Reformed denominations are buzzing with controversy about Christian nationalism. Synod 2026 called for a study committee to consider the issue. Part of the problem is that the term “Christian nationalism” means very different things to different people. It might be helpful to consider whether any form of nationalism is compatible with Christianity.
Nationalism is also a contested term. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, nationalism is “an ideology that elevates one nation or nationality above all others and that places primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations, nationalities, or supranational groups.” However, Merriam-Webster also posits a second, quite different, definition: “support for and promotion of the political independence or self-determination of a nation or people.” And there are many possible definitions that fall somewhere between these two.
Nationalism first emerged in Europe during the late eighteenth century in the wake of the Enlightenment. Christian nationalism revolutionized the United States during the Civil War, and a variety of forms of nationalism, many of them religious, led to the formation of new nations in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Given this complexity, any sweeping condemnation of nationalism is problematic.
Nevertheless, Scripture must shape the way Christians think about nationalism.
The Gospel calls us to place our highest allegiance to the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), whose citizens make up the church, the body of Christ. As Reformed two-kingdoms theology emphasizes, the kingdom of God must not be conflated with any earthly political entity (John 18:36). Since Christ’s death, God has not given any nation special status, as Israel once had. The body of Christ is a “supranational” group, and as Christians, we ought to have deeper ties with Christians from other nations than we do with our fellow citizens who are not Christians (Galatians 3:28, 6:10).
Just as important, Jesus commands us to love all people, including our enemies (Matthew 5:44). True, we have unique responsibilities to those we are temporally closest to, which surely extends to the communities in which we live (1 Timothy 5:8; Luke 10:25-37). It is fair to say that we ought to love our nation and owe it a special allegiance (Romans 13:1-8). We might call this patriotism, which Merriam-Webster defines simply as “love for or devotion to one's country.” There is nothing wrong with promoting the culture and interests of one’s nation.
But when love of country is used to justify hatred for other groups, claims that one nationality is superior to another, or failure to love the people of other nations and seek their best interests, it is no longer compatible with Jesus’ teaching.