When people talk about Christian nationalism, we often hear about loving our country, taking pride in our nation, and protecting its traditions. But where is the love for God? Are we paying attention to what Jesus asks us to do?
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30–31). These commands should guide us—not a flag, a party, or a leader.
There is nothing wrong with loving your country. You can be thankful for where you live and want your nation to do well. But country must never come before God. When we care more about protecting our side than obeying Christ, we need to stop and examine our hearts. God tells us not to put other gods before Him or make idols for ourselves (Exodus 20:3–4).
Following Jesus is more than using Christian words or supporting a political party. Our faith should show in how we live. Jesus said people would know His followers by their fruit and love for one another (John 13:34–35). Paul also called believers to live with humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Matthew 7:16, Ephesians 4:1–2).
If we claim to follow Christ but treat people with pride, cruelty, dishonesty, or hate, something is wrong. Religious words cannot make selfish behavior right. Our words and actions should reflect the One we say we follow.
Loving our neighbor does not stop at the border. It does not apply only to people who vote, worship, look, or speak like us. If we want fairness, safety, patience, and respect, we should offer those same things to others. In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus showed that a neighbor can be someone outside our own group (Luke 10:25–37).
We can respect leaders without worshiping them. We can love our country without excusing its wrongs. When we defend wrongdoing just because it helps our side, we put loyalty above truth. No leader, party, preacher, or nation should take God’s place. God says to have no other gods before Him, and Jesus taught that we cannot serve two masters (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 6:24).
God also calls us to care about justice. We should care when people are mistreated, not look away because speaking up is hard. Scripture tells us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. It also tells us to seek justice and correct oppression (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 1:17).
When a movement talks loudly about Christianity but leaves out love, humility, mercy, truth, and justice, we should ask serious questions. Using Christian language is not the same as following Christ. Jesus warned that people can honor God with their lips while their hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:8).
Our lives should show the fruit of our faith. Jesus said we can know a tree by its fruit. The fruit of the Spirit includes love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Matthew 7:16–20; Galatians 5:22–23).
Love your country, but put God first. If Christ is Lord, then our country, flag, party, and leaders are not. Let our lives make that clear—not through louder slogans, but through love, truth, mercy, and obedience to Jesus.
Minister A Francine Green, November 2026