Pastor Mike will be speaking on A Biblical Response to Christian Nationalism Part 1. He will be reading out of Acts 17:26-28.

I believe that Christians should be loyal to their country, that patriotism should be the default for those who follow Jesus. Every Christian, no matter what form of government, is responsible and accountable to live submissive lives for the sake of an effective witness for Jesus Christ. Welcome to Hope Worth Having. I’m your host, pastor Mike Sanders, senior pastor of the Open Door Church. Today, I have a special message, and it is simply entitled a biblical response to Christian nationalism.

I wanna help you to understand you can love the Lord and love your country. There’s not a conflict, and there’s not a contradiction. And I’m gonna open up the Bible and show you and give you a step by step through the word of God in helping you to see this important biblical viewpoint in God’s truth. So join me now as we begin this study. In America, we recognize that our rights come from God.

That they do not come from people, but rather they come from God. And if rights are given by men, they can be taken away by men. The declaration of independence says that our inalienable rights are given to us by God, and are to be guarded by our government. On this day, we are reminded as Americans about our core values, and that is our faith, our freedom, and our family. Christians are called to be active in their nation.

They are called as a church and as individuals to take a stand, to be willing to speak up, and to be willing to stand up. Jesus said, you are the salt of the earth. We are called to be those who preserve our values, those who continue to promote the good and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The answer to our nation’s problems are not going to be any particular political party, but rather the answer is gonna be found in a spiritual revival that would sweep across this nation and reverse the immoral tide that has taken over our country. The bible says that the council of the Lord stands forever.

The plans of his heart are to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as his own inheritance. The greatest hope for America is a revival of true worship of the living God. It is for us to begin once again to acknowledging Christ as our lord and our savior. Now not too far in the past, June 14 to be exact, I read an article, and in this article by Fox News, a college professor on flag day had announced that the American flag was a source of anxiety.

That it was not only a source of anxiety, but fear for him. In addition to this interview by Fox News of this professor, the professor stated that patriotism quickly slips into nationalism. I thought about this article, and I thought first of all how there was a great misunderstanding about our flag, about our nation, about the core values of our country, how that there was definitely mischaracterization that was taking place by many in the elite or educated world, who are trying to push a narrative that somehow it is wrong to be patriotic, That somehow it’s wrong to love your country. And I want us to understand the context. To understand the context of our nation helps you to understand what this nation is all about.

To be able to understand what we are dealing with. And so I’ve entitled my message today, a biblical response to Christian nationalism. Because there are so many out there who are putting down patriotism, and they are attacking Christian nationalism as if it was some kind of evil thing. I want you to note in our text today, in acts chapter 17 verse 26, that the scripture says, and he, referring to God, has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. And he has determined their pre appointed times, and the boundaries of their dwellings.

So that they should seek the lord in the hope that they might grope or feel for him and find him though he is not far from each one of us. For in him, meaning Christ, we live and move and have our being. As also some of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring. When we think about the founding of our nation, when we think about how America came into being, we must understand that many of the earliest immigrants came to America seeking freedom. And they were not just seeking freedom, but they were seeking a freedom to practice their faith without persecution.

For many were living in countries and nations where they were told what they had to believe by the government. They were told not only what they had to believe, but they were told how they could worship god. And so many of our forefathers came to this country as pilgrims, puritans, and patriots with the desire that they would be able to live out their faith in freedom as the spirit of God and as the word of God was leading them. That rather than the government telling them how to worship God and what they could believe about God, they would be led by the authority of God’s word and the spirit of God that lived within all who believe in Jesus Christ. Now I recognize that not every patriot, not every person that came to America loved God.

I recognize that not all of them live lives that were honorable to God. And I recognize that they were flawed individuals in their humanity, that they had weaknesses, sins, and that they had issues that had to be dealt with. But who among us can stand up and say, hey, I’m a perfect person? Who among us can say, hey, I’ve got it all figured out? They lived in the context of their culture.

They lived in the context of their times. It doesn’t make some of the things that they did right, but it just is an understanding of what they were dealing with. When I was growing up as a young man, the few times that I did pay attention in class, and forgive me, I hate that I hurt some of those teachers by falling asleep, but I was taught in history that America was a melting pot. That it was a melting pot of different and diverse people groups who were coming to America under the understanding that they could live in freedom. That they could continue to live out their lives as they were led in their spirit, in their conscience, and for those who believe in Christ, in their faith.

Yet, we live in some unique times. And what we are seeing is that a narrative is pushed upon us that somehow it is evil to love America. That it is wrong and it is racist for you to be patriotic. So I am giving you a biblical response to Christian nationalism, and we do that by first asking the question, what is Christian nationalism? So let’s understand first of all what nationalism is.

According to one particular dictionary, that nationalism is the overriding commitment to one’s own country. First and foremost, nationalism is more than simply an appreciation for one’s country, it is an allegiance, a governing ideology to one’s nation that overrides other considerations, including interference or influence from other nations. Now I know that that definition is a little long, and maybe a little bit difficult to navigate through, But in essence, what it is saying is simply this, to be a nationalist is someone who has allegiance to their country. Someone who loves their country. Someone who believes in the core values and the founding principles of their country.

Now, in America, there is also not only nationalism, but there is often referred to Christian nationalism. And you might say, what does that mean? What does it mean to be a Christian nationalist? Some have defined Christian nationalism as a belief that America is a Christian nation, that is founded by Christians, that is intended to be a city on a hill, a beacon of truth to the rest of the world. Now, I tried to find fault with that definition, but I could not.

And I thought how admirable to think about the fact that whatever country that you believe in, and whatever you feel about America, to think that America is a Christian nation, and that it ought to be an example and a city on a hill, and that it ought to be a beacon of truth to the rest of the world, what would be wrong with that? And yet, we are told that it is wrong. Stephen Wolf, in his book entitled The Case for Christian Nationalism. Every one of you should get that book. You should go on Amazon, download it right now, and you should read this book.

And Stephen Wolf states as he understands what Christian nationalism is, Christian nationalism is a totality of national action, consisting of civil laws and social customs, conducted by a Christian nation, as a Christian nation in order to procure for itself both earthly and heavenly good in Christ. Now there are some who see Christian nationalism as a political ideology that views the nation or America as a Christian nation, and that somehow we are trying to build a theocracy. I want you to understand that there is a difference between believing in your country, and loving America, and being a patriot, and wanting Christian values, biblical principles to influence the government, and to influence the justice system, and to influence the laws of this land, and to want to build a theocracy. There will never be a true theocracy until Jesus Christ comes and establishes his kingdom on this earth. That is not gonna happen until after the rapture of the church and the tribulation period, in which we are learning about on Wednesday nights.

And that will culminate in the coming of Christ in the battle of Armageddon where Christ will conquer all those who have rejected God and refused to follow Christ. And then the bible tells us that we will transition into a millennial kingdom in which Jesus Christ will fulfill all of the old testament prophecies about a king who will come from the seed of David and will sit in the seat of David in Jerusalem and rule the nations, literally the world. Jesus Christ in his second coming is the fulfillment of those prophecies. But until then until then, church, the question before us, is it wrong as believers and Christians to believe in our ability to influence a nation, to seek God, to love Jesus Christ, and to use biblical principles in the governing of its people. I would say to you and submit unto you that it’s not wrong for Christians to be a light, and it’s not wrong for us to be salt, that we are commanded to be just those very things, to take the light to the darkness and to be that preserving salt in this culture that points people to Jesus Christ and makes a difference in the hearts of people.

Now under president Barack Obama, he had announced that America was no longer a Christian nation. As far as sometimes living out our morality in this culture, in this society of America, I would agree that the majority of Americans do not live by biblical principles. But in relation to the founding of this nation, and the justice system of this nation, and the laws of this nation, and how this nation has the constitution has been put together, how we are to be governed, I believe that we are without a doubt a Christian nation. Pew Research recently in 02/2022 did a survey that found that 45% of Americans believe that The United States is a Christian nation, and that the government should promote Christianity. Now, as a result of different theological viewpoints, some believers are hoping that through America that they can usher in God’s eternal kingdom through nationalism.

We are not of that strife, and we do not believe because of what prophecy teaches us that that is even possible, but we believe the nation will be blessed as it seeks God and makes God a priority. We understand that as a people of God, that as we try to influence our community for God, that using biblical principles is an important part and tool in our arsenal to be able to make an impact in bringing people to Jesus Christ. Now, some people believe that Christian nationalism is a threat. It is a threat to religious freedom. It is a threat to separation of church and state.

But others argue that it is a legitimate expression of religious faith, and that it is in line with the values of our founding fathers. You have to determine where you’re at. I believe that Christian nationalism is in line with the values of our founding fathers and what this nation was built upon. Now the next question I want to propose to you is, what do we mean when we say that America is a Christian nation? It’s important because as people are pushing out a narrative that somehow it’s wrong for you to love America, And they use terminology like nationalism and Christian nationalism.

And there was recently a seminar right here in our own community about what’s wrong with white Christian nationalism. As if to try to characterize that loving your country is racist, or somehow it is wrong and evil. That’s why I’m sharing this with you. This is why I want you to understand the definitions, Why I want you to know what we mean when we say that America is a Christian nation. What we are saying is that our founding documents, such as the declaration of independence and the constitution, are based upon Christian principles.

In the constitution, in the laws of the land, in the judicial system, all of them are founded on Judeo Christian principles. An example, we think of due process. Some of you may not even know what due process is, but it is simply this, that you are innocent until proven guilty. That you have the right to defend those who might accuse you. Throughout the scriptures, we are told that we are not to accuse anybody without two or three witnesses.

In addition, we are taught that the evidence must be there to prove or to convict someone of either a crime or some kind of violation of the law. And so that’s just one particular. It’s easy. We live in times that as soon as someone is put up to be a judge, they all of a sudden, one political side makes accusations, and all of a sudden, that seems to be the truth. We live in times where no one ever researches to see if what the internet says or the media says or anything that is said, is it even truthful?

I find it interesting as a pastor that I have many fact checkers sitting out here in the auditorium, and I appreciate every one of you. It wasn’t too long ago before COVID that I had this one man who would come to me after every service and tell me every mistake I made. He loved to do it. Thank the Lord, the Lord moved him on. Amen?

And I know you don’t like me saying that, but you know it gets weary. Now, I’m not up here winging from the hip. I do research, I have footnotes, I have all the research that I can do. I’m not saying that pastor is perfect, or that somehow something may be misstated. You know how sometimes you think you said something, but it came out the different way.

Right? That happens sometimes to me, and that’s just because I get too excited, and I get going fast, and as a result, sometimes things may come out the wrong way. But in essence, I promise you that I would never enter into the sacred pulpit and declare unto you anything that is false. But I find it interesting that so many wanna fact check the pastor, but they won’t fact check the news media. They won’t fact check false accusations.

They won’t fact check other things that are going on that are falsely claimed. All I’m trying to say to you is there are principles that are integrated within our justice system that are founded in the bible. That is where they got it. That’s where the founding fathers learned all these principles about putting together laws and judicial systems. So when we say that we’re a Christian nation, we are just saying that we are governed by Christian values.

We are not saying that everyone has to be a Christian. We are not saying that everybody has to be a believer and follower of Christ. We are simply saying that we are governed by Christian Judeo principles. Justice Joseph Story in 1833 as a supreme court justice said this statement, Christianity is not to be confined to the closets of our homes and the altars of our churches. It must be maintained in the courts of justice and in the halls of legislation.

Can you think of any system that would be fairer, any system that would be honorable, any system that would be more of a blessing upon a nation than judicial laws and constitutional laws than the laws that are rooted and founded in the bible. No, you can’t. Because the ways of the world will not lead to true justice. It is only through God’s truth. Jesus said, the truth will set you what?

Free. And that freedom can only be found truly in Christ. And it can truly be found in those who believe in Jesus Christ. So the constitution of The United States was signed and delivered on 07/04/1776. The great document only has 1,321 words.

It takes just eight minutes to read. It’d be good for all of us to read it on July 4, by the way. But in this document that only takes eight minutes to read, God is mentioned four times, twice at the beginning and twice at the end. Our founding fathers recognized that there is a God. Was every one of them a follower of Christ?

Did every one of them commit their life to the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Did all their lives always align with the word of God? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Anybody who teaches you different is just not sharing the truth with you.

But yet, there was enough Christians who signed that declaration and who were behind the putting together of that constitution that they had a biblical influence upon everyone that was a part of the constitution. So here is the question to you, church. Is it wrong for a Christian to be patriotic? I believe that Christians should be loyal to their country. That patriotism should be the default for those who follow Jesus.

Every Christian, no matter what form of government, is responsible and accountable to live submissive lives under the government for the sake of an effective witness for Jesus Christ. In first Peter chapter two, we are commanded to submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake. Whether it be to the king as supreme or unto governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. I know that God is always to be first in our lives, that our love for Christ should supersede even our love for our country. Jesus taught us to seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

But please understand that in our love for God, we are called to be the best citizens of our country. God has instituted human government. There is no government that exists apart from the will of God. Romans thirteen one says, the powers that be are ordained of God. Now I know that some of you, you struggle with sometimes who is in office or who is not in office, But we must remember that the government is often God’s instrument for carrying out His purpose, and that there are times that God judges a nation with bad leadership, because he is confronting a nation that has steered from those biblical values that have caused God to bless a nation.

When the national leaders are following a path that dishonors God, what is our responsibility? We are to understand first that God put them there whether we like them or not, whether they’re of our political stripe or not, that god has a purpose for putting them there. And I know that’s hard to swallow, but you have to believe in the sovereignty of God. Romans thirteen four reminds us that the government and those who serve in the government are ministers of God to you for good. They minister to you for good.

So God has a plan. He wants us to be the best citizens. He wants us to understand that we should pray for our national leaders. We should pray for all those who serve in different offices of our nation, and even our state, and even our particular boroughs and townships. We should be praying for everyone for they are ministers of God.

Think about that. So the question that I want to ask you now is what is God’s purpose for America? What is God’s purpose for America? And I know what some of you are saying. Well, America is not in the Bible.

It is not directly in the Bible. But I want you to go back to our text in Acts chapter 17 and verse 26. What is God’s purpose for America? I want you to get this, church. Verse 26.

And he has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on the face of the earth and has determined their pre appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. So that they and here it is. Here’s the purpose. For For it’s not only the purpose of America, it is the purpose of every nation that they should seek the Lord in the hope that they may feel for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and have our very being. Believers have many contradictions in their hearts, but two things can be true at the same time.

You can love God and love your country, and they don’t have to conflict with one another. And so we certainly supremely love the Lord Jesus Christ. But we also love this nation where God has blessed us to live in and to be in freedom and to be able to express our faith, live our faith. Our founding forefathers, Many of them came to this country so they could practice their faith according to the word of God as opposed to the dictates of politicians or elite religious figures who want to tell them what they could and could not do, and it contradicted the word of God. And so it’s okay.

Don’t be afraid to hang up your flag. Don’t be afraid to love your country, serve your country, and do what you can to make America a better place. This is pastor Mike Sanders reminding you that in Christ, there is hope worth happy.

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