Christian Nationalism: A Dangerous Heresy?
By Aaron Rich
(Aaron Rich is the director of administration at First Fruits of Zion. He spearheads introducing new individuals to the organization and managing the logistics of publication operations)
The allure of Christian nationalism depends on an audience that is not aware of its true aims: to erase religious freedom and eradicate the Jews.
America has always existed in a tension between secular Enlightenment philosophy and traditional Christian values. Our laws and customs reflect this tension. Americans are free to choose whatever religion conforms with the dictates of their conscience; at the same time, our civil laws have historically reflected, to some degree, biblical morality.
Yet the scales are tipping. A movement known as Christian nationalism has long been simmering beneath the surface of societal discourse. Today, it has become a prominent voice both in the church and on the Hill, and it is spreading a harmful and divisive ideology: the idea that America should jettison its freedom of religion and replace it with a sort of theocracy. This is a troubling phenomenon, and it is misleading sincere Christians into conflating political and cultural activism with godliness.
In earlier articles, we have warned about the anti-Semitic tendencies behind the movement. Today, the growing popularity of the ideology demands a more robust response from Messianic Jewish voices, and we aim to expose its dangers and address its impact on the disciples of Yeshua.
What Is Christian Nationalism?
To begin, let’s define Christian nationalism. To be sure, at first glance, it looks godly and upright. On the surface, Christian nationalism advocates for a nation whose government and laws are based entirely on Christian values. It presents a vision of a society molded by biblical principles in which faith and governance are inseparably intertwined. Its proponents endeavor to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth by leveraging the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the American government to enforce a particular vision of biblical law.
This surface-level definition may seem appealing, even noble. Establishing the kingdom of heaven here on earth is a goal that sounds a lot like the gospel message. What’s not to like? But this polished veneer masks deeper flaws.
A Christian Kingdom
Underneath its attractive Christian façade seethes a dangerous ideology, one that can be compared with the oppressive structures of Jihadist Islam’s vision of a caliphate. Christian nationalism marches under a different name than Islam, and it venerates a different book, but its underlying intentions are disturbingly similar. Like Islam, Christian nationalism operates under a misunderstanding of kingdom eschatology. Christian nationalists are typically amillennial or post-millennial—their eschatology makes no allowance for a coming Messianic Era during which a Jew will rule the world and the Torah will go out from Zion to all nations. Instead, Christian nationalism believes the kingdom must be forced on the world—not by Jesus but by his followers. Like Muslim Jihadists, Christian nationalists are attempting to create a utopian society based on their religious convictions. They misconstrue entirely the meaning of the kingdom of heaven as they advocate the imposition of a kingdom by force—not by the Messiah, but by famously corruptible politicians.
Christian nationalists envision a nation in which religious freedom is eliminated. The choice that the God of Israel has granted humanity from the beginning is replaced by coercion—faith imposed at the tip of a sword or the barrel of a gun. History bears grim witness to the consequences of such systems. Efforts to establish “Christian” nations have consistently led to pogroms, mass murders, and baseless hatred against the Jewish people.
Giving the state the power to enforce Christianity means giving the state the power to eradicate Judaism.
In Christian nationalist political systems, the Jewish people are specifically targeted as scapegoats for societal problems. They are painted as villains by supersessionists who distort Scripture to justify their hatred. Rather than provoking the Jewish people to jealousy, as the Apostle Paul envisioned, Christian nationalists aim to erase the Jewish people entirely.
Moreover, Christian nationalism permits no dissent. The strongest sect claims authority, leaving no room for the diversity of thought reflected in Christianity’s thousands of denominations. Faith based on conviction and Bible study is replaced with rigid dogma dictated by the state. Questioning the imposed beliefs is not just frowned upon—it’s punishable by death.
Evangelism as an effort to persuade people to cast their allegiance behind the Messiah becomes obsolete. Faith is coerced, not chosen. The Christian nationalist idealizes the Crusader, not the evangelist.
Under the ideals of Christian nationalism, the state might take control of the Bible itself. Unapproved translations or interpretations are typically banned, leaving only state-sanctioned versions of the Scriptures. The worst excesses of the most authoritarian regimes in history would become the everyday reality in America as any precept that does not garner the ruling party’s approval is erased. Think of China or North Korea. Christian nationalism reduces the richness of faith to a sterile, government-imposed ideology.
In this dystopian vision of Christianity, there is no liberty in Messiah. The “perfect law of liberty” is replaced with oppression (James 1:25). The loudest proponents of Christian nationalism readily espouse a gospel of hatred for others that belies their claims of faith in Yeshua. Their rhetoric is filled with venomous hatred for their enemies—and especially for the Jewish people.
Christian Nationalism of the Past
History provides numerous examples of Christian nationalism’s destructive potential. Ever since Emperor Constantine converted and the Roman Empire became Christian, the world has seen one version of Christian nationalism followed by another. We need not recount here the dozens of instances in which European “Christian” monarchs murdered and expelled dissenters and Jews. One need only think of the Puritan pilgrims and many other sincere, God-fearing disciples who fled Europe for the sake of religious freedoms in the New World to realize that Christian nationalism is not an American value.
Under state religions and Christian regimes, the people who suffer the most are always the Jews. Here are a few examples:
The Crusades: These campaigns against Islamic invaders in the Holy Land were also used to purge Europe of dissenting theologies. Under the guise of protecting the faith, armies carried out mass persecution and murder, forcing uniformity at the expense of life and liberty and slaughtering whole Jewish communities in the process.
The Spanish Inquisition: This dark chapter targeted Jewish believers in Yeshua, murdering those deemed “too Jewish” or unwilling to forsake their heritage. It enforced a singular version of faith, rejecting diversity in discipleship.
Nazi Germany: Hitler did not profess Christianity, but he manipulated Christian theology in the German churches to justify the Holocaust. Many churches supported his genocidal agenda.
The Pogroms: The Russian pogroms, led by Russian Orthodox clergymen, targeted the Jewish community under the pretense of defending the cross. Jews were vilified with slanderous blood libels to justify savagery.
Christian Nationalism Is Not Conservatism
The political left tries to conflate Christian nationalism with conservatism in order to demonize both, but that’s not fair. True political conservatives in America vote in defense of the nation’s founding values, including freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.
Living out your faith in all aspects of life is not Christian nationalism. Voting for traditionally conservative politicians is not Christian nationalism. Disciples of Jesus should let their light shine before all men, as our Master instructed, bringing faith into their work, their communities, and even their political involvement. Likewise, when you vote or run for office, your faith should inform your actions and political decisions. This is part of being a disciple. However, when faith is weaponized to force others into submission, or when believers attempt to impose the kingdom of heaven through coercive laws, traditional American values are cast aside, and the biblical vision of a coming kingdom is distorted and misappropriated.
Innocent disciples of Yeshua might repeat “Christ is King” in earnest faith, yet without realizing it, they attract the more malignant, cancerous elements of society.
Christian nationalism seeks to impose kingdom standards on those who have not chosen to take upon themselves the yoke of the kingdom. This violates the example of our Master, who offered an invitation—not compulsion—to follow him. The choice to live by God’s standards is one of free will, not force. Attempting to enforce kingdom principles on those who have not entered into covenant faithfulness turns the gospel’s message of hope and freedom into one of oppression and control.
Such actions distort the gospel and undermine the freedom offered in Messiah. As disciples, we are called to live by faith and serve as examples—not to coerce others into compliance with a faith they do not profess.
Why Write About This?
At First Fruits of Zion, our mission is to reconcile disciples of Yeshua with God’s prophetic promises to Israel. We do this by serving the world according to the teachings of our Master and equipping disciples with educational resources like Torah Club and HaYesod, which offer a Messianic Jewish perspective on Scripture. The worldview of Christian nationalism contradicts God’s prophetic promises to Israel. It’s predicated on an exaggerated expression of replacement theology, which claims that the church is the new Israel of God and, therefore, the heir of God’s promises to Israel. It seeks to create a “new Israel,” a chimeric mockery of the coming kingdom, a Jew-hating monstrosity that can only be compared with the whore of Babylon, drunk with the blood of God’s people.
We will continue to write about it and to expose its incipient anti-Semitism. Future articles on the subject will uncover its historical roots, theological distortions, and the harm it brings to both society and the disciples of Messiah. We intend to provide a thoughtful and faithful examination that equips disciples to recognize and resist the allure of Christian nationalism.
By exposing its counterfeit promises and focusing on the true gospel, we can help disciples remain steadfast in their calling to bring light to the world and to serve God’s kingdom with humility and grace.
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