The phrase “Christian Nationalism” is as oxymoron as “Roman Catholic.” Diana Butler Bass’s Sunday Musings based on the text of the lectionary readings this week (Psalm 1 and Luke 6:17-26) drives home my point.
Nothing about “Christian Nationalism” is consistent with Jesus as he says in Luke 6:20, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” and then later in Luke 6:24, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” Does this sound like Jesus is talking about the United States?
Of course, the phrase “Christian Nationalism” is only an oxymoron if “Christian” is truly associated with Christ and Jesus. The problem is that Christianity as understood by the vast majority of people around the world is more of a reflection of it’s founder, the Roman Emperor Constantine, than its Christos namesake.