Should America be a Christian nation?
“Christian nationalism” is a phrase that’s been used to reference a wide range of beliefs about the ideal relationship between Christianity and government. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 45% of Americans and 60% of American Christians believe that America should be a Christian nation. To some, that means that Christian politicians should legislate their values, while to others it means that the government should explicitly endorse Christian policies and institutions.
A small but vocal minority of Christians use “Christian nationalism” to refer to the establishment of a white society through violent conquest. Recently, Christian nationalism has received a lot of attention for the role it played in the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol and for the role it continues to play in violent extremism.
In this section, we’ll examine the attitudes and assumptions that underlie people’s answers to the question “should America be a Christian nation?” and analyze the scripture behind them. Some Christians believe that the Great Commission calls us to spread Christianity by converting others and encouraging widespread adoption of Christian values-- including through government policies. But what are “Christian” values? Modern Christian nationalists, typically conservative, focus on spreading values about sex, marriage, and family. At the turn of the 20th century, however, progressive Christians aimed to make America a “Christian nation” by promoting policies that protected workers and helped those in poverty. While both of these groups might agree that America should be a Christian nation, their views on what that nation should look like are very different.
Still, many Christians across the political spectrum believe that Christ’s kingdom on earth is one that rejects government power altogether and embraces a diversity of beliefs. They don’t think that America should be a Christian nation because they don’t think Jesus calls them to spread their beliefs through politics. Should America be a Christian nation?
It depends on what you think Christ’s kingdom on earth looks like and what Christians’ role should be in bringing it about.
How Christians across the political spectrum have answered this question
“Yes, Christ’s kingdom on earth will be made up of Christian nations that espouse socially conservative values.”
Jesus’ instruction to “make disciples of all nations” means that we must spread Christianity everywhere through conversion and baptism.
Christ’s kingdom on earth will look like a society where everyone, including the government, identifies as explicitly Christian.
All government policies are already informed by values. If you believe in Christianity, then why wouldn‘t you want those to be Christian values?
“Christian” values are socially conservative and emphasize heterosexual marriage, traditional gender roles, and the nuclear family.
“No, Christ’s kingdom on earth will reject political power”
Jesus’ instruction to “make disciples of all nations” means that we must spread love everywhere through example. It does not mean that we must spread Christianity or attempt to convert people.
Christ’s kingdom on earth will look like a society where power has been dismantled and Christ‘s values-- such as grace, love, and peace-- reign.
Government should protect and affirm a diversity of religious and non-religious beliefs. It cannot do that if it endorses Christianity.
The Great Commission rejects the idea that God endorses specific national interests— it’s radical because it promotes the idea that God is everywhere, in all nations.
The Great Commission & the Olivet Discourse
After rising from the dead, Jesus spends his remaining time on Earth with the disciples before ascending into heaven. The last instruction he gives them is to “make disciples of all nations” before assuring them that he will be with them “always, to the end of the age.” This Great Commission is the scriptural bedrock of evangelical Christianity, which prioritizes bringing people to Christ through baptism. But what does it mean to “make disciples of all nations?” And what does Jesus mean when he says that he will be with us “to the end of the age?”
Many Christians look to Matthew 24 & 25 for descriptions of Christ’s return and the “end of the age.” Known as “the Olivet Discourse,” these chapters include a series of Jesus’ teachings about how Christ’s kingdom will come about and what it will look like. He shared these teachings with his disciples at the Mount of Olives right after denouncing the Pharisees and shortly before his arrest. Many Christians believe that it is our job to bring about Christ’s kingdom on earth now by spreading the gospel through evangelism as well as by gaining government power-- though what exactly that kingdom should look like is a subject of debate. Other Christians believe that Christ rejected earthly power and that his future return signals the fall of human empires. In their view, Christ’s kingdom is one where Christianity does not aim to expand or take control but instead works to create a world that embodies Christ’s values of peace and justice through example.
How we think about Christ’s kingdom and our role in it impacts how we see the Great Commission. What would a Christ-like society look like and what role should we as Christians play in bringing that about? What role should government play in Christ’s kingdom? As you read these scripture passages, consider what it means for Christianity to spread and the relationship between our religious and political beliefs.
Read the Bible passages
How these passages build on the Old Testament
To understand Jesus’ apocalyptic prophecies and Great Commission, we need to understand his historical context. Jesus lived during a time period when the Israelites were ruled by the Roman Empire. Many Jewish people at the time hoped that one day they would be free from Roman rule and that Israel would be restored. The Olivet Discourse was Jesus’ way of speaking to Israel’s future, and the Great Commission challenged the Jewish people to think of God’s relationship with humanity outside of Israel.
This was radical because according to the Hebrew scriptures, God had a special relationship with Israel. God promised the Israelites the land of Canaan, which included God’s dwelling place where God instructed them to build a temple. After the Israelites conquered Canaan and built the temple, they ruled the land for generations. But after repeatedly disobeying God, the Israelites were conquered by the Babylonians, who destroyed the temple. While living in exile under Babylonian rule, prophets like Daniel, Jeremiah, Zechariah and Ezekiel made all kinds of apocalyptic predictions— about the future abominations, the coming of the Son of Man, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the destruction of the Second Temple, which had not yet been built. These prophecies were connected with their hope for deliverance from Babylonian oppression. When the Persians conquered the Babylonians and King Cyrus set the Israelites free, they returned to Jerusalem, built a Second Temple, and lived as free people for a time before Roman conquest.
This context is important for understanding the Olivet Discourse and Great Commission because in both of these passages, Jesus is sending a message to the Jewish people about God’s relationship with Israel. He quotes the prophets from the Hebrew Bible who predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple, echoing their prophecies, and through the parables in Matthew 25 he offers a vision for how Israel should remain obedient to God while under Roman rule. The Great Commission’s call to “make disciples of all nations” is notable because, up until this point, God’s relationship with humanity was defined by God’s relationship with a single nation— Israel. That relationship placed a lot of importance on the land of Canaan and the location of the temple— God’s dwelling place. Jesus’ new covenant, however, opens up possibilities for God’s relationship with humanity. That relationship can now include Gentiles and is not dependent on land or place because God writes the law on people’s hearts. God is with people wherever they go. The expansion of Jesus’ message to “all nations” is radical given this context.
As you read these Old Testament passages, consider the ways in which they add to your understanding of Jesus’ prophecies and Great Commission.
Read the Old Testament passages
Now that you’ve read the scripture…
Reflect
What are you thinking and feeling right now?
Request
Ask God to open your heart and your mind to a different perspective. Challenge yourself to see another point of view— even if you don’t agree with it.
Respond
Thank God for working through scripture and through the people around you. If you’re about to discuss this section with other people, pray for them and for your time together.
Questions for reflection & discussion
Do you believe that Jesus calls us to spread Christianity? What does “spreading Christianity” look like to you? What are “Christian” values?
What do you think is the purpose of Jesus’ prophecies about the end of the age? What do you think is supposed to “end” with the end of the age?
End times prophecies make some people really uncomfortable. Why do you think that is? What do you think that Jesus’ intent was in delivering these prophecies? Is there any context in which these prophecies might come across as hopeful to listeners?
The Parable of the Ten Virgins, the Parable of the Talents, and the Judgment of the Nations, all provide us with a view of what Christ’s kingdom will look like. What do you think these parables tell us about Christ’s kingdom?
How do you imagine Christ’s kingdom? Do you think that there is violence in Christ’s kingdom or that violence is necessary to bring it about?
How does the Old Testament’s account of God’s relationship with Israel impact your interpretation of the Great Commission? What do you think it means to “make disciples of all nations” given that context?
Think back to the section about Jesus’ persecution. How do these passages add to our understanding of Jesus’ relationship with power?
Think back to the section about the Sermon on the Mount. How do these passages add to our understanding about whether Christians should fight?
Do you think Christians should seek power? Why or why not? Does your answer change when the Christians seeking power disagree with you?
How should Christians approach other religions or beliefs? If we believe in Christianity, does that mean that we should aim to convert people?
Should America be a Christian nation? If yes, what does that mean to you?
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