” simply means recognizing the important influence Christianity has had on our history, culture, and moral values. They may point to the Christian beliefs of many Americans throughout our history or to the influence of biblical ideas upon our laws and institutions.
Others mean something more. They believe that a Christian nation should intentionally shape its laws and policies according to Christian moral principles. Christianity, in this view, should not merely be part of our history; rather, Christian beliefs should continue to influence the way the nation governs itself.
Still others believe that the government should officially recognize Christianity as an important part of the nation’s identity and give Christianity a special place in public life. Some go even further and believe that the government itself should officially identify as Christian or that government leaders have a responsibility to promote and protect the Christian faith.
Scholars often use the term Christian nationalism somewhat differently. Generally, they use it to describe the belief that Christianity and American national identity should be closely connected. In other words, being a Christian and being an American are viewed as belonging together in a special way. This is different from simply believing that Christians should vote, participate in government, or allow their Christian beliefs to influence their political decisions.
Although the ideas behind Christian nationalism are not new, the widespread use of the term is fairly recent. Americans have debated whether the United States is a “Christian nation” for much of our history. During the twentieth century, terms such as the Christian Right, Religious Right, Moral Majority, and Christian America were much more common.
The term Christian nationalism became much more prominent during and after the 2016 presidential election. Scholars increasingly used it to describe the connection between Christianity and American political identity. The publication of books on Christian nationalism brought the term to a wider audience. Following the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, the term became even more common in news reports and political discussions. In recent years, some Christians have also begun to use the term positively to describe themselves.
This means we should be careful when we hear someone described as a “Christian nationalist.” One person may simply mean that America should recognize its Christian heritage. Another may mean that our laws should reflect Christian morality. Still another may believe that our government should officially recognize Christianity. Those are not the same thing.
Before we decide whether Christian nationalism is something Christians should embrace, reject, or perhaps define more carefully, we first need to understand what is being claimed. In the coming weeks, we will examine these questions more closely and, most importantly, consider what Scripture has to say about them.
