Is Political Engagement Biblical? Answering the Christian Nationalism Debate

Bible Flag, shutterstock

Talks of Christian nationalism have sparked across social media this past week. Disagreements between Christians have caused a rift in the church community, sparking questions about what the role of the church is in politics, if any at all. Some Christians are calling for the church to focus only on the gospel, while others are making it clear that Christians must stand for truth in culture and in government. What is the role of the church?

Conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey wrote on X, “Either using the Bible to justify your politics is scary ‘Christian nationalism’ or it’s not. The same people who tell pro-lifers we can’t use Psalm 139 to inform our views on abortion law will erroneously use the Sermon the Mount to justify illegal immigration. Do you want the government to abide by Biblical standards or not? If so, I have some ideas!”

This view is countered by those who reject the belief that Christians must be engaged in politics, asserting that Christians getting involved in politics is in opposition to Jesus’ teaching in John 18:36: “Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’”

Scott Barber, whose post gained traction, expressed his disdain for Christian nationalism, posting:

One thing about Christian Nationalism is how utterly new and American it is. None of the Church Fathers would have recognized it as anything other than sub-Christian evil. In fact, Saint Augustine wrote a whole book contradicting Christian Nationalism.

— Scott Barber (@thescottbarber) August 8, 2025

All this chatter points to a simple question: what is Christian nationalism and is it biblical?

The Purpose of the Church

Put aside the term for a moment. What is the purpose of the church? To fulfill the Great Commission, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:16–20:

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

We as Christians are called to preach the gospel to all nations. This does not exclude establishing law and order. Romans 13 makes clear: “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

If civil rulers are God’s servants for our good, then God intends for government to do good and punish evil. Jesus’ words that His kingdom is “not of this world” do not prevent Christians from engaging in government or the culture war.

Biblical Examples of Engagement

Throughout Scripture, God’s people were deeply engaged in governing. Nehemiah was governor of Judah and restored both the wall and the spiritual life of Jerusalem. Esther became queen and saved her people, the Jews, from extermination. Daniel rose to become a top advisor to Nebuchadnezzar. Solomon was king and prayed for wisdom to govern well. Moses organized Israel into the first representative system of government we see in the Bible.

Jesus did not abolish the role of His people in government. Instead, He redirected the church’s focus to the highest kingdom, His own in heaven, while still expecting civil rulers on earth to pursue justice. The Pharisees of His time had lost the heart of worship (Amos 5:21), and Jesus reminded them of what mattered most. His call was not for withdrawal from civic life, but for putting Him first while living faithfully in every sphere.

A Call to Stewardship

Christians have a responsibility to steward every unit of society, including government. Edmund Burke observed in 1756 that “Civil government borrows a strength from ecclesiastical; and artificial laws receive a sanction form artificial revelations. The ideas of religion and government are closely connected,” showing how closely religion and politics are connected. Fisher Ames, a signer of the Constitution, warned in 1800, in The Palladium, that when religion and morals collapse, innocence suffers and society decays.

America’s founders understood that virtue and faith were necessary for freedom. From schools to government to families, believers must be engaged, not to legislate every moral command, but to ensure that civil law points people toward justice and virtue.

If Christians want better laws, we must elect better leaders. And if we want better leaders, some of us must be willing to step forward and serve. Engagement in public life is not about power for its own sake. It is about stewarding what God has entrusted to us, for His glory and for the good of our neighbors.

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