"During the long and peaceful reign of Jeroboam II (786-746 BC) Israel attained a height of territorial expansion and national prosperity never again reached. The military security and economic affluence which characterized this age were taken by many Israelites as signs of the Lord's special favor toward them which they felt they deserved because of their extravagant support of the official shrines."
-- Dr R Lansing Hicks (Yale University), in his introduction to the Book of Amos, in the New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha: Revised Standard Version (1971) -- my favorite Bible, purchased at Winebrenner Theological Seminary in 1978
For those who like thinking the nation has special providential status, even an eschatological role, they might do well to consider the prophetic peril of being "God's chosen nation" -- for this is surely what Christian Nationalism claims.
If one wants to be a Christian Nationalist, then one subjects herself or himself to the Prophets of the Covenant, Old and New.
Like Amos:
"Hear this, you cows of Bashan in the mountain of Samaria,
who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,
who demand of their husbands 'Bring so we may drink' ...
Behold the days are coming upon you
when they shall take you away with hooks ...
and you shall go out through the breaches ..."
(Amos 4.1-3)
"Seek good and not evil that you may live,
and so the Lord, the God Sabaoth, will be with you
as you have claimed.
Hate evil and love good,
and establish justice in the gates"
(Amos 5.14-15)
"I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies ...
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your instruments I will not listen.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream"
(Amos 5.21-24)
"Hear this, you who trample upon the needy,
and bring the poor of the land to an end ...
The Lord has sworn by the honor of Jacob:
'Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
Shall not the land tremble on this account ..."
(Amos 8.4,7-8)
And that's just Amos. One should be careful about making claims of possessing extraordinary historical status. If there's anything clear about the history of Israel in the Old Testament, it's that God expects more from His people. Their status of being His chosen people never excused them from moral obligation: actually, it increased the obligation.
A supposedly "Christian" nation is one that will be marked not by territorial gain or military success. It will be one that is only anticipated by the critiques of Amos and all the prophets. A truly Christian nation, or people, will be "peculiar," contrary to the ways of the world, the "realpolitik."
A "Christian Nation" will embrace the poor instead of abusing them, and find in their company the kingdom of heaven.
Such a people will mourn the suffering of the weak, the marginalized, the oppressed.
They are meek instead of self-aggrandizing, instead of self-promoting, instead of grasping for greatness -- because the real arc of real history bends toward justice.
They long for righteousness, real (not legalistic) righteousness that heals and restores all the people and the land, and that longing is fulfilled in "Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
They are merciful, and they are forgiven as they forgive.
They are pure in heart and refuse to be confused by ideologies. They seek instead the theological vision of God's love for His creation instead of seeking power and calling what they do "Christian" simply because they do it.
They are peacemakers. They do not denounce. They do not revel in conflict. They do not fuel their power with grievance and scapegoating.
In short, such a "Christian Nation" is utterly impossible within the confines of world politics. Such a State would have to live by the Beatitudes and the entire Sermon on the Mount in a world that is governed, secularly, by the sword (Romans 13.1-4).
And what is usually overlooked here is this terrible fact: despite the fact that the State is an authority "instituted by God" to "execute His wrath on the wrongdoer," it is still true that "he who lives by the sword dies by the sword" (Matthew 26.52).
There is utterly no salvation, no grace in the way of the sword.
"My Kingdom is not of this world" (John 18.36) -- so said the only true King.
Instead of holding to the foolish political notion of so-called "Christian Nationalism," it is simply better to love one's nation, its land and people, as a gift from God.
It is better to actually be God's people and to follow the call of the Sermon on the Mount in whatever place one is.
Let the State be the State, and "be subject to the governing authorities" (Romans 13.1).
But pray, do not set your faith in getting power as a Christian. "Put not your trust in mortal princes" (Psalm 146.3).
Otherwise, a Christian Nationalist is going to have to contend with the likes of Amos, no less.
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