What does the term “Christian Nationalist” even mean? It depends on who you talk to. The one who defines the terms sets the rules for the debate.
June 30, only a few days ago, the Presbyterian Church, USA, voted not to participate in the 250th Birthday Celebration of America because it wished to “stand against white Christian Nationalism.” Did you see what they did? They used a word in their definition that completely skewered what most evangelicals mean when they think of Christian Nationalism. They added the word “white.” By doing this they equate the term with Nazism. No dedicated Christian would ever be a party to that belief, where one race wishes to eradicate or subdue another.
June 28, 2026 a writer named Lee Sease penned an opinion piece for Yahoo News. The title was “Pursuit of Christian Nationalism Defies Jesus’ Values.” In his article, he connects Christian Nationalism with the Sadducees, who hated Jesus, and the Ayatollahs of Iran, who kill their own people by the thousands. He then throws in the recent vote by the Southern Baptist Convention denying women as pastors as a part of Christian Nationalism. Do you see how the definitions can vary? I don’t want to be connected with Sadducees and Ayatollahs, and highly doubt you do either. As far as women pastors, the Bible is clear as to the requirements of who can hold that office.
If others can define Christian Nationalism for their purposes, then I can do the same. I am a simple man, so I’ll be simple in my defining. By the phrase, I mean that I love Jesus and I love my country. Let’s break the phrase down by its words. Words mean things.
The first word is Christian. I proudly claim to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I put my faith in Him, and Him alone, well over fifty years ago. My allegiance is to Him first and foremost. I hang out with people each week that have done the exact same thing. I proudly wear the title Christian, a Jesus follower.
The second word is Nationalist. My definition is that I love my country and its founding. The people who signed the Mayflower Compact were Christian, the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock were Christian, and the founders of our nation were predominately Christian. All were not of the same flavor of Christianity. There were various branches of Christianity, but all claimed Christ. There were Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Reformed Christians, and of course, Baptists, as well as a few other flavors of Christians. The founders and early leaders spoke often about the underlying principles upon which the United States were founded. One of the most important founders was John Adams. Without Adams, it’s highly doubtful the nation would have ever happened. He said this. “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
I consider myself a Christian Nationalist if I get to use my own definition. If I am forced to live by another’s definition, then I am not or might not be. I do not believe in coercing anyone to become a believer in Christ. Christians don’t conquer by the sword; we conquer by the love of Christ and the salvific work Jesus did for us on the cross. Baptist people have always believed in individual soul liberty. Everyone gets to choose for themselves whether to believe in God or not. They get to believe in Jesus Christ or not believe. They can believe in whatever and whoever they wish. The decision they make is theirs, without being punished if they choose to decide different. However, the effect, the final end of their decision will be from God Himself when judgment falls upon that man. Freedom means we have a choice. Those Christian men and women of the past carved out a nation where they could practice their chosen religion without an earthly king beating them or killing them for their allegiance to Christ and their way of worshipping.
I do not believe we are as a people, the population of America, a Christian nation today. We live in a post-Christian America, but make no mistake about this though. The only reason we became the shining light on the hill, and why the whole world wants to come here for our standard of living and freedom, is because of the principles upon which we were founded. Those principles were Judeo-Christian and the underpinnings were straight out of the Bible and the founders acknowledged as much in their writings. The culture that created this nation, the envy of people everywhere, was Judeo-Christian. It was founded by a moral people and for people with biblical morals. John Adams, the same one I quoted earlier, said this, “Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government for any other.”
Many verses in the Bible command us to certain actions as citizens. These passages tell our leaders of their responsibilities as well as our own responsibilities as citizens. I’ll give you some to ponder on this 250th birthday of the greatest nation on earth.
Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority; the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Micah 6:8, “…and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God?”
Jeremiah 29:7, “And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”
Romans 13:1-4, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
I Timothy 2:1-2, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
Do you love Jesus first and foremost? Do you love America and are you proud to be an American? If that’s the case, you’re a Christian Nationalist. We don’t hate anybody, but we recognize the blessings we enjoy come from one source, God Almighty. I was able to come to Jesus for salvation because of God loving me and Jesus dying in my place. I am American by the mercy and grace of God. I say let’s embrace our definition and seek others to do the same.