The cross or the sword
American Christian Nationalism's doctrine of power
Note: This is a rough draft. I am sharing for your review and, if you feel so inclined, your input. Your feedback on the content, clarity and flow of this post would be a huge help to me. You can share input by messaging me or posting in the comments. Thanks! -C.E.C.
The rise of organizations like Turning Point USA has galvanized the church. This division is not about conservative or progressive politics, it is about power.
American Christian Nationalists argue that the church should fight to gain worldly power to promote their way of life and protect themselves from their enemies.
Jesus, on the other hand, teaches us that power is to be used to self-sacrificially serve others, even our enemies.
American Christian Nationalism calls us to take up the sword.
Jesus calls us to take up our cross.
In Mark 10, two of Jesus’ closest disciples attempt to grab at worldly power.
“Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.”
But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. “
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Taking up our cross can be especially difficult when we are afraid. In those moments, it is tempting to reach for the sword.
“Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
John 18:10-11
Like Simon Peter, American Christian Nationalists give in to the temptation to alleviate their fear by reaching for the sword.
In his book, The Religion of American Greatness, Paul Miller notes
“As conservative White Christians have felt their power ebbing, they have made the preservation of their power itself into their last great moral crusade. America’s White Christian ethnoreligious sect has convinced itself that its own power is essential to the nation’s future, and, consequently, that preserving its power is a selfless, moral act.
Some American Christian Nationalists argue that the church needs to reach for the sword so that it can protect and promote the Kingdom of God. But God’s Kingdom is not advanced by worldly means.
In his book, Keep Christianity Weird, Michael Frost rightly points out that
“The very character of God’s Kingdom is alternate to the character and values of this world. It doesn’t create borders and defend them. It doesn’t foster parochialism or insist on pledges of allegiances to particular flags. Its values are justice, reconciliation, beauty, and wholeness.”
American Christian Nationalism calls us to take up the sword, gain more power and use it to protect and promote our way of life.
Jesus calls us to take up our cross and use our power to serve others, especially those who are not like us.
The division within the church today is not primarily about politics.
It is about power.
When things seem out of control when we fear the loss of that which we love when the pressure is on, will we reach for the cross or the sword?
Yes. I believe it is a doctrine of power. I also think we need to consider who is driving it. Where did Charlie Kirk come from? I don't think he is a Christian. He has no fruit. He started college, met a political operative who helped launch him into the national spotlight. He speaks at Christian school and Christian events but where did his platform come from other than political money? Same with Allie Stuckey. She works for Glenn Beck. If you dig into their history they have no ministry experience, barely any sign of any credible Christian testimony and got launched into major political influencer careers before they had a first job of any sort. There is this online ruse of Christianity that is Christian in name and organising but doesn't know Scripture well, cherry picks verses, and has a lot of money behind it to grow a political platform. I think genuine believers have been duped into following them but I think the source isn't even Christian. I don't think the players are saved. I watch people like Charlie rage at his conferences or Will Wolfe rage from Twitter and I think of David Brainerd who told his Yale professor in the 1700s that "he was no more saved than the chair he was sitting on."
I think political operatives chasing power are tarnishing the church and Christians don't have the depth of Bible to discern otherwise. We have also been prepped for fear for decades by loads of bad theology (I am looking at you Left Beyond nonsense eschatology) that has prepped them to look for saviours other than Jesus.
I think you are spot on, but I'd like to see some quotes from Christian Nationalist leaders that prove your thesis. This would be a much longer post (or probably a separate one), but I wonder how the Jan 6th insurrection is related to Christian Nationalism?