There has only ever been one nation that God chose to be a theocracy, and that was the nation of Israel under the Old Testament. God has never called another physical nation as a theocracy he sanctioned, and he never will. What christian nationalists fail to communicate to their followers is that God was the one who chose Israel to be a theocracy. Neither Moses nor any other Israelite made that decision.

Man cannot choose to have a theocracy in the Name of the One true God, because by definition, it is already corrupted if it originates with man. In God’s theocracy over Israel, it was God who started the theocracy, and it was God who ended it when Jesus died and rose again, which brings me to my next point.

The death and resurrection of Jesus was the end of Israel’s hope of ever rising to be a great theocracy again as it once had been under King David and King Solomon. The quest to Make Israel Great Again was what so many of the people were hoping for the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on the colt of a donkey. The crowds were crying “Hosanna” which means Lord Save now! Yet too many of them were looking for Jesus to save them as a nation from the Romans. Before the end of the week, the sentiment went from “Hosanna” to “crucify him.”

Jesus did not come to establish a theocracy, he came to end the only one God ever sanctioned, because God’s Kingdom is not about one nation that God honors above all other people, God’s Kingdom is about redemption and salvation for all people.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God a kingdom of priests: and we shall reign on the earth. ~ Revelation 5:9-10

God’s people are a kingdom of priests from every nation and together they a holy nation in the Lord.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light… ~ 1 Peter 2:9

When Jesus stood before Pilate he said, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. ~ John 18:36

Those who belong to God’s Kingdom in Christ (the holy nation) are strangers and pilgrims in this world.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul… ~ 1 Peter 2:11

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ… ~ Philippians 3:18-20

Christian nationalism makes a person an enemy of the cross of Christ because it doesn’t afford the same grace to the outsider as it does for those within the group. Thus christian nationalism becomes a breeding ground for groups like the KKK who think they are christians, even though they are enemies of the cross of Christ.

True Christians (Christ followers) are called to be ambassadors for Christ in this world and are never taught to take over and dominate. We represent another Kingdom, one from above and not from beneath. Thus we are not struggling for dominance over others.

The only theocracy that God ever ordained was given its law personally by God through Moses. If any law is created by man for a theocracy, it ceases to be a theocracy from God. Those who want to turn the United States into a Christian theocracy think that Donald Trump is a God appointed leader, for good. All the while, they themselves act like the false prophets who told the wicked Kings in the Old Testament what they wanted to hear. They fail to hold Trump accountable because Trump, not Christ, reflects their values and their character.

The truth is, they are spiritually in bed with him. They are spiritual adulterers who stand behind Trump’s cruelty while the poor and oppressed are crushed. Christian nationalists stand in support of mass deportations of immigrants, while the only theocracy that God ever ordained commanded Israel’s tithe be given to help feed the foreigners among them.

At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. ~ Deuteronomy 14:28-29

When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the Lord your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. ~ Deuteronomy 26:12-13

The only theocracy that God ever sanctioned was commanded to give to the foreigner and not to forget them. Christian nationalist do not understand God’s heart for foreigners. They do not understand that God loves the foreigner.

Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. ~ Deuteronomy 10:16-19

Under Donald Trump foreigners are being snatched up from the streets and given no due process, and some may never be seen again by their family and friends. And christian nationalists cheer it on in the name of securing our boarders. Such wickedness is not loving the foreigner.

Donald Trump’s hatred and cruelty towards foreigners, especially those of brown skin, is what christian nationalist want and have chosen for their christian theocracy. 

Jesus made it clear that his Kingdom is not of this world. It never has been, and never will be until the Lord comes. Until then, we should not be seeking to establish a christian theocracy, which is only a facade for advancing our hatred and bigotry. Instead, we should seek to represent Christ’s Kingdom as humble ambassadors for Christ, loving our neighbors as ourselves.

You cannot have a true christian theocracy, approved by God, under the covenant of grace. God has already established his Kingdom in Christ and he works by his Holy Spirit through the redeemed who are from all nations. A Christian theocracy is antithetical to the finished work of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God. 

This is why christian nationalism is so dangerous. Christian nationalism is the precursor to authoritarianism because it preys on the carnal impulses of christians who are not seasoned in grace. Christian nationalism appeals to the flesh and seduces those who are unskilled in the word of righteousness. Christian nationalism makes you an enemy of the cross of Christ because it stirs you to culture wars and hate towards others for whom Jesus died.