America First Nationalism

“Don’t confuse patriotism with nationalism. Always remember that our first loyalty is to God and to Jesus Christ.” —Rod Dreher 

Lent is the season that offers Christians an excellent opportunity to reflect on their baptismal identity. For the next several weeks many Christians in America will be compelled to evaluate the status of their faith and practice in light of current political and social realities. This will be a difficult but necessary test.

Given the current political and social realities, we must ask ourselves:

Should we Christians embrace an America first brand of nationalism?

It is a tough question to be sure and in my opinion has not been asked enough by pastors and church leaders. Additionally, given that most churches are split down the middle along political lines pastors are reluctant to address the issue of extreme nationalism for fear of angering or alienating half their congregations.

But the tide seems to be shifting as more and more of us are alarmed over the America first Nationalism that seems to have captured so many Christian hearts. 

Many have uncritically jumped on this “America first“ bandwagon without considering that it stands in opposition to the Christian Gospel, as well as being incompatible with the God revealed to us in Scripture.

America first Nationalism is indeed appealing given today’s climate of fear. But nationalism derived from fear is not only dangerous it also violates the very principles of the Christian Gospel.

First and foremost, God loves all people regardless of what country or nation he finds them. The idea that God is for America and against her enemies is inconsistent with the Gospel and is one that originated in the context of extreme nationalism rather than the Gospel itself.

Such an America first Nationalism creates an atmosphere of Xenophobia, that is, the fear of other nations or countries. When we fear others who are not like us we tend to demonize them and make them out to be less than human. We also see them as our inferiors.

We witness this today in the attitudes of many Americans toward Mexicans or Muslims. 

Yet the Gospel clearly depicts all people as undeserving candidates of God’s amazing  grace and worthy of his love—and ours as well.

Second, an America first Nationalism tends to compromise our allegiance to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus warned us against dividing our allegiance and the disastrous results that often result from it. 

German Christians from the 20th century are well aware of what happens when Christianity and a Germany first Nationalism colluded with one another. It was a disastrous union that led to the deaths of tens of thousands of those defending such an ideology as well as those who died combatting it (not to mention those victims of the Holocaust).

The idea of a Christian Nationalism is counterintuitive (contradiction) to the Gospel itself and the sovereign claim that Jesus Christ has on our lives. The idea of one being an American Christian or a Canadian Christian or an African Christian or any other kind of nationalistic Christian simply violates the radical inclusiveness of the Gospel for all people: 

“For God so loved the world . . .” 

Unfortunately many will respond negatively to this critique of an America first Nationalism. They will claim that being a good Christian and being a devoted American are indeed compatible realities and if anyone questions the legitimacy of such a relationship then certainly that person does not love his or her country.

Nothing could be further from the truth however. It’s not an issue of one’s love of country but rather an issue of one’s undivided allegiance to Jesus Christ. One may still love America (patriotism) but at the same time be totally devoted to the values of the Gospel.

Finally, an America first Nationalism will lead to Jingoism: “An extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy.” 

Such a position is often motivated by fear and a dark view of reality. 

There is absolutely no relationship between such radical nationalism and the Christian Gospel. Attempting to harmonize the values of the Gospel with the values of an America first Nationalism is not only dangerous, but also impossible to do.

For the Christian the mantra is not “America first” but rather:

“Jesus first . . . and foremost!”