Sometimes our beliefs get so mixed up with politics, culture, or national pride that we lose sight of the gospel. This can happen when we know too little about the Bible, or when political views and Christian nationalism influence how we see God more than Jesus does.
The gospel is not about protecting one political party, one nation, or one group of people. The gospel is the good news that God so loved the world that He gave His Son (John 3:16). Jesus came to save sinners, heal the broken, lift the poor, welcome the outsider, forgive enemies, and reveal the Father’s love for all creation and all humanity.
But when faith gets mixed too deeply with fear, power, and national pride, people can begin to confuse loyalty to Jesus with loyalty to a country, a flag, or a political movement. They may start seeing neighbors as enemies, immigrants as threats, the poor as problems, and people who think differently as less worthy of compassion. That is not the heart of Christ.
Jesus did not teach us to win the world through control. He taught us to love, serve, forgive, tell the truth, show mercy, and carry our cross. His kingdom is not built on domination, fear, or political power. His kingdom is built on grace, justice, humility, and sacrificial love.
Christian nationalism can blind people because it often makes the nation look holy and those outside the nation look suspicious. It can make people defend cruelty if it benefits “their side.” It can make people ignore truth when truth challenges their political identity. It can even make people use God’s name to justify things Jesus would never bless.
The glorious gospel calls us to something better. It reminds us that every person is made in the image of God. Every life has value. Every nation is temporary, but God’s kingdom is eternal. Every human being is someone Jesus loved enough to die for.
So we should ask ourselves honestly: Am I following Jesus, or am I following a political identity with Jesus’ name attached to it? Am I loving my neighbor, or only the neighbor who looks, votes, worships, or lives like me? Am I defending truth, or only defending my side?
God’s love is bigger than any party, nation, border, or movement. The gospel opens our eyes to see people the way God sees them: beloved, broken, redeemable, and worthy of love. If our politics make us less loving, less truthful, less merciful, or less humble, then they are pulling us away from Jesus—not closer to Him.
May we have the courage to lay down every idol, even the political ones, and return to the simple beauty of Christ: love God, love neighbor, seek justice, show mercy, walk humbly, and proclaim the good news to all people.
Minister A Francine Green I June 2026