I think a lot about our country and our culture. And for those of you who know me, you know that I have deep Christian roots.
There have been a few news reports about “Christian Nationalism”, and why that may be a bad thing. While some may be saying “we Christians shouldn’t care about what is going on in the culture, because we’ve got a better kingdom ahead of us”, I think you’ve got it all wrong. For several reasons.
1. Genesis 1 makes men and women to be the stewards (in their own roles) not of some unseen creation, but of THIS creation. Those of us created “in the image of God” all have a role to play.
2. “Creation” isn’t simply “the environment”. It has to take into account everything about the way the world runs. That includes our families, our local communities, and yes, given the preamble to the US Constitution, “we the people” are responsible for how we govern our country.
3. Our “Great Commission” doesn’t begin once you set foot on foreign soil. The need for the Gospel in OUR COUNTRY has never been greater than it is today.
The overturning, today, of Roe vs Wade, is certainly the end of an era, but it only means it is a new beginning. Christians have a greater need than ever to be able to express the reasons why we have such a hope in a new Kingdom. We have a greater need than ever to show what it means to “repent and believe the good news”.
But as Paul wrote to Timothy, in order to be good stewards of the Gospel, we must first put our own households in order.
By extension, that means everything we touch, including “country”, is within our realm of responsibility.
“Christian nationalism” isn’t a dirty word. It should be the heart and soul of why we do what we do.