Matthew 5:13 New International Version
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
How cozy with the Kingdoms of this World (human governments) can the Church be before it loses its saltiness? In other words, if the Church wields dominion in this age, determining military policy, tax provisions, environmental regulations, food and drug safety, and the whole host of decisions over peoples lives that a modern government must make {choosing not to regulate an area is of course a decision too}, will such a Church retain any of its required saltiness?
The context leading up to verse 13 of the Sermon on the Mount is the Beatitudes. Just prior to telling his followers to be salt, an element essential for life in the Ancient World, Jesus proclaims that the Kingdom of God is counter-intuitive by declaring those whom society normally looks upon as 'losers' to be "blessed". You see, the Kingdom of God is not business as usual, it isn't a slightly better version of this world's cultures and governments, it isn't a tweak of the old; the Kingdom of God is a radical change of human behavior and interactions on a fundamental level from top to bottom.
For far too much of Church History the Church has been content to nibble at the margins, to strive for a better world without putting the Word of God to the test by living in accordance with ALL that it teaches. The Church has lived by faith, but only so far. And yet, 'Christian' Nationalism would ask us to lean into this hesitancy, to go all-in on ruling here and now by using the very methods and tactics that this world has devised to grasp and maintain power. "Be Christ-like and trust God with the results? You naïve fool, we'd lose if we did that!", there actions (and at times words) proclaim.
Can you honestly say, when listening to politicians, that any of them (save perhaps some on the local level) are acting in their role as public leaders according to the vision of the Sermon on the Mount? Are any of them striving to establish the Kingdom of God? So, why are they, politicians and pundits, being treated as leaders of Christianity? What training, calling, and experience do they have in Christian discipleship, in leading with a servant's heart?
On of the great tragedies here is that God has called his people to far more. To a more abundant and purposeful life here and now through radical self-denial and service. Take back the country for God, the culture? Why would God want them, he's already spelled out his plans for a far greater prize.
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