Back in March before the website had much traction, I recorded a podcast on the above topic with Caleb Hickam. At the time, the discussion surrounding “Christian Nationalism” was beginning to intensify online, ramping up to the branding campaign we are witnessing now.
After recently seeing Geoffrey Grider, our friend over at Now The End Begins, publish a podcast touching on this same subject, I felt it would be good to revisit the issue now that Watchman’s Warning has grown and we have gained considerably more readers.
The phrase “Christ is King” has become increasingly popular online, particularly among conservatives and politically minded Christians. On the surface, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the statement itself. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. One day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that truth whether they like it or not.
The problem is with the theology and political ideology many people are attempting to attach to it.
Modern Christian Nationalism frequently presents the idea that the church is supposed to seize control of earthly governments, reclaim cultural institutions, and establish Christian dominion over society before the return of Jesus Christ. In many cases, the movement slowly drifts toward merging patriotism, politics, anti-semitism, and Christianity into one tangled system where the church begins sounding more like a political war machine than the body of Christ.
That is not New Testament Christianity.
One of the greatest mistakes believers make is failing to understand the present condition of Christ’s kingdom in relation to this current world system. Jesus Christ is the rightful King, but this world remains in open rebellion against Him.
Scripture plainly calls Satan “the god of this world.” (2 Cor. 4:4) The Bible says “the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19) The kingdoms of this present age are not presently operating under submission to Jesus Christ. They are functioning under a satanic system that Scripture repeatedly warns believers against loving or entangling themselves with.
This is where I believe history gives us a fascinating illustration:
During World War II, after France fell to Nazi Germany, Charles De Gaulle did not sit enthroned in Paris exercising visible authority over his nation. France had been occupied by hostile forces. De Gaulle operated from exile, broadcasting radio messages to loyal Frenchmen, urging them to remain faithful, endure the occupation, resist compromise, and await liberation.
Eventually the day came when Paris was liberated.
Charles De Gaulle triumphantly returned to the capital as the rightful leader of France while crowds filled the streets celebrating the restoration of their nation. The occupation ended when the king in exile returned openly and visibly to reclaim authority over what had always rightfully belonged to him.
That picture should immediately remind every Bible believer of what is coming.
One day Jesus Christ will return visibly, bodily, and victoriously to this earth. The kingdoms of this world that presently reject Him will not continue forever. The occupation will end. The rebellion will be crushed. The rightful King will return to Jerusalem and establish His kingdom upon the earth exactly as Scripture has promised from the beginning.
In many ways, this mirrors the present condition of this world under the curse of sin.
Christ is the rightful King. The world belongs to Him by right. Yet this present world system remains under hostile occupation awaiting the visible return of the King Himself.
That is why the New Testament consistently presents believers as strangers, pilgrims, ambassadors, and sojourners rather than cultural conquerors. The church is not commissioned to establish earthly dominion through political force. The church is commissioned to preach the gospel, disciple converts, warn sinners, and remain separate from the corruption of this present world.
Jesus Himself said plainly:
“My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight…” (John 18:36)
That verse alone destroys much of modern Christian Nationalist ideology.
Christ did not deny His kingship. He denied that His kingdom presently and physically operates according to the systems and mechanisms of this fallen world order.
Quite frankly, many modern churches seem far more excited about taking back Washington than they are about preaching the Gospel, holiness, and the soon return of Christ.
The early church did not attempt to “take Rome back.” They preached Christ crucified and resurrected. They understood something many modern believers have forgotten: this world is not our home.
One of the dangers of Christian Nationalism is that it slowly shifts the believer’s hope away from the return of Jesus Christ and toward political restoration and the false narrative of postmillennialism. Instead of longing for the appearing of the King, Christians begin placing their emotional stability in election cycles, political movements, and earthly governments.
Christians should vote according to biblical convictions. But there is a massive difference between being a politically engaged Christian and attempting to merge the mission of the church with nationalist political ideology.
The mission of the church is not to save America. The mission of the church is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
America is not New Jerusalem. The Republican Party is not the kingdom of Heaven. And Donald Trump is not the Davidic king.
Many Christians today speak as though if they can simply win enough elections, pass enough legislation, and reclaim enough cultural ground, they can somehow usher in righteousness through political power. But Scripture teaches the exact opposite concerning the last days.
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” Titus 2:13
The kingdoms of this world will not be gradually Christianized prior to Christ’s return. According to Scripture, they will unite themselves in rebellion against Him until the King Himself returns to overthrow them.
Right now we live in occupied territory awaiting the arrival of the King.
And until He returns, our responsibility remains unchanged.
To revisit the Unmovable Apologetics Podcast on this topic, click HERE.
For a deeper study on this topic by Dr. Peter Ruckman, click HERE.
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Amen
Thank you