SHOULD WE BE CHRISTIAN NATIONALISTS? The Answer May Surprise You

To answer that question, we first have to ask a question of our own:

What exactly do you mean by “Christian nationalism”?

The answer will depend entirely on how you define it.

If, by Christian nationalism, you mean the political movement that has emerged in recent years as Christians have become more politically engaged, then what exactly are people talking about? Is it a movement seeking to establish Christianity as the official religion of the United States? Is it a NEW Christian movement dedicated to dominion and conquest over government, education, and culture? Is it a NEW movement supposedly centered around Christians taking over the “seven mountains” of society? Is it a NEW movement accused of promoting the Great Replacement Theory and treating immigrants and other groups as a threat to the nation? Is it a NEW movement seeking to create a nation “by and for white Christians,” treating everyone else as outsiders or trespassers? Or is it perhaps a NEW Christian idea that Christians are simply supposed to “be the salt of the earth” and impact the culture?

If so, we certainly have quite the definition to consider.

To some, these ideas may sound like a great thing. To others, they may sound abhorrent.

So, over the last week, we went straight to the source to find out what two of the most prominent Christian figures advocating for Christian nationalism actually have to say about it.

Stephen Wolfe has written extensively on Christian nationalism and is the author of The Case for Christian Nationalism, one of the most prominent books arguing for the position.

Wolfe gives a relatively straightforward definition. He describes Christian nationalism as:

“A nation that recognizes itself as a Christian people and then wants to act in light of that.”

In other words, Wolfe is applying Christian convictions not only to the lives of individual Christians, but also to the public life of a nation. He argues that a nation can recognize itself as a Christian people and order its laws and customs accordingly. (Now, there are many other aspects to Wolfe's position, including what he believes this should look like in practice, but we won't get into all of those here.)

Doug Wilson, however, takes a somewhat different and much simpler approach. When a friend recently asked him what Christian nationalism means or what it looks like, Wilson's answer was essentially that Christian nationalism is no more than ordinary authentic Christian living. (Wilson goes into much more depth on what this looks like in his books, including Mere Christendom and his more recent Frequently Shouted Questions About Christian Nationalism. He also contributes to the recently released 5 Views on Christian Nationalism, alongside several other Christian thinkers who present different perspectives on what Christian nationalism means and what it should look like in practice.)

This is a very interesting way to understand the term.

Now, although the two theologians would certainly differ on the extent of what Christian nationalism should look like in practice, Wolfe would probably agree with Wilson's first simple premise. 

And that raises an important question:

If Christian nationalism is simply Christians living consistently with their faith, how “NEW” is this movement really?

If what is being called “Christian nationalism” is merely the same command God has given His people from the beginning- to live faithfully, to obey His Word, to love our neighbors, and to be salt and light in the world- then perhaps what is being presented as a new political movement is simply an old Christian command being given a new name.

Once again, this points to a greater problem, not just with the label “Christian nationalism,” but with our human tendency to mistake the new for progress.

One of the most dangerous human tendencies is rejecting established traditions in favor of what is new and exciting.

In our culture, this can look like rejecting our Constitutional Democratic Republic in favor of centralized control, essentially applying a communist approach to government. But among Christians, it can take a subtler form: the constant pursuit of the new and the next best thing.

It can look like leaving a faithful, ordinary church for the newest, flashiest Christian community, simplybecause it has something new to offer. New buildings. A new café. A new pastor. A new program. A new vision. Everything is bigger, newer, and supposedly better. In short, we can become driven by our passions rather than governed by wisdom.

Perhaps this is one reason Christians become church hoppers. We become excited about something new, but after a year or two the excitement begins to wear off. The music isn't quite what we like. The preaching doesn't entertain us enough. The programs aren't as exciting. The church isn't growing the way we hoped. So we move on to the next thing.

And perhaps we can see the same temptation in education. The older Christian colleges were not simply designed to train someone for their next job. They sought to form the mind and character; to teach students how to reason, communicate, understand history, pursue truth, and ultimately become the kind of people who can shape the culture around them.

Today, much of higher education is marketed in almost the opposite direction: What career will this degree get you? What salary will it produce? What job can you get?

The old question was, “What kind of person will this education make me?”

The new question is often, “What can this education get me?”

There is a difference.

And the same distinction can appear in the Church.

The old question was, “What kind of person is the Lord transforming me into here?”

The new question is often, “What can this church get for me?”

Now, the new can indeed be fun, and new things are not necessarily bad. A church can grow, build new facilities, start new ministries, open a school, or develop new ways of serving its community. Growth and innovation are not inherently wrong. It is actually a sign of a healthy church.

But what happens when the foundation is not strong? We can become so captivated by the cool new smoke machines, the worship band, and the excitement that we trade the tried-and-true foundation of sound theology and faithful doctrine for an experience.

If the theology and doctrine underneath all that growth are weak, the new buildings, programs, and ideas can distract us from the weaknesses underneath. We can become so impressed by what is being built that we forget to ask the more important question: What is it being built upon?

As Christians, we must learn to be content with the gifts God has given us while continuing to grow faithfully. We should desire growth, but not growth for growth's sake. We should desire something new when it is good and necessary, but never simply because it is new.

New does not automatically mean better.

Sometimes the greatest strength is found in what has already been tested.

If Christian nationalism is simply a new political idea, a new ideology that has appeared in our generation without a solid foundation in Scripture, historic Christianity, and sound doctrine, then Christians should be very cautious about embracing it simply because it is new, exciting, or politically effective.

But if what is being called Christian nationalism is instead rooted in the old commands of Christianity: to obey Christ, live faithfully, love our neighbors, raise our children in the faith, seek justice, practice righteousness, and be salt and light in the world, then perhaps we are not looking at a new Christianity at all.

Coming Soon: Part 2: What Christian Living Has to Do With Christian Nationalism?

(Ps. If you feel stressed after reading this, it may be time to try a 4-7-8 breathing exercise)

Works Cited

Canon Press. 5 Views on Christian Nationalism. Edited by Joe Rigney, Canon Press, 2026.https://canonpress.com/products/5-views-on-christian-nationalism

Canon Press. Frequently Shouted Questions About Christian Nationalism. Douglas Wilson, Canon Press, 2025.https://canonpress.com/collections/all-books/products/frequently-shouted-questions-about-christian-nationalism

Wolfe, Stephen. The Case for Christian Nationalism. Canon Press, 2022.

Christ Over All. “Transcript: Interview with Stephen Wolfe on Christian Nationalism.”https://christoverall.com/article/concise/transcript-interview-with-stephen-wolfe-on-christian-nationalism/

Channel Z. “Keeping White Christian Nationalism Out of the North Central Washington Ballot.” 2026. Transcript