Matthew 6:33 New International Version
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
When Peter Jackson adapted one of my favorite books, the LOTR, he and his screenwriters kept a line from Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring uttered by Frodo Baggins when he chooses to accept the burden of seeking the ring's destruction in the fires of Mt. Doom: “I will take the Ring", he said, "though I do not know the way.” Frodo was willing to attempt the quest, but he admitted up front that he would need guidance if he had any chance of getting there. The movie version adds a comical note when Frodo leads the Fellowship out of Rivendell asking at the very first fork in the road, "Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?"
What has this to do with 'Christian' Nationalism? Everything. As Christians, we already know our destination AND unlike Frodo we know the way to get there. When God established the New Covenant, appointing the Church to be its steward and sending his Spirit to empower it, he also explained in more than sufficient detail how the journey from Dark to Light, Death to Life, Wickedness to Holiness, Fallen Humanity to Christ-likeness, had to be conducted. God's kingdom has to come first, and it has to be pursued with righteousness.
'Christian' Nationalism has this wrong on both fronts. It offers the siren's call of earthly power, of 'winning' here and now, instead of the far more impactful, and difficult, commitment to the Kingdom of God. In fantasy terms, 'Christian' Nationalism is distracted by a side quest, not the true hero's journey, they've embraced Boromir's suggestion to go to Minas Tirith instead of Mordor. In addition, 'Christian' Nationalism subsumes methods beneath goals, embracing such lies of the Devil as, "might makes right", "the ends justify the means", and "fight fire with fire." In nerd terms, they think they can master the Ring and use it for good. Tolkien new better than such nonsense, and so should we.
In the end, the focus of Christians, and the Church MUST be first and foremost the Kingdom of God, the kingdoms of this earth will come and go, but God's kingdom is forever. The means of advancing and supporting that Kingdom MUST be righteous, or they will fail. Any other goal, and any other method is a fool's errand.
For a recent essay on this twisting of both goals and methods see: Christian Political Ethics Are Upside Down We’re adamant about politics and flexible about virtue. - by David French in The Dispatch
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