Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #23: Luke 6:27-36

 

Donald Trump Jr. tells young conservatives that following Jesus’ command to ‘turn the other cheek’ has ‘gotten us nothing’

Luke 6:27-36     New International Version

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

It isn't everyday that a 'Christian' Nationalist figure, and one of the most popular ones at that, flat out dismisses the teachings of Jesus as a plan that has "gotten us nothing."  But on December 19th, 2021 at a Turning Point USA conference, Donald Trump Jr. did just that.  The extended quotation is below:

“If we get together, they cannot cancel us all. OK? They won’t,” he said. “And this will be contrary to a lot of our beliefs because — I’d love not to have to participate in cancel culture. I’d love that it didn’t exist. But as long as it does, folks, we better be playing the same game. OK? We’ve been playing T-ball for half a century while they’re playing hardball and cheating. Right? We’ve turned the other cheek, and I understand, sort of, the biblical reference — I understand the mentality — but it’s gotten us nothing. OK? It’s gotten us nothing while we’ve ceded ground in every major institution in our country.”

And while the mockery of 'turn the other cheek' got some slight pushback, with baptistnews.com, churchleaders.com, and relevantmagazine.com all posting articles condemning the dismissal of Jesus' command to his disciples, there was remarkable little response from the likes of Franklin Graham, John MacArthur, Doug Wilson, James White, Robert Jeffress, or Thomas Ascol, all of whom have been quick over the years to condemn liberal derelictions of inerrancy (that is, not taking the Bible seriously as authoritative truth, when accurate these criticisms are warranted), but a Google search finds none of them saying a peep when a leader on 'our team' publicly declares that we've listened to Jesus for far too long.

{There is a separate conversation to be had about the premise: I don't believe that Jerry Falwell, the Moral Majority, or the Christian Coalition, for example, were actively 'turning the other cheek' in recent decades, rather they fought tooth and nail in the cultural and governmental arenas to which Donald Trump Jr. is referring.}

That's one of the things that 'Christian' Nationalism does to the Church.  It creates excuses for when 'our team' defies scripture, even openly mocks Jesus.  Why?  Because we need those allies to win.  It doesn't really matter if their faith is genuine, if their lives are moral or immoral, winning is everything.

Throughout the centuries the Church has failed to embrace Jesus' teaching on this topic of non-violence, non-resistance, and prayer for our enemies about as often and as thoroughly as any topic addressed by Jesus or covered extensively in the N.T.  Our track record since Constantine's legalization of Christianity has been mixed, at best, far too often it has been awful.

And yet, now we're being told that we need to take the gloves off?  We need bare-knuckle boxing because using a bit of restraint isn't good enough?

Nope.  Not what Jesus told us to do, not what the Word of God commands, I don't care how important you are as a politician, or how many retweets you're getting these days, your authority falls massively short in comparison.

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #7: Zechariah 4:6

 

Zechariah 4:6     New International Version

So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

Speaking to the generation that returned to Jerusalem from Exile, the prophet Zechariah rebukes the timidity of the people, encouraging them to finish the work on rebuilding the Temple.  From a practical standpoint, the Israelites were a shell of their former might and glory.  No longer an independent kingdom, no longer the possessors of a beautiful city with mighty walls and a magnificent temple.  And yet, and this is the key, the LORD Almighty sees no reason why the Temple cannot be rebuilt.  

God does NOT calculate possibilities based upon human power; period.  Why?  Because he's God!!

The advancement of the Kingdom of God is likewise NOT based upon the availability and use of human power.  Laws, armies, wealth, privilege, status, none of them are necessary for God to fulfill his purpose in this world.  Why?  Because his purpose is a spiritual purpose, first and foremost, the saving of the Lost by the effective sharing of the Gospel and the transformation of the redeemed into Christ-likeness.  In the end, human power is not only unnecessary to advance this agenda, history has demonstrated time and time again that it is often counter-productive.  In other words, a Church with power, by this world's way of defining it, is typically less effective at its spiritual mission than a Church without power in this world.  The classic example of this is the Early Church.  Prior to Constantine, the Church was a minority in its culture, without status, without wealth or coercive power.  And yet, growth was explosive, and importantly, when martyrs were made it was being done to the Church not by the Church. 

'Christian' Nationalism, in a sharp contrast that ought to be a massive warning sign, is focused primarily upon earthly power, as if this is a path toward achieving God's will.  To that end, a slogan like, "Take America Back for God" employed by politicians for political ends, is not only disingenuous {Are they actually planning on giving America to God should they win power?  Really??}, but also blasphemous.  The power they seek is not God's power but their own, the purpose to which they will put power when they achieve it are not God's purposes but their own, and an America wholly under their control would NOT be more honoring and pleasing to God simply because politicians who claim to represent God wield earthly authority.  As Han Solo frustrating says in The Force Awakens, "That's not how the Force works!"

Recognizing this dangerous contrast, between the power Christians are called by God to wield (spiritual: serving and sacrificing) and the power that 'Christian' Nationalism grasps after (earthly: dominating and self-advancing), Calvin College historian  Kristin Kobes Du Mez wrote, Jesus and John Wayne How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.  Her premise in a nutshell is that Evangelical (and also Fundamentalist) Christians prefer John Wayne to Jesus.  Rather than a humble servant willing to forgive his enemies, they prefer a hard charging tough guy ready to destroy them.  Unfortunately, her analysis is all too accurate.  Just this past week the YouTube channel, When We Understand The Text, whose content is written and narrated by a pastor, fully embraced 'Christian' Nationalism, mocking the weakness of those who warn against its dangers (i.e. wimps like me).

In the end, "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done" is our daily prayer, and as the prophet Zechariah made clear to those willing to listen, it won't be by might or power, but by God's Spirit.

Why "winning" as the goal ought to be anathema to Christians

To 'win', at all cost, and by all means, whether in business, politics, or personal relationships, is an idea embedded in the human heart.  Unfortunately, the disregard for morality, and the value of other people, in the pursuit of 'victory', is a symptom of the darkened heart of mankind apart from God.  As such, the people of God, those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and are therefore no longer under the power of what the Apostle Paul terms, the "flesh" (our sinful nature), must forcefully and consistently reject the false claim that "the end justifies the means".

The modern era is not the first time that attempts have been made to remove morality as a check on human behavior, the Italian Renaissance political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli advocated the divorce of morality from politics in his seminal work, The Prince.  In it he wrote, "He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation."  Thus, immorality is to be excused when it is deemed necessary, hence the association with the immoral claim that "the end justifies the means."  Machiavelli, while influential, was certainly not the first to treat morality as a hindrance to be disregarded when necessary.  The first king of Israel, Saul, convinced himself that he needed to offer a sacrifice to God prior to an upcoming battle, despite knowing that he was not to usurp the role of the prophet Samuel, because necessity demanded it.  Saul's disregard for the expressed will of God was instrumental in his downfall and the choice of David to replace him.  By contrast, in Scripture there are examples of the rejection of this abdication of morality: Joseph remained true to the moral code of the God of Abraham despite the opportunities he had to abandon it when faced with the advances of Potiphar's wife.  Even as a wrongly enslaved man, Joseph refused to set aside his devotion to doing what was right.  In addition, the Apostle Paul and Silas refused to run from jail in Philippi, despite being unlawfully imprisoned, when an earthquake damaged the facility.

Throughout the Scriptures, those who abandon morality when convenient come to bad ends and those who hold true to the Law of God (whether specifically or in principle) are commended.  That is not to say that those who choose to do what is right are always vindicated in this life, nor are they promised such by God, neither do all those who choose to set aside right/wrong receive punishment for their immorality in this life.  Therein lies the rub.  When righteousness is not immediately rewarded, and wickedness is not immediately punished, the selfish and rebellious heart of man begins to seek ways to avoid the absolute demand of God that we live holy and righteous lives, it seeks loopholes, shortcuts, compromises, and makes Faustian bargains.  Such is the darkness of the heart of man in rebellion against God.  For the people of God, however, this cannot be tolerated or excused.  When we go along with immoral means with the hopes of achieving an end we deem to be worthy, we sully the name of Christ and grieve the Holy Spirit.  When we choose power, wealth, fame, or any other moniker of 'success', pursued by immoral actions, we abdicate our responsibility to be salt and light in this world, endanger our witness to the Lost, and call into question the genuineness of our conversion and discipleship.  

For all those who prioritize 'winning' or 'victory' above the call of God to live always, and in all things, according to his Holy Word, a series of warnings from God are a reminder of the futility of that path.

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one

    who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

    or sit in the company of mockers,

2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and who meditates on his law day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

    which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

    whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!

    They are like chaff

    that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Ephesians 5:5-7 New International Version (NIV)

5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

Romans 3:8 New International Version (NIV)

8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

It may seem possible to play in the mud without getting dirty, it may seem possible to make bargains with or support others who act immorally without ourselves becoming tainted, but these are lies, lies from the Father of Lies, and lies of a mind not in submission to the will of God.  The choice is clear: Either we, as God's people called from darkness into light, walk in the light, win or lose, success or failure, or we don't.  

Mark 8:36-37 New International Version (NIV)

36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

American Christianity and the fallacy of Might Makes Right and the Ends Justify the Means

"'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b

Consider these two verses regarding the rejection of Saul as king and the acceptance instead of the boy David who would eventually replace him.  The sin of Saul that led to his downfall was partial obedience to the law of God, his outward actions seemed to be "minor" offenses, but his heart was far from the LORD.  David, while himself far from perfect as his sin with Bathsheba would later show, was wholly dedicated to serving the LORD.

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18

"for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5

Consider also these two verses, from Matthew where Jesus proclaims that his Church, built upon the foundation of the Apostles with himself as the chief cornerstone (as Paul would later explain), Jesus proclaims that his Church will be victorious through his power, over even Hades (either a reference to the power of Satan or to Death itself, both of which Jesus will destroy upon the Cross).  And also the words of John in his letter, where he declares that true victory, the only real victory, only belongs to those who acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

How then are we to interpret evidence that a significant portion of American Christianity (and yes, this is a recurring theme in the history of the Church, others have walked this road before with disastrous results) has accepted two anti-Biblical premises and their combined unholy conclusion: Might makes right, The Ends Justify the Means, and thus Morality (the Law of God) is less important than "Winning"?  There are obvious examples of this philosophy in action, the Prosperity Gospel being one that is well known and currently at work.  Within the realms of economics and politics they are many more examples, I'll let you consider which examples fit the description on your own.

And yet, walking down this road, accepting the Siren's call of power in this world instead of loyalty first, foremost, and always to Jesus Christ, is and must be, a radically destructive force to the Church, to individual churches, and to both true Christians and those who are Christian in name only.

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26

There is ample evidence that millions of self-professing Christians, whether they truly belong to Christ or not, have begun to adhere to this philosophy.  Some have chosen to do so out of fear, fear that Christendom is in decline, fear of secularism, humanism, and other isms (as a generation or two ago they were tempted to do out of fear of communism).  Because of that fear, and an impending sense of losing status and privilege as the dominant force within the culture, American Christianity is being tempted to make pacts with individuals, groups, and forces that do not represent God, take actions contradict Biblical teaching, and represent philosophies that are antithetical to the Gospel.  Fear is a poor motivator, it drives us to makes foolish decisions, but we can understand it and counteract it with assurance and hope.  Some American Christians, genuine or otherwise, have decided to embrace the Might Makes Right and Ends Justify the Means philosophy out of a darker motive than fear: the desire to be on the winning side, here and now.

For those whose hope is in Jesus Christ, victory is already assured.  We know that one day, "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and one earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)  And yet, God's assurance of final victory is not realized here in this life, faithfully waiting for a victory that we may not see in our lifetimes, for we like generations of Christians before us may very well die in Christ before he returns in glory, is hard.  It is natural, although not Biblical, for us to want to "win" now too.  Unfortunately, this is not what Jesus promised to his followers:

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."  Matthew 16:24-25

Would I rather be on the "winning" side, economically, socially, and politically than the losing side?  Of course I would, we all would.  I've been one of the last kids picked at recess, nobody enjoys that feeling, we all would rather avoid it whenever possible.  Am I willing to compromise my allegiance to Jesus Christ and his command that I too carry a cross in order to "win"?  Not at all, and I pray that God grant me the grace to hold true to that conviction, no matter what.

The Church, individual churches, and the Christians that comprise them, have not been called by Almighty God, washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb, and set free from slavery to sin, in order to live in a compromised moral state where our adherence to this world vies with our devotion to God.  We have been called to be righteous and holy.  If we "win" by being righteous and holy, praise God, if we "lose" by being righteous and holy, so be it.  "The LORD giveth and the LORD taketh away, blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21b)

Has the Church in America grown too soft because of prosperity, too comfortable with moral compromise, too concerned with "winning"?  These are the questions that we must face, must evaluate in the light of the unchanging Word of God.  We will be weighed by God, if we are found wanting, we will repent or we will fade away.

There is more wisdom than you know in the simple phrase that you heard as a child, attributed to Grantland Rice, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."  God cares how and why we do what we do.