Christianity has never required nationalism to thrive. The greatest movements of faith in history have come not through state power but through personal repentance, cultural renewal, and moral leadership. Politics obviously matters, and the law should conform to Christian principles. At the same time, the church’s strength has always been in its ability to transform individuals and communities, not in its ability to wield political force.

Abandoning Christian nationalism is not Christian quietism or milquetoast Thirdwayism. We should advocate for policies that promote the common good, not just the interests of Christians. Above all, we should remember that the church’s strength does not come from aligning itself with political power but from standing as a moral and spiritual authority that calls all people to repentance, renewal, and hope.

The real work before us is to rebuild a Christian culture in hearts and communities. This will not be achieved, chiefly, by winning elections or imposing laws but by discipling families, evangelizing the lost, modelling holiness, strengthening churches, and reviving the nation’s moral imagination. A label like “Christian nationalism” does nothing to advance this mission and, in fact, serves as a distraction from it. We might even take the suggestion of 2 Timothy 2:14, which says, “Avoid quarrelling about words, which does no good but only ruins the hearers.”

Those who have adopted it in good faith should reconsider whether it truly serves their mission or if it simply creates unnecessary resistance. Christianity does not need nationalism to thrive. It needs faithfulness, wisdom, and the courage to engage the culture with truth and grace. There are serious concepts that critics of Christian nationalism should take seriously; nonetheless, they have been overshadowed by the problems of Christian nationalism and the eccentricities of Christian nationalists. Be a Christian. Love and prioritize your nation’s Christian origins. But be wary of Christian nationalism.