Right here had been the 5 questions, every weighted when it comes to response, that shaped the outcomes:
(1) The U.S. authorities ought to declare America a Christian nation; (2) U.S. legal guidelines needs to be based mostly on Christian values; (3) If the U.S. strikes away from our Christian foundations, we won’t have a rustic anymore; (4) Being Christian is a vital a part of being really American; and (5) God has referred to as Christians to train dominion over all areas of American society.
So what marks those that make up the 33% of the American inhabitants deemed adherents/sympathizers? They are usually white evangelical protestants and Hispanic protestants. These are the one two main spiritual teams amongst whom a majority maintain Christian nationalist beliefs.
Christian nationalism can be strongly linked to 5 different dynamics: political get together, media habits, age, schooling and race. For instance:
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A majority of Republicans qualify as both Christian nationalism adherents (21%) or sympathizers (35%), in contrast with one-quarter of Independents (7% adherents and 18% sympathizers) and fewer than one in 5 Democrats (5% adherents and 12% sympathizers).
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Two-thirds of People who most belief far-right information sources qualify as Christian nationalism adherents (34%) or sympathizers (31%), as do a majority of those that most belief Fox Information (18% adherents and 37% sympathizers).
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Help for Christian nationalism is positively related to decrease schooling ranges and older age; AAPI People are far much less prone to be Christian nationalists than different People.
There are geographic dynamics as nicely:
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The states with the very best ranges of help for Christian nationalism – which incorporates about half of their residents – are Arkansas (54%), Mississippi (52%), West Virginia (51%), Oklahoma (49%), and Wyoming (46%).
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Three states emerge with greater than half of their white, non-Hispanic residents supporting Christian nationalism: Arkansas (59%), Mississippi (54%), and West Virginia (53%).
PRRI additionally discovered that Christian nationalists are extra doubtless than different People to help political violence, consider that “immigrants are invading our nation and changing our cultural and ethnic background,” and that necessary vaccines for youngsters needs to be unlawful in all or most circumstances.
So, what to make of those findings? Clearly, whereas held by a minority of People, Christian nationalism and numerous ideological beliefs hooked up to it are right here to remain.
And whereas I’ve engaged Christian nationalism biblically, traditionally and culturally somewhere else, the bigger query is how Christians ought to really feel about nationalism on the whole.
There are two kingdoms. There’s the dominion of males (of countries, energy, politics and economies) and the Kingdom of God – which is about souls and spirits, sin and forgiveness, peace and justice.
Within the Outdated Testomony, Joshua, the good chief of the folks of Israel and successor to Moses, was main the folks into the Promised Land. After crossing the Jordan River, the very first metropolis they encountered was the town of Jericho, a metropolis hostile to the approaching of the Israelites. It quickly turned clear this was going to be an armed battle.
God had one thing else in thoughts.
To display that the Promised Land was going to be His reward and His doing, He instructed Joshua by means of an angel to march across the metropolis seven instances, blow his horns, after which watch because the fortified partitions of the town miraculously fell down. However one thing occurred simply earlier than the angel delivered that message. When Joshua first engaged the angel, earlier than being instructed of the marching plan, they’d an attention-grabbing discourse.
Now when Joshua was close to Jericho, he seemed up and noticed a person standing in entrance of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went as much as him and requested, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
“Neither,” he replied, “however as commander of the military of the Lord I’ve now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the bottom in reverence, and requested him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” (Joshua 5:13-14, NIV)
The angel put Joshua and the folks of Israel of their place. The Kingdom of God was bigger than anyone folks, or nation, or the petty affairs of human battle. God’s work on this planet, His redemptive plan, His motion all through all of historical past to name human beings into relationship with Himself – finally by means of the cross-work of Christ – that is His aspect.
Jesus understood this higher than anybody. Contemplate the occasions on the finish of His life as He stood earlier than the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate:
“Are you the king of the Jews?” he requested him.
Jesus replied, “Is that this your personal query, or did others let you know about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your individual folks and their main monks introduced you to me for trial. Why? What have you ever achieved?”
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom will not be an earthly kingdom. If it had been, my followers would battle to maintain me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. However my Kingdom will not be of this world.” (John 18:33-36, NLT)
Jesus makes it clear He is a King and He does have a Kingdom—however not one with troopers or maintained by navy would possibly. It isn’t a nationwide or political kingdom in any respect. It’s a Kingdom that isn’t even of this world.
In actual fact, making His mission in regards to the kingdoms of this world – about ruling and nations and politics – was one of many temptations Devil put earlier than Jesus in the beginning of His ministry:
Subsequent the satan took him to the height of a really excessive mountain and confirmed him all of the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I’ll give all of it to you,” he mentioned, “if you’ll kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of right here, Devil,” Jesus instructed him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You need to worship the Lord your God and serve solely him.’” (Matthew 4:8-10, NLT)
Jesus knew that the Kingdom of God was a lot greater than the kingdoms of males.
And so ought to we.
James Emery White
Sources
Paul D. Miller, “What Is Christian Nationalism?” Christianity Immediately, February 3, 2021, learn on-line.
“Mapping Christian Nationalism Throughout the 50 States: Insights from PRRI’s 2025 American Values Atlas,” PRRI, February 17, 2026, learn on-line.
“Webinar | Mapping Christian Nationalism Throughout All 50 States: Insights from PRRI’s 2025 American Values Atlas,” PRRI, February 17, 2026, watch on-line.
