The book of Philippians is the complete opposite of Christian Nationalism – an ideology which drapes the gospel of Christ in the American Flag, and justifies political slander, hate, malice, strife, and all manner of falsehoods in the name of religious values.

In Philippians 1:12 – 13 Paul says, “I would ye understood,  brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds (sufferings) in Christ are manifest in all the palace, in in all other places.”

Matthew Henry says, “Paul’s sufferings made him known at court, where perhaps he would never have otherwise been known; and this might lead some of them to enquire after the gospel for which he suffered, which they might otherwise have never heard of. When his bonds were manifest in the palace, they were manifest in all other places. The sentiments of the court have great influence on the sentiments of all the people.”

By the sufferings Paul endured for Christ, the gospel had infiltrated Caesar’s household. This is evident in Paul valedictorian to the Philippians – All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.  ~ Philippians 4:22

Through Paul the gospel had reached the palace, but not through political means, as this is not God’s design. Rather it had reached the palace by the devoted life of Paul to Christ, which was magnified by the things Paul suffered for Christ. Paul doesn’t credit his preaching, but instead, his sufferings for Christ. Never do we see Paul engaging in political strategies among worldly authorities. Paul reminds the Philippians that Jesus Christ is our Lord (Philippians 2:8-11), and that we are to be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we are to shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life (Philippians 2:15-16), for our citizenship is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20).