Christian Nationalism: Understanding False Gospels in Modern America
The Danger of Using Jesus as a Means to an End
Are you able to recognize when Jesus is being used as a means to an end? In today's politically charged climate, many Americans are confronted with the term "Christian nationalism" without fully understanding what it represents. Like the prosperity gospel that promises financial blessing for the faithful, Christian nationalism may be offering a similarly misleading bargain: using faith as a pathway to political power rather than genuine spiritual transformation.
The Bible clearly distinguishes between promises made to the nation of Israel and the spiritual blessings available to New Testament believers. When examining passages like Leviticus 26:3-9 and Deuteronomy 7:11-14, we see God promising specific material blessings to the nation of Israel for their obedience—rain for crops, safety from enemies, and national prosperity. However, these national promises were never extended to the New Testament church, whose blessings are primarily spiritual rather than material.
Consider how often we hear phrases like "God Bless America," "One Nation Under God," or "We stand for the flag and kneel for the cross." These sentiments sound devout, but do they reflect a genuine desire for Jesus himself, or merely the national power and control His name might help secure?
As believers, we should desire a genuine relationship with Jesus rather than using His name to obtain earthly benefits. The prosperity gospel teaches that faithfulness leads to financial reward, however, there are many faithful believers who follow God wholeheartedly without receiving material prosperity.
Similar dangers include the "sexual prosperity gospel." It promises perfect marriages to those who follow purity culture rules. There is also the "parenting prosperity gospel." It promises perfectly behaved children to those who follow certain formulas.
The bottom line is: true Christianity isn't about gaining earthly rewards—whether financial, relational, or political—but about loving Jesus for who He is. As John 6:35-41 reveals, many who followed Jesus ultimately "murmured" against Him because they wanted earthly blessings rather than Jesus Himself.
How can we guard against the false teaching of Christian nationalism?
- Examine your motives: Do you want Jesus Himself, or just what He can provide for you and your nation?
- Study biblical context: Learn to rightly divide the word of truth and distinguish between promises made to ancient Israel and spiritual principles for believers today.
- Pray for discernment: Ask God to help you recognize when Christianity is being used as a tool for political power.
- Seek spiritual blessings: Remember that our primary blessings are spiritual, not material or political (Ephesians 1:3).
- Pray for our leaders: Rather than seeking to control the government, follow the biblical mandate to pray for all our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Remember Jesus' words: "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Our mission isn't to establish a Christian kingdom on earth through political means, but to share the gospel and live as citizens of a heavenly kingdom while being good stewards of our earthly citizenship.
Want to go deeper? Listen to the full sermon that inspired this post.
Note: This blog post was adapted from Pastor Fortunato's powerful message on Christian nationalism and false gospels. If you found this content challenging & thought-provoking, you're invited to listen to the complete sermon where Pastor Fortunato explores these concepts in greater depth, providing additional biblical insights and practical application.
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