On the left side of the aisle we have those who insist that because Jesus commands us to care for the poor that we need more government welfare programs, that because Jesus calls us to love we must affirm the sexually confused, that because Jesus says the peacemakers are blessed the government should never go to war. On the right side of the aisle we have those who insist that since the Pilgrims and Puritans were Christians, that America is the New Jerusalem, that because President Trump made liberals froth at the mouth that he was God’s favorite, that God made the United States special and therefore calls it to be the world’s policeman.
On both sides of the aisle we have those who are a bit embarrassed by those described above, who often assume those on the other side of the aisle are all that side’s lunatic fringe. I’m a conservative. As conservative as can be. I believe in liberty. I believe the proper function of government is to protect life and property from aggressors foreign and domestic. I believe this is what the Bible calls for, what biblical justice demands. I believe Jesus reigns over these United States and that every political leader will answer to Him.
That said, I don’t believe it is a legitimate function of government to suppress false religions, not because the Constitution forbids it but because the Bible forbids it. I also believe that Jesus reigns over China and Iraq and North Korea and Mexico and that every political leader in those nations and every nation will answer to Him. One can affirm that leftist power grabs baptized in the gentleness of Jesus and rightist power grabs baptized in a sound biblical worldview are both wrong without embracing a tepid, wimpsome, purple, political stance that sits on the fence while injustice abounds.
The truth is that those most aligned with me politically do from time to time slip into a sloppy jingoism that has no place among believers. We, along with believers in every nation are a holy nation. The kingdom of God includes the United States, but only because it includes the whole of reality. The United States may be the most blessed of all nations, even the most righteous of all nations. But any righteousness is but filthy rags, nothing to be proud of, something to repent of.
What a Christian ought to seek from the state is neither special privileges nor “social” justice. Instead we ought to seek actual justice. God established the state as His minister of justice, bearing the sword that evildoers might be punished. A Christian nation is that nation that acknowledges the Lordship of Christ over all things, but whose government fulfills the ministry of justice, whose citizens walk in accordance with His law while acknowledging their dependence on His grace. Christian nationalism, as rare as it may be, on the other hand, needs to repent of its foolish national vainglory, its Judaizing co-mingling of loyalties and its shameful military bluster. Together we can repent of our own sins, and seek to press the crown rights of King Jesus.
Very well stated, RC…
On every issue, true Christians have to engage on two fronts…non-believers, and the “tares” who have more in common with them than the Christians they claim to be a part of. I’ve grown weary of having to explain and defend my love of this country to these people. I like the fact that the Bible has had a major influence on our system of government. Why, well…because I’m a Christian. And because of that I’ll have both groups telling me I’m a “Christian Nationalist”…
Whatever…I’m weary of playing games, throwing terms around. It makes perfect sense that a born again, saved Christian would prefer that a Biblical worldview would have prominence in every sphere. It also makes perfect sense that a non-believer would not…and that his “Benedict Arnold”, hypocritical “tare” compatriot would just like to be on top when the dust settles.
Very well said. 100%