This may be a hot take for some of you, but I think we are reaching a point where the greatest obstacle to the Christian Revival in the United States is the politicization of Christianity, or what many call “Christian Nationalism.”
Jesus Christ taught that His kingdom is not of this world, much to the chagrin of many of his disciples (including Judas Iscariot, who probably betrayed Him in order to force His hand and come out in His power and glory). They were looking for a political messiah, and when He died on the cross, even his most ardent apostles like Peter were totally lost. But He didn’t come to save the world from the Romans, or the Sadducees, (or the Democrats, or the Left)… He came to save the world from sin and death.
But that’s not the message you hear if you go to some of these conservative evangelical churches that have draped themselves in the flag. To many of these Christians (a surprising number of whom haven’t even read the Bible cover to cover), voting the wrong way might as well be a greater sin than Trump’s adultery. This is hypocrisy, plain and simple—and I say that as someone who voted for Trump.
If Christian Nationalism wins, the revival will fail, because its reach will be limited to conservatives. In order for Christian revival to sweep this country, our Christianity needs to become separated from our politics. Salvation doesn’t come from Congress or the White House. Christ never promised that He would save us from the tribulation of this world. Instead, He told us to take cheer, because He had overcome it.
I do believe that God’s hand is moving this country. I believe that it was divine intervention that saved President Trump from the assassin’s bullet back in Butler Pennsylvania. But I’m not so sure that He saved Trump in order to make America great again. I think His plans run much deeper than that.
Will the Republicans lose the midterms? Will the MAGA movement end with Trump’s presidency? Will the left come back to power and start doing all the terrible things that the conservative right fears they will do? If so, I can see how all of these things will ultimately serve to humble us and turn more of us to Christ. Indeed, I suspect that a major humbling is becoming increasingly necessary.
