I'm Not a Christian Nationalist—I'm an American Nationalist Because I Follow Jesus

Over the past several years, one of the most controversial phrases in American politics has been Christian Nationalism.

Depending on whom you ask, the term now refers to everything from patriotism, to theocracy, to racism, to authoritarianism, to simply displaying an American flag in church. The phrase has become so elastic that it often communicates more confusion than clarity.

For that reason, I have largely stopped using it. So, let me be clear.

No, I am not a Christian Nationalist.

I am an American Nationalist precisely because I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ.

At first glance, that may sound contradictory. It isn't.

Words Matter

Years ago, I defended what I understood "Christian Nationalism" to mean. At the time, I argued that if the phrase simply meant affirming America's founding commitment that all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights, then Christians should have no objection.

Today, however, the phrase has accumulated so much cultural baggage that it often obscures rather than clarifies the discussion. Rather than spending all our time arguing over labels, let's talk about principles.

The real question is not whether one embraces "Christian Nationalism."

The real question is this:

What kind of nation ought Christians support?

What Is Nationalism?

The word nationalism is often defined as identifying with one's nation and supporting its interests. That definition immediately raises a more important question: Which interests?

Not every nation pursues objectively good interests.

A nation committed to racial supremacy promotes objective evil.

A nation committed to Marxism promotes objective evil.

A nation governed by Islam and Sharia law that denies fundamental human rights promotes objective evil.

History provides countless examples.

Nationalism, therefore, is not inherently virtuous or inherently wicked. Its moral value depends entirely upon whether the specific nation's interests correspond to objective moral reality.

Why I Call Myself an American Nationalist

I proudly support America—not because America is perfect. Far from it. America has often violated her own objectively good ideals through slavery, racial injustice, and other objective evils and moral failures.

Those failures, however, do not invalidate America's founding principles. They demonstrate the need to return to them. To make America godly again. No, I am not saying that America was once a “godly utopia,” but any nation is most just (closer to perfection) when it conforms more closely to God's moral order.

The philosophical and theological foundations of America make it clear that every human being is created equal and endowed by our Creator with objective and unalienable rights. Those truths are not merely American ideas.

They are biblical truths. And because I believe those principles correspond to objective reality, I seek to preserve and advance them.

That is what I mean by American Nationalism.

If tomorrow America abandoned these principles, then my loyalty would remain with those principles rather than with America itself. Indeed, I would strive to make America great again by going back to our foundational philosophy.

The Proper Role of Government

America's founding documents recognize certain truths as "self-evident": that all human beings are created equal and endowed by their Creator—God—with certain unalienable rights. Those rights are not given by governments. Governments merely recognize them and are instituted to secure them.

That is precisely what an objectively good government ought to do.

But governments also have particular responsibilities. Although every human being bears the image of God and therefore possesses objective dignity and rights, a government's first duty is to protect the citizens entrusted to its care.

This should not be controversial.

An objectively good father loves all people because they are made in God's image. If he sees two children in danger—his own daughter and his neighbor's daughter—his first responsibility is to protect his daughter. That does not mean he despises his neighbor's daughter or is indifferent to her welfare. Rather, his unique responsibility begins with those entrusted to his care, after which he should seek to help others as he is able.

Scripture recognizes ordered responsibilities. Paul writes that anyone who fails to provide for his own household has denied the faith (1 Tim. 5:8). Paul is not teaching that Christians should ignore everyone outside their family. Rather, he recognizes that moral responsibilities begin with those uniquely entrusted to our care before extending outward to others. Likewise, a civil government bears a unique responsibility toward the citizens entrusted to its care while still recognizing the dignity and rights of all people.

Similarly, an objectively good American government should first protect the God-given rights of the American people. That is not selfishness; it is faithful stewardship of the responsibility entrusted to it.

Once those responsibilities are being fulfilled, America should also seek, whenever justly and prudently able, to defend the God-given rights of non-citizens—especially our allies and those suffering under tyranny. Loving our own citizens first is entirely compatible with loving our neighbors beyond our borders.

So, yes, I am “America first,” but I can also be “our beloved allies second.” Indeed, often times the interests of America and America’s allies align.

My First Citizenship Is in Heaven

Some people worry that any form of nationalism inevitably becomes idolatry. I share this concern because whenever love of country replaces love of Christ, patriotism has become an idol.

To be clear, that is not my position!

Scripture teaches that Christians are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. My ultimate King is Jesus. My ultimate constitution is the Law of Christ. My ultimate allegiance belongs to God's Kingdom.

Precisely because Christ is the King of kings, however, I believe earthly governments ought to protect the objective rights God has given every person made in His image.

It’s vital to keep this ideal in mind: An objectively good nation exists for human beings.

Human beings do not exist for the nation.

Why Christianity Supports America's Founding Principles

Christianity teaches that every human being bears the Image of God. That means every human being possesses inherent dignity, value, and worth. Every human being possesses rights that governments do not create and therefore cannot legitimately remove.

This is why Christians should defend religious liberty, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, due process, private property, equal justice under the law, and the right of innocent people to defend themselves against evil (see Love Thy Neighbor and Pack Thy Heat).

These rights do not belong only to Christians.

They belong to Jews.

Muslims.

Atheists.

Mormons.

Republicans.

Democrats.

Independents.

Foreigners.

Immigrants.

Every image bearer.

Every human.

I defend these rights not because I agree with everyone's beliefs, but because God created every human being in His image and in His likeness.

That said, affirming the objective rights of every person does not require affirming every belief system or every practice. Human beings possess God-given rights; ideas do not.

Some worldviews are entirely compatible with America's philosophical and theological foundations that all human beings are created equal and endowed by their Creator with objective and unalienable rights. Other worldviews are not. The standard is not whether a belief is sincerely held or even religiously motivated. The standard is whether that belief—or more precisely, the practices it requires—is compatible with the objective rights that America's founding documents recognize as "self-evident."

This is why America rightly protects the freedom to believe almost anything, while refusing to protect practices that violate the God-given rights of others.

Religious liberty has never meant the freedom to abuse, enslave, mutilate, or murder another image bearer. The same philosophical foundation that gives us religious liberty also places moral limits upon its practice. (For a more detailed defense of this principle, see You Don't Have the Freedom of Religion in America.)

Christians Should Persuade, Not Coerce

Another common misconception is that Christians seek to force people to become Christians through government power. Nothing could be further from the teachings of Jesus.

The Kingdom of God advances through truth, persuasion, evangelism, discipleship, and love—not coercion.

I invite everyone to become citizens of God's Kingdom.

I do not believe anyone should be forced into it. In fact, since it’s impossible to force a person into a true love relationship, and a true love relationship with God is what grants a person citizenship in Heaven, it is impossible to force a person to become a citizen of God’s Kingdom.

Be that as it may, people who reject Christ still possess God-given rights that Christians should defend.

So What Am I?

If "Christian Nationalism" now communicates ideas that I reject, then I have little interest in defending the label. I am far more interested in defending the principles.

So call me an American Nationalist.

I support America's philosophical and theological foundations that every person possesses objective and unalienable God-given rights.

I oppose every ideology—whether Marxism, communism, fascism, racism, Islam, Sharia Law, or any other worldview—that seeks to deny those rights.

I love my country enough to criticize her whenever she departs from her own principles (which happen to be objectively true). And I love Christ enough to remember that America is not the Kingdom of God.

Jesus is the King of kings. Because Jesus is the King, governments exist to protect the rights He has endowed every human being with.

That is why I am an American Nationalist. Precisely because I am a committed follower of Christ.

Stay reasonable (James 3:17),

Dr. Tim Stratton