In recent years, few terms have generated more alarmist headlines or rhetorical confusion than “Christian Nationalism.” To hear progressive voices in academia, media, and government tell it, this phrase evokes images of Bible-waving insurrectionists plotting theocratic coups. But scratch beneath the surface, and a different picture emerges—one not of a growing extremist movement, but of an aggressive political tactic designed to discredit Christians and patriots alike. This blog post explores how “Christian Nationalism,” as wielded by the modern left, functions less as a legitimate critique and more as a weaponized slur—a cover for an ideological war against biblical Christianity and national pride.
The Manufactured Menace of “Christian Nationalism”
Redefining the Term for Ideological Gain
“Christian Nationalism” has no universally agreed-upon definition. Historically, it referred to the idea that a nation’s identity is closely tied to Christianity—a view more common in European history or colonial Christendom than in America’s constitutional republic. Today, however, progressive activists and journalists routinely label any public expression of Christian belief in the political sphere as “Christian Nationalism,” regardless of intent or context.
For example:
- A school board member who cites biblical principles in opposing LGBT curricula is branded a “Christian Nationalist.”
- A lawmaker who invokes God’s design in support of pro-life legislation is cast as a theocrat.
- A pastor who preaches on civic responsibility is accused of pushing “dominionism.”
This redefinition is deliberate. By collapsing all Christian civic involvement into a single extremist label, the left can delegitimize opposition without having to engage ideas on their merits.
The Left’s Hostility Toward Christianity
A Pattern of Open Contempt
Progressive ideology increasingly finds itself at odds with biblical Christianity, especially on matters of morality, authority, and human identity. While tolerance is loudly championed, it seldom extends to Christians who affirm biblical convictions.
Examples of this anti-Christian animus include:
- Censorship of Christian speech on social media platforms under the guise of combating “hate speech.”
- Legal attacks on Christian-owned businesses, such as bakeries and wedding vendors, for refusing to affirm same-sex marriage.
- Exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies unless they adopt progressive gender and family norms.
- Academic blacklisting of conservative Christian scholars, or ridicule of students for expressing faith-based views.
The visceral reaction to public Christianity reveals that “Christian Nationalism” is often code for simply being a Christian who refuses to bow to secular orthodoxy.
The Pagan Parallels
This cultural hostility resembles ancient paganism more than enlightened tolerance. As Larry Hurtado argues in Destroyer of the Gods, early Christianity was revolutionary because it disrupted the prevailing social order. Christians refused to worship Caesar or participate in temple cults, and they rejected the exploitation of others, including abusive homosexual practices with young male slaves, which were normalized in Roman society. The early church’s ethics and exclusive allegiance to Christ posed a direct threat to pagan power.
Today’s Neo-Marxist and progressive elites mirror this dynamic. They do not merely coexist with Christianity—they view it as a threat to their totalizing ideology. In the eyes of the new secular priesthood, the public Christian must either conform or be cast out.
Hatred of Patriotism and National Identity
Patriotism Painted as Prejudice
The demonization of “Christian Nationalism” cannot be separated from the left’s disdain for patriotism. American exceptionalism, reverence for the Constitution, and pride in national heritage are routinely framed as signs of white supremacy or xenophobia. Consider the following trends:
- Schools teaching children to feel ashamed of America’s founding.
- The American flag being removed or shunned as “divisive.”
- Celebrating the Fourth of July criticized as upholding systemic oppression.
- Border enforcement policies equated with racism or fascism.
When Christians love their country and believe its freedoms are God-given, the left calls this “Christian Nationalism.” In reality, it is biblically-informed patriotism—a love for the good of one’s homeland and a commitment to preserve its blessings.
Globalism vs. Sovereignty
This antipathy is also tied to the rise of progressive globalism, which often views national borders, sovereignty, and cultural identity as obstacles to be overcome. From open-border policies to support for transnational institutions that override local control, the left seeks to replace national loyalty with ideological loyalty. Christians who affirm the legitimacy of the nation-state—much less those who believe their country has a divine purpose—are labeled dangerous.
Christianity and Patriotism as Anchors of Order
Historic Harmony, Not Hostile Takeover
The American experiment was never meant to be a theocracy, but neither was it meant to be a naked public square, stripped of all religious influence. From the beginning, America’s Founders:
- Affirmed that rights come from God, not government.
- Wrote the Declaration of Independence with Providential language.
- Designed a system that depended on a moral and religious people for its stability.
Throughout our history, Christianity and patriotism have often worked hand-in-hand:
- Abolitionists and civil rights leaders quoted Scripture to call the nation to justice.
- Churches were central to movements for temperance, literacy, prison reform, and education.
- Veterans’ memorials and civic holidays often invoke God, country, and sacrifice.
These expressions of faith and patriotism are not threats—they are the pillars of national health and renewal.
Biblical Examples of Godly Patriotism
The Bible provides models of faithful men who served their nations while honoring God:
- Joseph in Egypt governed justly while remaining loyal to the Lord.
- Daniel in Babylon influenced law and policy while refusing to compromise his convictions.
- Nehemiah wept for Jerusalem, rebuilt its walls, and prayed for his people’s restoration.
None of these men separated their faith from their civic duty. Neither should we.
A New Form of Thought Control: Criminalizing Christian Influence
From Criticism to Criminalization
What was once a theological disagreement is now being recast as a threat to national security. Under the Biden administration and progressive leadership in federal agencies:
- The DOJ targeted parents protesting school boards as potential domestic terrorists.
- The FBI allegedly monitored Catholic churches under suspicion of radicalism.
- Pro-life advocates faced SWAT-style raids for peaceful protests.
- DHS-funded researchers lumped mainstream conservative and Christian views with Nazi ideologies in training material.
This shift is no accident. By branding normal Christian and patriotic beliefs as dangerous, progressives gain a pretext to surveil, censor, and suppress their political and religious opponents.
Ideological Possession and Neo-Marxist Power Plays
This scorched-earth approach is not rooted in honest fear of violent extremism. It is the outworking of ideological possession—a concept where adherents to a totalizing ideology (like Neo-Marxism) no longer tolerate dissent. In such systems, any rival worldview is not just wrong—it is evil, oppressive, and must be eliminated.
“Christian Nationalism,” then, is a scapegoat constructed to justify ideological purging. The true goal is to delegitimize Christianity’s moral authority and weaken national solidarity so that a new social order—one based on identity politics, victim hierarchies, and statism—can emerge unchallenged.
Reclaiming the Narrative: What Christians and Patriots Must Do
Reject the Label, Embrace the Mission
Christians must not be bullied into silence by fear of labels. We are not “Christian Nationalists” in the fringe sense the left imagines. We are Christians who love our country and believe the gospel has implications for every area of life—including politics.
We should:
- Continue to preach truth boldly in churches and public forums.
- Defend the family, the unborn, and the created order without apology.
- Vote and advocate based on biblical principles, not party loyalty.
- Pray for our leaders, while holding them accountable to justice and righteousness.
- Teach our children to love God and love America, rightly ordered.
Resist the Tyranny of Progressive Definitions
Progressives want to control language because he who controls definitions controls the debate. But Christians must speak plainly, define terms biblically, and challenge false narratives wherever they arise.
Just as Orwell warned of Newspeak, we must recognize that calling good “evil” and evil “good” is the hallmark of cultural collapse. When someone says “Christian Nationalism,” ask them to define it. Nine times out of ten, they’re simply describing faithful Christian citizenship, not extremism.
Conclusion: The Real Extremists Are Those Who Hate Truth and Freedom
The left’s hysteria over “Christian Nationalism” reveals more about them than about us. It exposes a deep discomfort—if not outright hatred—for the two things that once made America strong: Christianity and patriotism. By smearing Christians who engage politically as dangerous zealots, the progressive movement shows its hand. It does not want peaceful coexistence. It wants cultural conquest.
Let us not retreat. Let us boldly stand for faith, family, and freedom, knowing that the battle is not merely political, but spiritual. As the Apostle Paul wrote:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness…”
—Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
With God as our guide and Christ as our King, we need not fear the slander of men. The truth, in the end, will stand.
S.D.G.,
Robert Sparkman
christiannewsjunkie@gmail.com
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I came across this article of yours while searching for “false accusations of Christian nationalism.” Some people I know, whom I believe to be sincere Christians, nevertheless seem to have a secular progressive’s view on this topic. I think this is because they do not want to be accused of being an unloving, hypocritical, or even false Christian, but they are counting on the viewpoint of the world when forming their opinion about whether one can be a patriotic American and a sincere Christian. As I was searching for this topic, most of the results were obviously condemning “Christian nationalism,” and the number of results was evenly divided between secular sources and sources claiming to be Christian. This is of deep concern to me. The world says, “We need to beware these Christian nationalists,” (and like you said, they have a broad and incorrect definition of that term). Then Christians who don’t want to appear to be unloving or hypocritical or not genuine Christians say, “You’re right,” and start denouncing people based on how the world views them rather than what is actually true about them.
Thanks for responding.
By the way, I think the left’s problem is really Christianity, not Christian nationalism. However, they won’t come right out and state this.