Christian Nationalism in the United States: A Betrayal of Jesus’s Message

Christian Nationalism in the United States: A Betrayal of Jesus’s Message

Christian Nationalism has grown into a powerful movement in the United States, merging religious identity with political ideology. Its advocates argue that America was founded as a Christian nation and must remain governed by Christian principles, often defined narrowly through conservative cultural and political lenses. This blend of patriotism and religion has fueled efforts to impose one interpretation of Christianity onto the laws and identity of the entire nation. The problem is that Christian Nationalism distorts Christianity to fit a narrative that protects and justifies wealth, greed, and hate.

Yet, the teachings of Jesus stand in stark contrast to this ideology. Jesus never called for political dominance or national supremacy. His message was rooted in humility, compassion, and inclusion. He reached out to the marginalized—tax collectors, Samaritans, the poor, and the outcast—often in direct defiance of the powerful and religious authorities of his day. The Sermon on the Mount emphasizes meekness, mercy, peacemaking, and love for enemies, values at odds with the aggressive, us-versus-them posture of Christian Nationalism.

Christian Nationalism seeks to divide the nation along religious lines, portraying Christians as rightful rulers and others as threats. Jesus, however, rejected exclusion and warned against conflating God’s kingdom with worldly power. “My kingdom is not of this world,” he declared, distancing his movement from political control. Where Christian Nationalism pursues dominance, Jesus modeled servanthood; where it fosters fear of the “other,” he embodied radical love and inclusion.

The irony is that Christian Nationalism often weaponizes the Bible to justify power, control, and cultural supremacy—the very things Jesus denounced in religious elites. In tying faith to national identity, it distorts the Gospel into a tool of division rather than a message of reconciliation.

Christianity at its core calls believers to love God and love neighbor without condition. By contrast, Christian Nationalism narrows neighbor-love to those who look, believe, and vote the same way. For many Christians, this ideology does not safeguard their faith but undermines it, turning the cross into a flagpole and discipleship into nationalism.

If the church is to remain faithful to Jesus’s teachings, it must resist the pull of Christian Nationalism. The Gospel invites us not to build kingdoms of exclusion, but to live as a people shaped by humility, justice, and love—a vision far larger and more transformative than any nation-state.

The Right’s distortion of Christianity

Here are the deceptive themes:

War on Christianity
Abortion
Transgenderism and LGBTQ
Demonization of Other Religions
Hatred for America
Support of Crime and Open Borders
DEI and Entitlement Programs
Environmental Demonization
Education and Press Indoctrination

This article does not aim to be ideological or partisan, but here are ways that the Progressive Movement aligns more closely to Jesus's teachings:

Issue / Principle	Progressive Approach	Right-Wing Approach	Biblical Principle / Teaching
Care for the Poor	Supports welfare, social safety nets, healthcare access	Often prioritizes tax cuts for wealthy, limited social programs	“Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Racial Equality	Advocates civil rights, anti-discrimination, reparative policies	Often resists systemic reforms, emphasizes “law and order”	“There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
Justice System	Supports criminal justice reform, rehabilitation	Supports strict sentencing, capital punishment	“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness…” (Micah 6:8)
Economic Ethics	Opposes wealth hoarding, supports fair wages	Often prioritizes free markets with minimal regulation	“You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
Peace & War	Advocates diplomacy, anti-war policies	Often favors military strength and aggressive foreign policy	“Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matthew 5:9)
Immigration / Refugees	Welcomes migrants, asylum seekers	Restrictive immigration policies, border militarization	“Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:34)
Gender Equality	Supports women in leadership, reproductive rights	Often limits reproductive rights, traditional gender roles	“There is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
LGBTQ+ Rights	Defends LGBTQ+ dignity and inclusion	Often opposes LGBTQ+ rights, religious exemptions	“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
Environmental Stewardship	Advocates climate action, sustainability	Often opposes environmental regulation	“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden…to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15)
Truth & Integrity	Supports transparency, accountability in leaders	Often excuses dishonesty if politically expedient	“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees…hypocrites!” (Matthew 23:13–36)


American Christian Distortion
Church Dress	The practice of "dressing up" for church is not a single event but a tradition that developed over time, becoming widespread in the mid-19th century with the emergence of a prosperous middle class that wanted to display its wealth through refined church attire. They used the requirement as a means to keep less prosperous townsfolk from joining their congregation. The excuse "We must look our best in front of God" became staple. Of course, buying nice clothes drives the capitalistic spend cycle to line the pockets of the business elite. It was later a tool during Jim Crow to keep blacks out of white churches.
Christmas Traditions	Another distortion is the Christmas Tradition which evolved out of England. Gift giving which stemmed from the gifts brought to Jesus during his birth evolved into buying gifts for everyone you know as a tradition. A noble idea, but again it’s a capitalistic fraud to line the pockets of the business elite with every gift purchased. And yes, decorations, cards, Santa Claus and toys, food all fall into this same category. Gifts brought to baby Jesus has been manipulated into gift buying to drive the economy. Where is the loyalty? Jesus or the Big Business elite
Church Offerings and Fund Drives	The Early Church (Acts 2–4): Believers pooled resources voluntarily, sharing what they had so no one was in need. This wasn’t about funding a hierarchy; it was mutual support. “All the believers were together and had everything in common” (Acts 2:44–45). Paul’s Letters (mid-1st century): Paul encouraged collections, but mainly to support poor Christians in Jerusalem (e.g., 2 Corinthians 8–9). He also said “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18), which justified support for ministers. Still, this was more about survival and mission than building wealth. 2nd–4th Centuries: As Christianity grew, gatherings required resources. Donations supported widows, orphans, clergy, and community needs. Once Constantine legalized Christianity (early 4th century), churches began receiving land, buildings, and state support, making institutional giving more formal. The Medieval Church: Over centuries, the tithe (10%) became mandatory in much of Europe, often enforced by law. What began as voluntary generosity became a system of financial obligation, sometimes abused. Jesus preached generosity, but not institutional giving. Giving to the church grew out of the early community’s shared resources, then solidified into tradition and obligation as Christianity became structured. Although the U.S. Constitution definitively separates church and state, laws were passed to exclude religious institutions from paying taxes. This became a financial opportunity for many, leading to ultra-wealthy evangelists, wealthy pastors, elaborately expensive large churches, and the turn of the church into a business for profit. Ever question where the money goes?

MAGA Christian Distortion
Holy War against the Left	Trump and his followers have managed to deceive many voters into believing that his policies are pro-Christian and that the real enemy is not Satan but his political opponents - the left. Think about that, Trump has made you believe something as biblical, when in fact it is against the very teachings of Jesus. There are bible verses warning Christians of this very distortion. Of course, the left is his threat on power, not a threat on the country and morality as he wants you to believe. Charlie Kirk was deemed a "martyr". Martyrs, in a religious context, fight holy wars and the concept of a martyr itself was never preached by Jesus. There is absolutely no evidence that Kirk was murdered for his political and religious beliefs, but Trump wants to make you believe so, and to believe it was his political opponents.
Christian Conferences, Revivals, Camps	First off, any of these that mention Trump or "leftist evil", you have to question the purpose of the event. Secondly, these have turned into trade shows, selling items for profit of course. Lastly, if they start asking you to reach deep inside your heart, along with your checkbook, you've been conned. And of course they will use anything and everything to get you, not into the spirit of serving God, but in the spirit of "giving" - to who exactly? Its vulgar. Diving healing, tongues, chants, folks falling to the floor or acting crazy, are all part of the deception to part you from money.
New Apostolic Reformation	The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) or Neo-Apostolicism is a Christian supremacist theological belief and controversial movement associated with the far-right that combines elements of Pentecostalism, evangelicalism, and the Seven Mountain Mandate to advocate for spiritual warfare to bring about Christian dominion over all aspects of society, and end or weaken the separation of church and state. NAR leaders often call themselves apostles and prophets. The audacity to portray themselves as apostles and prophets, and to create a reformation in Trump's name. Of course, that spiritual warfare is not against Satan, but against the left. This is an example of so called Christians advocating for warfare against fellow Americans. This was the theme of Kirk's memorial, contrary to Erika Kirk's statements. This goes way against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The truth from a progressive point of view:

War on Christianity - the left, many who are Christian, hold dear to faith as well as the Constitutional principle of separation of church and state.

1. “Render to Caesar…” (Mark 12:13–17, Matthew 22:15–22, Luke 20:20–26)

When asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus responded: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

This has been interpreted as recognizing a distinction between obligations to earthly rulers and obligations to God. He neither endorsed Roman rule outright nor called for political rebellion but redirected the focus to God’s ultimate sovereignty.

2. His kingdom is not political.

Jesus told Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). He made clear that his mission wasn’t to establish a worldly government, but a spiritual reign rooted in justice, mercy, and truth.

3. Rejection of violent political revolt.

Many expected the Messiah to lead a nationalistic uprising against Rome, but Jesus discouraged that. For example, when Peter struck the high priest’s servant at Jesus’ arrest, Jesus said: “Put your sword back… all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

He avoided being made king by force (John 6:15).

4. Criticism of religious-political collusion.

Jesus often rebuked the Pharisees, Sadducees, and temple elites who used religious authority for power, profit, or collaboration with Rome. He cleansed the Temple (Mark 11:15–17) as a protest against corruption, not against Rome directly, but against the misuse of God’s house for economic and political gain.

5. Allegiance to God above all.

Jesus taught that ultimate loyalty belongs to God, not to human rulers. He acknowledged earthly authority (Romans 13:1–7, later echoed by Paul), but insisted it never overrides God’s commands.

In short: Jesus recognized civil authority but never merged it with God’s kingdom. He rejected violent revolution and political power plays, instead insisting that God’s reign transcends earthly systems. His position can be summed up as “respect the state but serve God above all.”

Contrast and Comparision of Ideological Application:

Issue / Principle	Progressive Approach	Right-Wing Approach	Biblical Principle / Teaching
Care for the Poor	Supports welfare, social safety nets, healthcare access	Often prioritizes tax cuts for wealthy, limited social programs	“Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Racial Equality	Advocates civil rights, anti-discrimination, reparative policies	Often resists systemic reforms, emphasizes “law and order”	“There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
Justice System	Supports criminal justice reform, rehabilitation	Supports strict sentencing, capital punishment	“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness…” (Micah 6:8)
Economic Ethics	Opposes wealth hoarding, supports fair wages	Often prioritizes free markets with minimal regulation	“You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
Peace & War	Advocates diplomacy, anti-war policies	Often favors military strength and aggressive foreign policy	“Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matthew 5:9)
Immigration / Refugees	Welcomes migrants, asylum seekers	Restrictive immigration policies, border militarization	“Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:34)
Gender Equality	Supports women in leadership, reproductive rights	Often limits reproductive rights, traditional gender roles	“There is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
LGBTQ+ Rights	Defends LGBTQ+ dignity and inclusion	Often opposes LGBTQ+ rights, religious exemptions	“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
Environmental Stewardship	Advocates climate action, sustainability	Often opposes environmental regulation	“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden…to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15)
Truth & Integrity	Supports transparency, accountability in leaders	Often excuses dishonesty if politically expedient	“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees…hypocrites!” (Matthew 23:13–36)


American Christian Distortion
Church Dress	The practice of "dressing up" for church is not a single event but a tradition that developed over time, becoming widespread in the mid-19th century with the emergence of a prosperous middle class that wanted to display its wealth through refined church attire. They used the requirement as a means to keep less prosperous townsfolk from joining their congregation. The excuse "We must look our best in front of God" became staple. Of course, buying nice clothes drives the capitalistic spend cycle to line the pockets of the business elite. It was later a tool during Jim Crow to keep blacks out of white churches.
Christmas Traditions	Another distortion is the Christmas Tradition which evolved out of England. Gift giving which stemmed from the gifts brought to Jesus during his birth evolved into buying gifts for everyone you know as a tradition. A noble idea, but again it’s a capitalistic fraud to line the pockets of the business elite with every gift purchased. And yes, decorations, cards, Santa Claus and toys, food all fall into this same category. Gifts brought to baby Jesus has been manipulated into gift buying to drive the economy. Where is the loyalty? Jesus or the Big Business elite
Church Offerings and Fund Drives	The Early Church (Acts 2–4): Believers pooled resources voluntarily, sharing what they had so no one was in need. This wasn’t about funding a hierarchy; it was mutual support. “All the believers were together and had everything in common” (Acts 2:44–45). Paul’s Letters (mid-1st century): Paul encouraged collections, but mainly to support poor Christians in Jerusalem (e.g., 2 Corinthians 8–9). He also said “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18), which justified support for ministers. Still, this was more about survival and mission than building wealth. 2nd–4th Centuries: As Christianity grew, gatherings required resources. Donations supported widows, orphans, clergy, and community needs. Once Constantine legalized Christianity (early 4th century), churches began receiving land, buildings, and state support, making institutional giving more formal. The Medieval Church: Over centuries, the tithe (10%) became mandatory in much of Europe, often enforced by law. What began as voluntary generosity became a system of financial obligation, sometimes abused. Jesus preached generosity, but not institutional giving. Giving to the church grew out of the early community’s shared resources, then solidified into tradition and obligation as Christianity became structured. Although the U.S. Constitution definitively separates church and state, laws were passed to exclude religious institutions from paying taxes. This became a financial opportunity for many, leading to ultra-wealthy evangelists, wealthy pastors, elaborately expensive large churches, and the turn of the church into a business for profit. Ever question where the money goes?
Private Christian Schools	These exploded in popularity in the South in the 60's and 70's for one primary reason, to keep minorities out of the schools where white families children attend.

MAGA Christian Distortion
Holy War against the Left	Trump and his followers have managed to deceive many voters into believing that his policies are pro-Christian and that the real enemy is not Satan but his political opponents - the left. Think about that, Trump has made you believe something as biblical, when in fact it is against the very teachings of Jesus. There are bible verses warning Christians of this very distortion. Of course, the left is his threat on power, not a threat on the country and morality as he wants you to believe. Charlie Kirk was deemed a "martyr". Martyrs, in a religious context, fight holy wars and the concept of a martyr itself was never preached by Jesus. There is absolutely no evidence that Kirk was murdered for his political and religious beliefs, but Trump wants to make you believe so, and to believe it was his political opponents.
Christian Conferences, Revivals, Camps	First off, any of these that mention Trump or "leftist evil", you have to question the purpose of the event. Secondly, these have turned into trade shows, selling items for profit of course. Lastly, if they start asking you to reach deep inside your heart, along with your checkbook, you've been conned. And of course they will use anything and everything to get you, not into the spirit of serving God, but in the spirit of "giving" - to who exactly? Its vulgar. Diving healing, tongues, chants, folks falling to the floor or acting crazy, are all part of the deception to part you from money.
New Apostolic Reformation	The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) or Neo-Apostolicism is a Christian supremacist theological belief and controversial movement associated with the far-right that combines elements of Pentecostalism, evangelicalism, and the Seven Mountain Mandate to advocate for spiritual warfare to bring about Christian dominion over all aspects of society, and end or weaken the separation of church and state. NAR leaders often call themselves apostles and prophets. The audacity to portray themselves as apostles and prophets, and to create a reformation in Trump's name. Of course, that spiritual warfare is not against Satan, but against the left. This is an example of so called Christians advocating for warfare against fellow Americans. This was the theme of Kirk's memorial, contrary to Erika Kirk's statements. This goes way against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

5. Allegiance to God above all.

Jesus taught that ultimate loyalty belongs to God, not to human rulers. He acknowledged earthly authority (Romans 13:1–7, later echoed by Paul), but insisted it never overrides God’s commands.

Right talking points that are based on lies with a deceptive religious sheen:

Abortion - The idea that the left encourages abortion is insane. The left does not encourage abortion or as the right loves to put "support murder of babies in the womb". This is not a “leftist evil” as the right likes to claim, along with lies about late-term and post-term abortion. The left knows this cannot be a black and white issue, although the right insists to be so. There are cases where abortion is a medical necessity, period. It is more of a question of blanket laws by politicians - which result in deaths - or leaving the decisions up to the medical industry. Outside this realm is questionable and debatable, and not all of the left support free will abortions.

Transgenderism and LGBTQ – Transgender people and LGBTQ people exist and have been for centuries. There is no evidence that people can be swayed to turn this way even though the far right pushes the false claim that it is “a choice”. Consider it sinful, but as Jesus has taught us, we are all sinners. The right wants to play judge and claim that it corrupts young people. They point to particular verses in the bible as the foundation against LGBTQ, which have no such wording. Regardless, Jesus preaches loving everyone and treating them with respect. Progressives, adding the Constitutional element, consider these people to have the right to live their lives the way they desire. The right will use Christian persecution as a façade to deny rights, which is an antithesis of biblical teachings and to the Constitution itself. Treating people with respect and kindness, regardless of who they are, is not Christian persecution. In fact, the opposite of this tolerance is anti-Christian.

Demonization of Other Religions – Christianity encourages spreading the gospel, but not through force or coercion. Our country was founded based on the religious persecution experienced in England. Because of this, the founders implemented the separation of church and state, based on the bible itself, not wanting to mix earthly obligations with heavenly ones.

The U.S. is now home to vibrant religious diversity, including large Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh communities, as well as secular and interfaith populations.

Immigration, globalization, and religious freedom protections have all contributed to the United States being one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world today. This was baked into our Constitution and our values.

Christianity does not exclude. Jesus critiqued religious leaders who treated others as impure or beyond God’s love. He said people from “east and west” would sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matthew 8:11) — a vision of inclusion in God’s kingdom.

Christian Nationalism seeks to exclude and coerce their beliefs, often at odds with Jesus’s teachings, through legislation and pure hatred. They claim that outside of their circle everything is evil and insist their beliefs should be the remedy for peace, when in fact it is proven that this leads to violence, war, hate, and cultural instability.

Hatred for America – This is the most perverse of narratives. This mostly is rooted in disgust and disapproval for what Trump stands for, his attack on the Constitution itself, and demonization of forms of peaceful protest (i.e. kneeling during games) – which have nothing to do with hatred for America. Jesus knelt in the face of being crucified. The action is lawful as in other forms of protest. Protesting police brutality is not “hatred for America”. Politics does not belong in the world of sports. You may say protest is politics, but the reason for the protest may be non-political and it is a part of our Constitution. Is protesting the murder of a black man by a cop really just a “political statement”?

Support of Crime and Open Borders – Again, another equally perverse narrative. Trump loves to align crime, protests, riots as “the left”. Again, he is taking a consequential event and labelling it as by “the left” – his political opponents. Cities are predominantly left because of large populations and poverty. The right for the most part, and those typically more affluent, move away from the cities. The money goes with them, leaving the cities stranded with lack of funding. White flight is still prevalent, primarily in red states and especially in the South. This provides a convenient proverbial wall for Trump to divide the country, and also to label the cities as “left” – again his political opponents. Segregation anyone?

The left does not support open borders. This is a lie ten times over. Bi-partisan legislation, signed into law, has been in place to make the immigration process fairer and more efficient, along with modernizing and reducing the wait times for legalization. Trump, who consistently denounces these laws and ignores them, attributes them to “the left” and claims it is a leftist policy of “open borders”.

Another egregious distortion is the reality of undocumented immigrants in the country, many of whom were labelled as such, after Trump ended the programs mentioned previously. Along with this, due process is the means by which a determination is made, by judicial means, whether or not someone is “undocumented”. This is blatantly ignored by Trump, now endorsed by the Supreme Court, to allow his administration to indiscriminately decide who to deport, including legal immigrants and U.S. citizens. This is a form of racial profiling, and in some cases political profiling. Another example of antithetical behavior to Jesus’s teachings.

DEI and Entitlement Programs – There is little equal opportunity in this country. Those born into poverty, stay in poverty. Minorities are overwhelmingly passed over for those that are white. Children deserve the same safe and flourishing environment, with equal access to education. Entitlement programs are an imperfect remedy and exist with the children in mind. It is not the best remedy, and yes there is abuse and exploitation of the system. But policing these systems costs more than the benefits given out themselves. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a better, up-front system. The lies about giving preference to minorities over skill are again pushed by the right, and they are simply lies. The system is designed with the idea to give preference to the most skilled individual, period. It is not forced onto companies. Companies have the right to have DEI programs or not. The U.S. Government has never implemented quotas but has made it possible for a party to sue based on evidence of hiring based on race over qualification. Statistics are admissible like in every other court case. If a company is hiring employees based on statistics, they are cheating the system. They are “trying to balance it” out after questionable hiring practices to begin with. Don’t do it and it will never be a court case.

Environmental Demonization – The statistics are overwhelmingly that there is global warming. God made the earth for us and every living thing. Why would he be against trying to protect it from man-made destruction? Is it right to force green energy practices on people? Is it right to impact economies based on mandates? No. But moving toward a solution should not be political, and technology has impressively advanced with politics pushed aside.

Public Education and Press Indoctrination – What can I say about this other than the premise, backed by the Constitution, should be that what is taught in school and what is reported by news should never be influenced by political preference or religion (bar private religious schools or opinion news). Beyond that, hate, disinformation, or historical distortion should never be part of the equation. Jesus would agree.

Europeans and White Colonists Distortion of Scripture

Christian nationalism found its roots prior to American colonialism but extended to our shores. Here is a timeline format showing how Europeans and the United States twisted the Bible across different eras to serve their interests.

Medieval Europe (5th–15th centuries)

Divine Right of Kings: Monarchs claimed biblical authority to rule, citing Romans 13 to demand obedience.
Controlled Translations: The Latin Vulgate was kept as the official Bible, blocking ordinary people from reading scripture in their own languages.
Suppression of Reformers: Early translators like John Wycliffe and Jan Hus were persecuted for challenging church/state control of scripture.
Crusades Justification: Old Testament holy war narratives were invoked to frame wars in the Middle East as God’s will.

Reformation & Colonial Expansion (16th–17th centuries)

King James Bible (1611): Crafted to reinforce monarchy, muting radical ideas of equality and emphasizing obedience.
Conquest & Colonization: European colonizers cited Joshua and “dominion” passages to justify taking Indigenous lands.
Missionary Colonialism: The Great Commission was reframed as a mandate to convert and “civilize” non-Europeans while exploiting them.
Doctrine of Discovery: Papal decrees and biblical rhetoric gave Europeans “divine right” to claim lands not ruled by Christians.

Atlantic Slave Trade & Early America (17th–18th centuries)

Curse of Ham: Claimed Africans were divinely condemned to servitude.
“Slaves, Obey Your Masters”: Frequently preached to enslaved people to enforce submission.
Slave Bibles: Distributed with Exodus, Jubilee, and liberation texts removed to prevent uprisings.
Prosperity & Wealth: Slaveholders twisted biblical parables to justify accumulation of wealth from human bondage.

Revolutionary & Early U.S. Republic (18th–early 19th centuries)

America as “New Israel”: Leaders claimed the U.S. was chosen by God to inherit land and freedom.
Manifest Destiny Roots: Biblical language of inheritance used to justify westward expansion.
Romans 13 vs. Liberty: Loyalists cited Romans 13 to condemn revolution, while revolutionaries used Exodus to argue for liberation.

Civil War & Reconstruction (19th century)

Pro-Slavery Theology: Southern pastors preached that slavery was ordained by God.
Abolitionist Counter: Abolitionists leaned on Exodus, Jubilee, and Christ’s teachings on love and equality.
Confederacy as “God’s Nation”: The South framed secession as divinely sanctioned, echoing Israel’s covenantal identity.
Segregationist Use of Scripture: After slavery, biblical separation themes were invoked to defend Jim Crow laws.

Jim Crow Era (late 19th–mid 20th century)

Segregation Theology: “Be ye separate” verses used to justify racial segregation.
White Supremacy in Church: Light/darkness metaphors racialized to reinforce hierarchy.
Prosperity Justification: Wealthy industrialists claimed their riches were signs of divine favor.
Silencing the Oppressed: Verses about heavenly reward used to pacify oppressed communities (“your suffering will be repaid in heaven”).

Modern U.S. (20th–21st centuries)

Civil Rights Opposition: Romans 13 quoted to defend segregation and oppose MLK’s activism.
Cold War Religion: America cast as God’s chosen against atheistic communism, framing foreign wars as moral crusades.
Religious Right Politics: Selective focus on abortion, sexuality, and “family values,” while ignoring biblical justice and poverty teachings.
Prosperity Gospel: Promoting wealth as divine blessing, used to support capitalism and consumerism.
Environmental Exploitation: “Dominion” passages used to oppose ecological protections.
Immigration & Family Separation: Romans 13 cited to defend harsh immigration policies.
Christian Nationalism: Framing the U.S. Constitution and founding as biblically ordained, erasing pluralism.

This shows a consistent pattern of power using scripture:

Monarchs - to maintain rule.
Colonizers - to justify conquest.
Slaveholders - to enforce obedience.
Politicians - to preserve systems of inequality.

Lastly, the Bible is highly interpretable. Those that try to paint a historically accurate brush of Bible are forcing their interpretation. The Bible is filled with allegory, parables, lessons, symbolism, and analogical explanations. Evolution is factual. The evidence is overwhelming. The earth is not 5000 years old. The idea that the earth is this young is a gross interpretation by someone. Reading the Bible in order to pick up on the meaning that God, Jesus, and the prophets are getting across to you as an individual is the key, and the goal is not the literal interpretation. Pastors preach differently and have different opinions. For you, read the message, not the literality of the text. Do not go around playing judge on others. That is not your right or your intended role, that is for God only. If you come away from a sermon and start picking out the faults of those around you, you are at odds with Jesus.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1–2)
He then gives the famous illustration about noticing the speck in someone else’s eye while ignoring the log in your own (Matthew 7:3–5). His point: be self-aware and deal with your own faults before pointing out others’.

Christian Nationalism in the United States: A Betrayal of Jesus’s Message

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