Christian Nationalism ⎯ Stand Firm Conference '

All right, I'm here to turn you all into radical Christian nationalists. The question that I was asked to answer, or the topics that I was called to deal with, is this issue of a Christian nation, which is not our goal, but some aspects of it are a consequence. And I want us to look at a Passenger scripture that is very familiar that became much more popular and much more familiar because of COVID than it ever had been before. And what it did was it exposed an incredible weakness in our public theology, an incredible weakness in that intersection between what we believe as Christians and how it impacts the way that we interact with the world. Romans thirteen, Romans thirteen. That's interesting. The first two verses of Romans thirteen not controversial, and nobody had a problem with those verses or people who believe those verses during COVID. The next two verses is where the problem came. As long as you were a verse one and two person, nobody called you a name, and nobody came after you. But if you were a verse three and four person, all of a sudden you were a problem. Look at verse one Romans thirteen, gin me verse one. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Again, no problem with verse one and two. During COVID right, put on your mask, close down your church, do what they tell you, take the jab, take the next job, take the next job, take the next job. Do it because they say it Romans thirteen, Romans thirteen. Do it because they say it. Don't you dare go in that building? If you do, don't you dare sit too close? If you do, don't you dare sing Romans thirteen, Romans thirteen, Roma's thirteen. Obey, submit, obey. Nobody had a problem with that, and the government had no problem with that. It's funny how all of. A sudden the government didn't mind our faith coming into the public square. When we had Christians pointing at other Christians saying obey, put on the mask, close down the church. They were like, Yeah, that's the Christianity we like. Verse three, for rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad would know. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority, then do what as good and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain, for he is the servant of God and Avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrong doer. Now, that was problematic. That was uncomfortable because verse one and two comes to the Christian and says, do what God commands you to do. Verse three and four goes to the ruler and says, do what God commands you to do. That was uncomfortable. That was condemned even by many Christians in the US. There are a number of people who stood up on this, but by far the most well known and most popular of those was John MacArthur wrote an open letter to Gavin Newsom. I don't know if you read it, but if you haven't read it, John MacArthur's open letter to Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, please. Go read it. Spectacular they said shut down the church, and initially, initially they did, Hey listen, we didn't know what was going on. Amen, And so initially, for the first couple of weeks they were like, Okay, we have no idea that child us. Everybody's gonna die, they told us, you know. But after that, get some more information, come back, stay to California, said no, obey. Other Christians said no, put on a mask, shut down the church. MacArthur essentially said we must' make God rather than men. God says that we should not forsake the assembly. And you, mister magistrate, have a duty before God. And it is not to condemn Christians for doing what God commands. And Christians got very uncomfortable with the idea that from the pulpit, who would point to Caesar and say, you have an obligation before God. But that's the next two verses. And I say Caesar, because Paul is not saying if you live in an environment where you have governance that acknowledges God and governance that is no, no, no. He's writing this in the midst of a culture that is under oppressive Roman rule. And he says there are two sides of this obligation. Side number one of this obligation is how Christians are to respond to government. Side number two of this obligation is how government is to respond to God. And I find it very interesting that we have major problem with the second side of it, and we shouldn't. There are extremes that are put to rest by this text. One political nihilism, the belief that politics is unspiritual, corrupt, and insignificant. That doesn't matter. We're Christians. That doesn't matter. This puts that to rest. It does matter. In fact, I want you to understand the significance of where this comes back up with me, if you will to chapter eleven. First eleven chapters of the. Book of Romans, Paul is laying out a theological foundation. At the end of laying out his theological foundation, we find these words in chapter eleven, verse thirty six. For from him and through Him and to him are all things to Him be glory forever. Amen. So he's ending something there that's a duxology. Duxology and an amen. That's the end of something. Then he begins something twelve to one. I appeal to you there, for brothers, in light of that theology that came by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. To God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect, and just like he does in his other letters most clearly, for example Interphesians, where the first three chapters are indicatives, of the last three chapters are imperatives. The first three chapters are about our calling, the last three chapters are about our conduct. At the end of chapter three you have a doxology and an amen, and the beginning of chapter four you have therefore, and the second half is the practical application. That's exactly what he's doing here in Romans. This is the practical application to our theological understanding of who we are in Christ. In chapter thirteen comes in that half of the letter that is about a practical application who we are in Christ, and Paul says that at least in part, the practical application of who we are in Christ is how we interact with government, and how government interacts with us. It matters, it matters. The second extreme that this puts to death is the political Pallagians, the belief that fallen man can govern rightly without the help and influence of the people of God. Political palagianism. We don't have to be involved over there. They can handle it without us. No they can't, No, they can't. The text says they're ministers of God. They don't know how to be ministers of God unless we tell them. They're expected to be ministers of God. They have a duty to perform as ministers of God, and our duty is to inform them of what is expected of them as ministers of God. It would be cruel not to both to them and to those whom they govern. To them because the judgment of God will fall upon them and to those whom they govern, because our desire is to be a blessing to our fellow man, and for us and them to live peaceably. The third extreme that this puts to rest is political syncretism, mixing the worship of God with the worship of the state. That is not what we're called to do. We do not combine those things. That is not what Romans thirteen is about or what Romans thirteen purports. And the historical context makes that clear, because in this historical context we are not talking about a nation that claims to be Christian, but in fact one that puts Christians to death. It also puts to death combinations of these things. There are limits to government jurisdiction three spheres. The Reformers often talked about this idea of spear sovereignty. We have the sphere of the home, and the sphere of the Church, and the sphere of the state. The home. Wields the rod amen somebody. The home wields the rod, The church keys the kingdom, and the state the sword. They are three separate jurisdictions, and they're not to be usurped. The Church doesn't run the home or the state. The home doesn't run the church or the state. And the state, contrary to modern belief, does not run the home and does not run the church. It must not, it cannot be allowed to do so. It's not their jurisdiction, period, full stop. And how will they know that unless we tell them, unless we teach them. They are also. Limits of governmental influence. We have the Great Commission. The government does not influence the Great Commission. But we also have the Great Commandment, and the government can very much have influence. There. Notice the universality of governmental responsibility before God that we see here in this text the apostle doesn't say the Christian ruler is a servant of God for your good. Again, he's speaking in the context of Rome and the Old Testament. We see this very clearly, for example in Micah six' eleven SHALL i quit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful. Weights this has to do with, money failure to Honor. God it's taken very. Seriously, daniel chapter, five verses twenty one to twenty. Three and, you his Son, belshazer have not humbled your. Heart by the, Way balshazer not a member of the covenant. Community, amen he. Says and, you his Son, belshazer have not humbled your, heart though you knew all. This but you have lifted up yourself against The lord of. Heaven and the vessels of the house have been brought in before, you and you and your, lords and your wives and your concubines have drunk wine from. Them and you have praised the gods of silver and, gold of, bronze of, iron wood and, stone which do not see or hear or, know but The god in whose hand is your, breath and who all and whose are all your. Ways you have not honored you've sinned and not Honoring. God why because it's commanded and demanded of every man not to mention every man who holds position and authority to Honor god. And a New. Testament look At romans, two verses six through. Twelve he will render to each according to his. Works to those, who by patience and well, doing seek for glory and honor and, immortality he will give eternal. Life but for those who are self seeking and do not obey the, truth but obey, unrighteousness there will be wrath and. Fury there will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does, evil The jew, first and also The. Greek but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good The jew first and also The. Greek For god shows no. Partiality for all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the, law and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the. Law how Can paul apply this only to those who do not exercise god mental. Authority he, can't and he. Doesn't every person who governs everywhere in the world is accountable To god for how they, govern and they are placed in their position By. God and it is a terrible and frightening thing to ignore, that and they do so to their. Peril today we know This god is going to hold those in power are accountable for how they. Serve no, doubt we know that they need to know in order to serve. Appropriately we want to be a blessing to those who, lead and to those whom they. Lead we want them to be a blessing to us so that we might live peaceable and quiet, lives which is why we pray for gettings and those in authority. Amen, therefore we must also tell them what we. Know how could it be? Otherwise the exercise of governmental authority is an incredibly high, honor and it is a high honor given to men By god, himself whether they recognize it or. Not So verses three and four are just as important as verse one and. Two it is as. Important for us as believers to call those who govern to account verse three and four as it is for us to call believers to Account versus one and. Two, now. As we look at these, issues oftentimes there is an assumption that what is meant in verses one and two is that there is never a time when it is appropriate to disobey or to disregard the authority of governors of any. Kind go with, me if you, will to the look Of, acts and look at Acts chapter. Four. Acts chapter Four The healing of The man at The Beautiful. Gate peter And john two broke. Preachers how DO i know that they're? Broke because they said it. Right this man is begging for arms they're at like silver or. Gold we have. None we are two broke. Preachers but what we have we freely give the name Of. Jesus rise and. Walk and he gets up and not only, walks but like celebrates and dances and a whole bunch of other. Stuff. Apparently and it comes to the attention of The, sanhedrin who are governing. Authorities let's make that very. Clear these are governing, authorities and he's governing authorities Confront peter And, john and they Tell peter And john not to continue to preach and teach in the name Of. Jesus peter And john answer in verse. Nineteen peter And john answered, them whether it is right in the sight Of god to listen to you rather Than? God you must, judge for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard we recognize that you have a job to. Do god be with, you but we cannot obey that order because there are some orders that are not to be. Obeyed because you have stepped outside of the realm of the authority That. God has given to. You you cannot command What god, forbids and you cannot forbid What god. Commands by the, way in the next, chapter they get beaten for, that and they gladly accept the consequences and they submit it to It. Amen but they reminded the governing authorities that they had overstepped and that what they were demanding was a bridge too. Far by the. Way, interestingly, tidbit you may not know, this but The city Of Los angeles Took Grace Community church to. Court, first they threatened to shut down their parking lots so that people couldn't, come and then that didn't, work and then they threatened to turn off the power. So that there was no power in the, church and there was an a junction that didn't allow them to do. That but eventually they they brought a lawsuit against the, church and The city Of Los angeles not only lost that, lawsuit but they were forced to Pay Grace communities legal. Bills that's like a, beatdown, Right and this is the state Of california and the city Of Los. Angeles But pastor MacArthur will tell you that he experienced far more opposition from Fellow christians than he did from the city Of Los, angeles because you're supposed to just press verse one and, two not verse three and. Four if you press verse one and, two you're a Good. Christian if you press verse three and, four you're a troublemaker or worse, yet some kind Of christian. Nationalists, better you should be a secular. Globalist and the exercise of this, authority there are several things that you need to keep in. Mind number, one that this duty is a service To god and to one's fellow, man whoever finds themselves in this. Authority and again you call this what wherever you need to call, it by the, way this terminology Of christian. Nationalism it's, interesting it's very. NEW i don't know when you first heard, it but for, ME i wrote my book Fault. Lines it came out in twenty twenty, one, Right AND i wrote the book Fault lines AS i sort of watched what was happening Post George floyd all THE blm stuff and all these other. Things and what really motivated me again living In zambia at the, time And zambians began to talk, about you, know abusive police and all this other stuff In america and so on and so, forth and police corruption and you, know hunting down black. Man and. WHEN i started hearing this stuff From zambians, thought, okay this is a bridge too. Far. Here here's what you need to. Understand In. Zambia you're right down the road and you might come to a police, stop and we used to call them lunch money. Stops, right you get, stopped your car is. Inspected if there's a, problem you get fined and you have to pay the fine on the side of the road in. Cash first couple of, weeks we're In. Lusaka we're in a grocery. Store we're getting ready to check out in the grocery store and we hear this man. Wailing we turn around and he's being carried on a couple of guys shoulders and he's being. Beaten, right he's being beaten by the. Police so there's security guards and police and they're beating this. Man wailing on this man while they're carrying him out of the, store and so my family and are we're a gas store looking at, this and we're and of course there's Some zambians in line in front of, us and they look at us and, recognize you, know that that we're farm, owners were not from around, there and they, go it's, okay he's a. Thief oh, okay just. Gotcha so when these people started talking about the police In, AMERICA. I we missed the plot. Here, right and SO i write fault. Lines look head on with this WHOLE crt, narrative this whole Radical marxist ideology that was being you, know perpetrated and permeated really worldwide at the, time and things began to. CHANGE i began to talk about this, PUBLICLY i you, know went on some not so friendly. Television shows to talk about, this. And all of a, sudden as this ideology began to be, exposed the narrative changed and people stopped pressing so hard on these issues of you, KNOW crt will say that and the, other and it BECAME i, mean it was, encouraging WAS i really. WAS i was encouraged right that the narrative had. Changed and then all of a, sudden people stopped wanting to talk ABOUT, crt people stopped wanting to talk about systemic, racism. So on and so. Forth all of a, SUDDEN i would get asked questions and interviews, like, YEAH i get that, you're you, know upset about you, know all of this, stuff but what about this White christian? Nationalism AND i have to be honest with, YOU i had to go look it, up like what are you talking? About and it's not Just christian, nationalism it's White christian. Nationalism and in order to understand, this you you got to get. THIS i don't know if you've seen these oppression, wheels and IF i was, THINKING i would have had an image of. It but there are these wheels where you have groups that are oppressed versus groups that are. Oppressors on the, inside you have the oppressor, group on the outside you have the more oppressed. Group and they're these different areas where they look at oppression and who's, oppressed and so in areas of race and, ethnicity the oppressor will be white people and the oppressed will be progressively people who are less. White, RIGHT. I i didn't write it, right and and and on other. Things you, know you will have you oppressors on, sexuality, right you'll have heterosexual people who are the, oppressor and then on the inside of that you'll have you, know different sexual whatever as the oppressed. Groups, right gender you have uh sisgendered, people which that's not a. Thing don't accept. That don't accept, that don't call yourself that you call yourself THAT i will find. You and then you, know down towards the inside you have all these other kind of thing and the transgender people and and. Whatever but on these oppression wheels, also, right and if you've been in university recently you've seen, these you also have people who are oppressed based on their their, nationality, right and so on the oppression side you have people who are native and, citizens and on the inside you have people who are non native and non. Citizens, okay but you also have because this Neo marxist ideology has on the outside of That christian as the ultimate. Oppressor and then moving inward from, that you have various Non christians who are. Oppressed why DO i say all this because White christian nationalism is a triple word score, right white oppressor of non, Whites christian ap pressure of Non christian, nationalist a pressure oppressor of non citizens is on its ow point you put those three, together it's trust, me this has to do With Neo marxism more than anything, else because people weren't talking about this and people weren't doing. This but what are the? Alternatives? Again if you're not A christian nationalist AND i don't particularly call myself or identify myself As christian, nationalists people ask, me are you A christian? Nationalist like what do you mean by? That very interesting things happen when you do, that, right what do you mean by? That they can't tell, you LIKE i might, be give me your, definition and they usually can't do. That but one of the things that you could do to get labeled that way is to press verses three and four and not just verses one and. Two the minute you start saying that The bible has anything to do with or ought to have anything to do with the way people, govern immediately it's considered a bridge too. Far but it's. Biblical the magistrate Is god's servant and as such he has an. Obligation and here's what's so ironic about. It, again we lived In, zambia, Right zambia is A christian nation and in the preamble to their. Constitution they identify themselves as A christian, nation one of the few countries in the world that in their constant there are Constitutionally christian. Republic but nobody's upset About christian nationalism In. Zambia you'll never hear. It not only, that but In, zambia like in many places. In kenya and other, countries in Some Saharan, africa The zambian flag is, red, black, green. Orange, right. Most of the flags on the continent have some, red, black, green something and them. Whatever so what do those colors? Mean you talk about the green, there it's usually the abundance of the. Land the red has to do with valor and. Struggle what's the? Black it's for the. People it's for the. People can you imagine if the white In america's flag. Come on? Now, like can you? Imagine but, yet on The african continent you have a country whose flag identifies its people as black and whose constitution identifies its republic As. Christian so you have Black christian. Nationalism where are the WOKE Ivy league students protesting against. That they're not because they couldn't care. Less please get. This they don't. Mind if you bring The bible to bear again DURING, covid any pastor could have, stood they will put you ON. Tv if as a, pastor you will blast these Other christians who are not being Good christians because they won't wear. Masks they're not being Good christians because they insist on gathering together in the. Church they're not being Good. Christians and you could Read romans thirteen one and two and nobody would, say whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa whoa. Whoa now that's The. Bible you're not allowed to bring that to bear in public. Discourse are you smelling When i'm stepping. In it's not that they're against The bible being brought to, bear. Not at, all. As long as it's being brought to bear by those who are useful to. Them speaking Of Gavin newsom In, california When roe Versus, wade the law from seventy two that legalized abortion federally in The United, states when it was overturned by The dobbs, decision which took abortion back to The, states you began to hear about all, these you, know draconian laws In. America and The dobbs decision was based on a court case from the state Of, mississippi which is very. Conservative the state Of mississippi is very conservative and their laws on abortion are very. Conservative, however the laws In france are more conservative on abortion than The dobbs law In. MISSISSIPPI i bet you didn't know. That but, anyway everyone was in an, uproar And Gavin newsom In california decided that they were going to be a safe haven for people to lead these states that had draconian laws about, abortion so that they could come To california and have. Abortions and what did he put on these? Ads The Golden rule A bible Verse and nobody, SAID, I, ah you're. White you're using The christian, scriptures, Right that would be White christian. Nationalism get Those bible verses off of. That, no absolutely. Not i'm telling you this BECAUSE i want you to know how the game is. Played people use that phrase in order to Silence, christians in order to marginalize those who actually believe The. Bible and they call us names in hopes that it will put us on our back foot and get us to him And holland and stuttering and apologizing for what it is that we believe and shaving off the edges of The gospel that we hope so. Dear and it could not be more obvious when you recognize and verses one and two. Completely. Fine verses three and four you've. Overstepped here's what's also. Interesting they're supposed to make a distinction between good conduct and. Bad reward those who do, good and punish those who do. Evil the great irony is that this is supposed to be, punitive not dealing with the hearts of, men but just outward. Behavior the sword that is referenced here is the executioner's. Sword this is punitive in. Nature this is not changing men's. Hearts this is just punishing the. Evil what's ironic is modern so called secular governments are far more religious on this than The bible caused them to. Be The bible just, says in, general punish. Evildoers leave the hearts of men to those who proclaim The. Gospel. Amen that's the church's, job it's not your. Job it's funny that the state looks at us and the state says you need to keep that religious stuff over, there and the second oft stuff belongs to. Us but ironically they operate the opposite. Way what DO i mean by? That, well for, example when it comes to social justice and wealth, redistribution that's dealing with the hearts of, men not the government's, job but they're happy to get into. It hate, crimes, legislation that's the hearts of. Men that's far more spiritual than the scriptures call them to. Be and they say that they want to be. Secularists do you see What i'm. Saying they're not against applying The scripture and they are absolutely not against being religious and spiritual in the operation of their. Duties so why all this talk about the dangers of Fright christian. Nationalism it is a. Lie what they have a problem with is The. Gospel what they have a problem with is those who believe that The bible is The word Of god and not just a tool to pick and choose from for your pet. Ideologies what they have a problem with is those who believe that there are things that are sins and that there is A god who determines what is sinful and what is. Not that's what they have a problem, with not The bible in public. Life they'll happily use it when it's, convenient and not spiritual influence in or by the. Government because when it comes to social, justice they're happy to do. It it comes to hate, crimes they're happy to do. It they're, liars pure and. Simple and the sad reality is we bought, it hook line and, sinker and so we play this game that says, no, no, no, no no no. NO i know you're very afraid. That you, know we want to exercise our faith and we want to take over and we want to Do we really don't want to do. That in, fact we don't want to be involved in this spirit at. All and they, go, gotcha that's exactly what we. Wanted. Nope the proper response, is, listen you keep calling me that. NAME i don't know what that name. IS i might, BE i might. Not but here's WHAT i do. KNOW i do know That romans thirteen one and. TWO i will press it hard and call belie to submit to government. Authorities romans thirteen three and. FOUR i will press that hard, too and remind you that you are a minister Of god and you have a duty to uphold and it is just as important for you to be called to account in that regard as it is the other way. Around i'll leave it with this here's what's really sinister about. It the freest and most prosperous people in the, world the safest women in the, world the most cherished women in the, world the most protected women in the, world the minorities in the, world with the most rights and protections and, freedoms all exist in nations that have been formed and, influenced not just By, christianity but particularly by The Protestant. Reformation not. Ironic we're afraid of and we Condemn christian. Nationalism but you tell me what Non christian country you want to go live. In we talk about how horrible These christian nations are to. Minority where would you rather be a? Minority how horrible they are to? Women where would you rather be a? Woman where outside of The Christian west would you rather be a? Woman? Please somebody tell me the answer is it doesn't. Exist honor, killings forced, marriage rape and then being criminalized because you've been, raped not being able to own, property having to cover yourself up from head to toe every time you go out in, public historically being burned on your husband's funeral. Pire that's Not. Christianity how dare? We how dare we inherit this glorious tradition and then spit on it in the midst of a world where nobody's come, close not to doing, better but just to doing as. Well AND i say that without a hint of. Irony it's just the flat out. Truth don't be ashamed of The, gospel and don't be ashamed of the fruit that The gospel has produced in those parts of the world where The gospel has. Flourished let's. Pray, father we do praise, you and we do thank you for. Your grace and your. Mercy we praise you and thank you for this gospel that saves and. Transforms we praise you and thank you for the fact that you not only rescue us from, sin but that you also make us fit for service in every area and aspect of. Life we rejoice in the fruit that The gospel is, born not only in our, lives but also in the broader. Culture grant by your grace that we would continue to bear that, fruit that we would continue to proclaim the excellencies Of. Christ for we pray and ask this In his name and for his. Sake. Amen