Christianity & Nationalism are they Mutually exclusive? YES!

Christian Nationalism is an oxymoron? How so?

I begin by pointing out that the mere fact that we have to answer this question is proof enough.

Perhaps, one of the greatest exhortations in the book of Revelation is found in 18:4, “Come out from her, My people.”

NB: All translations from the book of Revelation are my own.  

The “her” in this passage is the Great Harlot, which, as I argue in my commentary, represents the commercial side of the empire. That is, she represents power, wealth, prosperity, and pleasure.

Of course, the wealth and pleasure she offers are only experienced by some (the elite), and it comes at the expense of everyone else. In the Roman world, the elite, who enjoyed her offerings, comprised 3% of the population, while the poor and marginalized comprised 90%.  (see Warren Carter, The Roman Empire and the New Testament).

Revelation 17 describes the Great Harlot. But Revelation 18 depicts her demise. In the middle of Revelation 18, we learn that the kings of the earth, the merchants of the earth, and all those who make their living by the sea, “weep and mourn” because of her destruction (18:11-19).

Those who follow the Lamb (Rev 14:4), however, are exhorted to “rejoice”: “Rejoice over her, heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets” (Rev 18:20). Why? “because God has brought the judgment for you upon her” (Rev 18:20). After all, John explains, “in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all those who have been slain upon the earth” (Rev 18:24).

Today, the empire is not much of a threat to Christians in the US, but I suppose that most American Christians would lament, alongside the kings, merchants, and sailors in Rome, the demise of the American empire.

4 Reasons why I firmly believe the American Church is in bed with the Harlot.

NB: I intend to produce a series of YouTube videos to explain why I believe this throughout 2025. Subscribe to the Determinetruth YouTube page, like it, and click the bell for alerts. Then you will receive notifications whenever new videos are posted and new livestreams are scheduled.

First, the kingdom of God is not of this world (John 18:36).

This statement is often misunderstood. Jesus’ declaration to Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world means that it originated from God. As such, it transcends the kingdoms of the world. Consequently, there are fundamental and incontrovertible differences between the two.

In my book, Land of Contention, I contend that Jesus’ kingdom (the kingdom of God: KOG) is radically distinct from the kingdoms, empires, and nations of the world.

Second, the kingdoms of the world maintain power by means of violence.

This is one of the most glaring of the fundamental and incontrovertible differences between the KOG and the kingdoms of the world.

The kingdoms of the world maintain power by putting victims on crosses. Violence serves as a means of warning for everyone under the empire’s authority that this is what happens to those who challenge our rule.

In Christianity, however, beginning with Jesus and continuing to His people, we see the people of God take up their crosses as an act of love towards others (Mark 8:34).

This means that no nation, state, or empire could ever fully embrace Christianity. Nations, of necessity, wage war in order to maintain power.

Let me put it this way, imagine the President of the US exhorting a foreign leader, “Go ahead and slap me (us) on the right cheek, I’ll (we’ll) gladly offer you the other also.” The US would be destroyed in a heartbeat if it implemented a Christian ethic.

NB: The failure to grasp the fundamental point justifies my assertion above that the very need to answer the question demonstrates that the American Church is in bed with the Great Harlot. 

Third, nationalism prioritizes one people group

The most recent US Presidential election exemplifies the radical distinction between Christianity and empire. Donald Trump ran on a campaign of “Make America Great Again.” Regardless of your thoughts about this slogan, it fundamentally conflicts with the Christian call to lay down our lives for everyone.

The bottom line is that the Church is a multi-ethnic and inclusive community composed of people from “every nation, tribes, people, and tongues” (Rev 7:9).

Fourth, Christian love begins with care for one another: i.e., those within the body of Christ.

This means that we cannot support, encourage, or advance a nation’s policy if that policy harms our Christian brothers and sisters.

NB: You may ask, “But what about our concern for those who live in other nations and are not Christians?”

There is no doubt that our love must extend to them as well. I am arguing that Christians, regardless of their country, are brothers and sisters in Christ. And, as Jesus explained in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, whatever we do to our brothers and sisters in Christ, we do to Jesus.

NBB: I discuss the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats and explain its relevance to understanding who the people of God are in my book, These Brothers of Mine, which derives its name from the Parable.

Conclusion

In sum, there are a multitude of reasons why Christianity and any form of nationalism are incompatible. Among them is the simple fact that Christianity embodies a kingdom that operates fundamentally counter to the state.

Consequently, in returning to where I started, I would reiterate that the mere fact that we even have to answer to question, “Are Christianity and nationalism compatible?” my point is proven. We have become so seduced by what Revelation calls “the Great Harlot” that we can’t even recognize the radical incompatibility of the two.

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