Militant 'Christian' Nationalism in the halls of Congress: An affront to the true Gospel

 

Rep. Andy Ogles (center), Def. Sec. Hegseth (left), Sec. State Rubio (right) - AI image, 3/23/26

Yesterday, Congressman Andy Ogles (TN) posted to social media an AI generated image with ominous music featuring himself as the lead Knights Templar Crusader flanked by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State with the caption, "This is a battle of good vs evil. We must reaffirm that our nation was built on Christian principles."  Perhaps the Congressman was trolling online, perhaps he was seeking to raise his own profile (in one day it has generated a million views on FB), or maybe he is wholly earnest.  Whatever the exact motivation, the end result is clear enough: Glorifying violence done by the United States of America, at home or abroad, as violence done in the name of God.  Rep. Ogles is claiming that he and those on his team represent good, and whomever it is that he is crusading against represents evil.

The sad truth is, hundreds of similar examples in word, iconography, and deed can be found portraying American politics as a battle between good and evil, the worst of them invoking the name of Jesus, the Cross, or God in general in behalf of their side and/or against their enemies.

As the Knights Templar imagery demonstrates, this thought process is not new.  That Christians, or at least self-professed Christians, have justified their violence and/or hatred in the name of God in past generations doesn't make it any less blasphemous now, nor any less harmless to the true Gospel message of salvation and redemption for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or any other label, by grace (alone) through faith (alone) in Christ (alone).

God is not an American, and neither is Jesus.  America is not ancient Israel, we have no covenant with God as a nation.  God is not on our side, for his kingdom is not of this world.  Whoever wishes to be great in the kingdom of God must be the servant of all.  The true triumph of the Gospel is self-sacrifice, not destroying one's enemies.

We've been down this road before, it has never ended without tragedy and without reputational harm to the Church and the Gospel.  The further we continue down this path in this generation, sowing the same seeds, the more bitter the harvest will be.

Update: “Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.” - Def Sec Hegseth, 3/25/26

This is not a prayer acceptable to the God who gave the Gospel to the world, but instead to the god made in their own image by ‘Christian’ Nationalism.

When the enemies of a nation automatically become the enemies of God, evil not righteousness triumphs.

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #12: Matthew 16:21-23

 

Matthew 16:21-23     New International Version

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Why the picture of Shaq throwing down a dunk?  What's this got to do with 'Christian' Nationalism?  The average Joe off the street, probably at least a foot shorter and a hundred pounds lighter, has a better chance of blocking Shaq's dunk attempt, let's say a 0.0001% chance, than 'Christian' Nationalists do of having either their goals and especially their tactics, in alignment with God's Will.

Afterall, it is not God that must conform to our will, but we that must conform to his.  That being said, Jesus repeatedly declared what his purpose for his followers was: to constitute a Church (the Body of Christ), what its goal would be, to make disciples in every nation, and how they must conduct themselves to do this, through sacrifice and a servant's heart while utilizing the Fruit of the Spirit.  

What Jesus did not declare is that his followers would hold dominion over others, would subjugate the unwilling at the point of the sword, would gain and hold power by any means necessary, and would turn a blind eye to evil among them in the name of pragmatism in the process.  Not one of these goals or methods is acceptable to the will of God, and yet, throughout Church History we have seen them embraced, first on a grand scale with the Crusades {adding the blasphemous cry of, "God wills it!" to the folly of it}, then on a national one with the Spanish Inquisition, and sprinkled throughout were torture, imprisonment, and burnings at the stake.  All in the name of God, all supposedly to help God 'win' here on earth.  Tragic, foolish, unnecessary, and ultimately evil.

The current movement of 'Christian' Nationalism may be, thus far, less violent than the defenders of Christendom in the past.  And even though the trend is toward encouraging and accepting more coercion, less democracy, and violence, with some supposed 'prophets' even calling for a new American Civil War, 'Christian' Nationalism does not need its own Timothy McVeigh to prove that this path is fraught with peril.  One need only look to the Word of God to see if this is what God called his Church to do or how he commanded them to do it.

It is popular to declare the need to, "Take back America for God", but making the claim does not answer the questions: Is this God's will?  How do you know this is what God wants?  Even if this is God's will, would he sanction going about it like this?

 

Sermon Video: The insanity of: "Let us do evil that good may result" Romans 3:5-8

By way of answering a question about why our sinfulness doesn't make God's holiness more glorious, the Apostle Paul refutes a heretical path that might potentially be ascribed to Christians, "Let us do evil that good may result."  

Why can't evil methods or processes lead to good (righteousness)?

Among the reasons why this is fundamentally impossible are: the nature of evil, the nature of God, the power of God, the wisdom of God, and the will of God.  In order to believe that evil can result in good one must misunderstand all of these things.

In what ways are (have) Christians accepted this dangerously false premise?  In our personal relationships, our collective actions as a Church (think Crusades, Inquisition, burning people at the stake, and a host of immoral behavior to gain power and control over various portions of the Church), and growing more toxic each year, our politics as American Christians.

In the end, we must reject the false siren's call that we can utilize evil without being corrupted by it, whatever else it is, such a path is not God's.

Sermon Video: Swords and clubs to arrest the Prince of Peace - Mark 14:43-52

 

They came with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus because they expected him to fight back, they couldn't imagine that Jesus would not resist, that he would willingly face their 'justice'.  Jesus' non-violent self-sacrifice has inspired many through the years, like the Civil Rights protestors who were brutalized on Bloody Sunday, March 7th, 1965.  But his example has been ignored by many others, both Christians and those claiming to be.  From the Inquisition to Crusader armies, Christians have often 'fought fire with fire', choosing power (and/or wealth) in this world over service and sacrifice for the next.  A recent example illustrates the point: On December 19th 2021, Donald Trump Jr. declared at a conference that turning the other cheek has "gotten us nothing" and thus must be abandoned.  Following Jesus doesn't help us 'win' so we can't do it.  Christians know better, imitating Jesus isn't designed to help us 'win' in this world, it is the path of righteousness, the method by which we glorify the Gospel's declaration of victory over sin and death through self-sacrifice.  The calling of the Church is clear: imitate Jesus.

What Every Christian Should Know About: Church History

Church History
In this 3 part series, Pastor Powell seeks to highlight some of the most important ideas, people, and movements within the universal Church during its two-thousand year history.  

To view the PowerPoint used by Pastor Powell during the presentation, click on the link below:

Church History PowerPoint

In part 1, the Early Church, the Early heresies regarding the person of Jesus, the Ecumenical Councils, and St. Augustine are the focus.

Church History, Part 1 of 3

In part 2, Monasticism, the power struggle between popes and emperors/kings, the Great Schism, and the Crusades are discussed.

Church History, Part 2 of 3

In part 3, The Reformation, the Thirty Years War, the Modern Missions Movement, and the status of the Church in the World Today are discussed.

Church History, Part 3 of 3