“Christian” Nationalism?

One of my favorite theologians, Dr. Karl Barth, wrote in 1914 as the world was speeding headlong into World War I:

It is simply out of the question that God ‘helps’ the Germans or the French or the English. God does not even ‘help’ us Swiss. God helps justice and love. God helps the kingdom of heaven, and that exists across all national boundaries…
The foolish mixing of patriotism, war enthusiasm, and Christian faith could one day lead to the bitterest disappointment…We will not join in drinking this intoxicating potion. We want to look steadfastly and unwaveringly here to God, who loves everyone equally, who is above all the nations, from whom all have similarly departed, and from whose glory they have fallen short.

Nothing wrong with being a patriot. Nothing wrong with loving your country. Nothing wrong with being proud of being American.

But when our love for our country usurps our love for God and all of God’s people…that is terribly wrong.

• “God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11).
• “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

We are all God’s children. We are all equally sinners in need of God’s grace and forgiveness.

When we get to heaven, there will not be partitions for Russian Christians, American Christians, Korean Christians. All Christians will be present in the throne of God’s grace. That’s who we are – we are Christians first before any other identity.