Don’t Fall for the ‘Christian Nationalism’ Straw Man

by Paul Batura | March 16, 2026 | Culture

It was Dr. Jordan Peterson, the Canadian psychologist and bestselling author, who once warned, “Social media gives everyone a voice, but it also amplifies resentment, envy, and tribal conflict.”

In recent days, a variety of memes have been swirling about in the social media ether regarding one of those areas of tension, specifically so-called “Christian nationalism.”

In reality, it’s been a topic for years, and also a label that many socially conservative evangelical Christians have been unfairly and recklessly slapped with. Our friend Dan Darling even wrote a book about it.

In Defense of Christian Patriotism was his effort to untangle the differences between “Christian nationalism” and a believer’s healthy love of their country.

“As I speak to ordinary believers around the country, I meet good people who want to love America but are constantly being told that this passion is in direct conflict with their love for God,” Darling observed.

Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, shares this frustration:

The self-appointed guardians of secular America are going to call you a Christian nationalist. Do you believe in the defense of the unborn and that abortion should be prohibited by power of law? Then you will be labeled a Christian nationalist. Do you believe that there are two and only two genders, male and female? Then get ready to be put in the stocks as a Christian nationalist. Do you believe that your Christian convictions on these issues are to be translated into your position on questions of government policy? You guessed it: You are a Christian nationalist.

The five memes that I saw in recent days made the following statements:

  1. “Nationalism replaces Christ with country.”
  2. “Nationalism distorts the global mission of Jesus.”
  3. “Nationalism elevates one people above others.”
  4. “Nationalism baptizes political power.”
  5. “Nationalism divides the family of God.”

Shared in the context of evangelical Christianity, these five declarations are what you might call a “straw man” series of assertions – intentionally misrepresented propositions made in order to then easily strike down.

That’s how Mike Farris, former president and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom, rightly interpreted them. In response, he wrote:

“I know no one who is a serious Christian who call themselves Christian Nationalists.”

In other words, believers are not putting America over their devotion to Jesus. It’s not the serious Christians claiming the designation but rather a label akin to an epithet used to marginalize and criticize.

To be clear, Focus on the Family’s President Jim Daly has noted that, properly defined, “Christian nationalism is dangerous.”

He explains:

If you think government and God are co-equals, you’ll be motivated by the wrong things and might even be susceptible to being swept up into violent mobs … Conversely, good Christians are good citizens who have an obligation to serve the Republic. We engage our civic duty and privilege out of our love of neighbor. Christian nationalism is putting love of country (and our self-interests) over love of God.

In Dan Darling’s excellent book, encouraging Christians to be unapologetically patriotic, he amplifies Daly’s distinction and also offers explains why patriotic Christians are falsely accused of mis-prioritizing love of country over love of the Lord.

“Often it is Christians trying to arrest change who are labeled as the aggressors, backwards, weird and retrograde, while the Left, which made the changes in the first place, is the enlightened, fair-minded, justice-oriented cohort.”

Don’t fall for the straw man silliness. Serious Christians know their ultimate and eternal allegiance is to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, even when taking the Pledge of Allegiance with their hand over their heart. 

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