Don’t Drape the Cross with our Flag!
Current Understandings
When I returned to the United States after living in Kenya for five years, I was asked what I believed was Christianity’s biggest threat here in the U.S. My answer then, as it remains now, is Christian nationalism. For years, I have argued that Christian nationalism is the greatest obstacle to the true spread of the gospel of the kingdom of Jesus. As I’ve discerned this threat, I’ve become increasingly vocal against it, which is why I’ve chosen to write and speak about the political trends shaping our day.
Speaking out has come at a cost—both in strained relationships and in personal financial support. That said, I have done a great deal of reading in this area over the last few years and feel comfortable engaging this topic.
I was raised in a Republican home where my parents listened daily to people like James Dobson, John MacArthur, and Rush Limbaugh. We were part of the Moral Majority and demanded Bill Clinton’s impeachment when he had a moral failure. A U.S. flag adorned our church stage alongside the EFCA flag. (Why a church denomination needs a flag is a question I’ll set aside for now.) To be a Christian in my community meant voting pro-life—and that was really the only topic that mattered when it came to our vote.
Christian Nationalism and Evangelical Complicity
Sometimes it’s easier to describe what something is not than to say what it is. Christian nationalism is not when Christians speak out against cultural trends or vote according to their moral convictions. It’s also difficult to define precisely—yet we often know it when we see it.
For instance, evangelical leader Russell Moore writes, “The gallows and the slogan ‘Jesus saves’ coexisted in the same place on Jan 6.”[1] The blatant contradiction here makes it clear that this was Christian nationalism. It’s also important to note that Christian nationalism is not uniquely an American problem. As journalist Tim Alberta highlights, it’s a global issue, “By the time Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin had perfected a propaganda that casts nationalist aggression in terms of cultural defense, geopolitical conquest in terms of religious obligation.”[2]
Let’s look at a few definitions before I offer my own. Moore defines Christian nationalism as “a prosperity gospel for nation-states, a liberation theology for white people.”[3] Investigative reporter Katherine Stewart writes, “The desired end state of Christian nationalism today is neither to win a majority nor to secure a seat at the table in a pluralistic democracy but to entrench minority rule under the façade of democracy.”[4] National security expert Elizabeth Neumann adds, “When fully embraced, nationalism believes that the government should have jurisdiction over culture.”[5]
My definition: Christian nationalism is the attempt to force Christianity onto a population through political means—wrapping the cross of Christ with the flag of the nation. In doing so, we forget that our true identity is in the kingdom of God, and we begin responding in fear to those who are not like us.
Instead, I believe Christians should live out their faith publicly, alongside others in their community. N.T. Wright and Michael Bird call this confident pluralism: “Confident Pluralism has a very simple premise, namely, that people have the right to be different—to think differently, to live differently, to worship differently—without fear of reprisal.”[6]
Progressive Christianity, Leadership, and Our Imperative
One downside of liberation theology is its tendency to focus solely on liberation movements or social justice causes while neglecting the salvific work of the gospel regarding sin. Conversely, one of its strengths is the hope it offers amid struggle.
Tragically, churches like the one I grew up in often see progressive churches supporting justice causes and decide to avoid justice issues altogether. For instance, this past weekend I attended a local “No Kings” march in my city. I held up a sign that read, Evangelical Christian for welcoming our immigrant neighbors. Many people wanted to take pictures of it and expressed appreciation for what it said. Yet, among the 4,000 people in attendance, I didn’t recognize a single face. This is odd because in my small city, I can rarely go to the grocery store without seeing someone I know, so this felt isolating.
Still, even in that isolation, I knew I was in the right place—a space in the middle ground, aligned with neither the left nor the right. I believe this is the space that needs leadership. Russell Moore warns, “If you don’t speak into issues, then they become normalized.”[7] A pushback against the nationalist movement is exactly what is needed right now, and it requires us to lean into this in-between space.
Authors like Russell Moore, Jim Wallis, and Elizabeth Neumann give me hope and remind me that I am not alone. Neumann writes, “This book aims to encourage the faithful remnant. You are not alone. And we can walk this path toward peace together.”[8] Moore similarly notes that this nuanced approach is not one for the masses but for a remnant.[9]
I believe leaders need to remind people that a one-sided approach will never work. We are called to be ambassadors of God’s kingdom, and that calling requires us to enter spaces that are nuanced and challenging. Jesus did not seize the military and dominate Rome, yet He was not afraid to engage politically.
Wright highlights the political landscape that the King of Kings entered into, “Jesus grew up in the immediate aftermath of the failed Galilean rebellions where the physical signs and traumatic memories of Roman imperial violence, including crucifixions, were everywhere.”[10] Wright further warns that Christian nationalism “leads to a superficial Christianity rather than to sincere faith and deep discipleship.”[11]
This is the imperative: Christians are to live as ambassadors (a political title) of the kingdom of God (a political and spatial realm). Our morals and values should absolutely shape who we are and how we engage the world. Yet we cannot demand that all of humanity share those same values and morals.
We must recognize that we live in a pluralistic society and find our space—and our voice—within it. This means calling out the nationalistic attitudes present in both political parties and guarding the cross from being draped with any national flag. The kingdom of God is not concerned with preserving one little nation to the exclusion of others.
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[1] Russell Moore, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America (Sentinel, 2023). Audio. Chapter 3.
[2] Tim Alberta, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism (Harper, 2023), 233.
[3] Moore, Losing Our Religion. Chapter 3.
[4] Katherine Stewart, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2025), 19.
[5] Elizabeth Neumann, Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace (Worthy, 2024), 47.
[6] N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies (Zondervan, 2024), 171.
[7] Moore, Losing Our Religion. Chapter 2.
[8] Neumann, Kingdom of Rage, 7.
[9] Moore, Losing Our Religion. Chapter 5.
[10] Wright and Bird, Jesus and the Powers, 19.
[11] Wright and Bird, Jesus and the Powers, 132.
About the Author
Adam Cheney
I grew up in California, spent five years living along the beautiful coast of Kenya and now find myself working with refugees in the snow crusted tundra of Minnesota. My wife and I have seven children, four of whom have been adopted. I spend my time drinking lots of coffee, working in my garden, and baking sourdough bread.11 responses to “Don’t Drape the Cross with our Flag!”
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Hey buddy. Thanks for your blog. I saw on social media that you were at the march. Good on you for displaying your democratic right!
Can I be controversial, with a desire to play devil’s advocate? I wonder if some forms of what’s labelled Christian nationalism could be more accurately seen as an effort to preserve the moral and cultural foundations that historically allowed for religious freedom and human flourishing, rather than an attempt to “wrap the cross in the flag.” For instance, scholars like Samuel Huntington and Os Guinness have argued that nations inevitably build moral frameworks from shared narratives and religious roots. Given that, is it possible that what some call Christian nationalism might instead be a form of Christian civic responsibility, a way to ensure that biblical ethics still inform public life in a pluralistic society?
In other words, if all “isms” (including secularism) impose some form of moral vision on a culture, might completely divorcing faith from national identity risk creating a vacuum where other, less redemptive ideologies fill the space? How do we distinguish between a theocratic nationalism that distorts the gospel and a biblically grounded patriotism that seeks the common good under God?
Glyn,
Thanks for the question and push back. I can always count on you!
I do think that patriotism is good and we should be proud of our country. I also do think that our Christian values should inform our stance within our politics.
In his book, A Public Faith, Miroslav Volf writes, “Properly understood, the Christian faith is neither coercive nor idle. As a prophetic religion, Christian faith will be an active faith, engaged in the world in a noncoervice way–offering blessing to our endeavors, effective comfort in our failures, moral guidance in a complex world, and a framework of meaning for our lives and our activities.” (54)
My concern with Christian nationalism is that instead of allowing our theology to inform our politics, they have allowed their politics to inform their theology. They have misinterpreted scripture and misunderstood what the kingdom of heaven is all about.
The image of “wrapping the cross with the flag” evokes a kind of disorientation and distortion where allegiance to Christ is subtly replaced by allegiance to power, control, or cultural dominance.
What spiritual practices might help us resist this disorientation so that people are formed with a Kingdom-focused mindset?
Graham,
That is a good question. Thanks.
I plugged this question into Chat and it gave me some great answers and ideas. One that had come to mind is listening to other voices, especially other cultures. Another is the act of hospitality which I am writing about. A third is to engage in pilgrimage which you are an expert in.
Thanks Adam. I appreciate your post and the reminder of our calling as ambassadors, representatives of our true Country and King. How does the ambassador role sustain you when you feel tension being in the middle? What reflective practices are in place for you that keep you grounded?
Ryan,
One practice that keeps me grounded is reading a wide variety of perspectives and grounding them in the word. The tension of the middle can be tiring. However, I do think that I am gifted to navigate it well. My wife on the other hand, while being also in the middle simply abstains and dis-engages while I am more willing to remain in the mess. This is simply do to our personalities. I don’t think every person needs to engage in everything. For instance, some people’s focus and benefit to the community is by reminding others to take a rest and remember the sabbath.
Hi Adam, As I read this blog, I thought about something you wrote a while ago about having coffee with someone who is Muslim. I am wondering, do you think the same approach might have an impact if you tried it with someone who is a Christian Nationalist? Do you think being in a relationship with someone who is a Christian Nationalist could help build even a bit of understanding?
Diane,
Oh I wish it were that easy… I do engage with a lot of Christian nationalists. In fact, we even have some January 6ers at our church. My small group has a few MAGA people in it and I am certainly far left of most of my friends (though I think I am centrist). For those on the extreme edge, (read: not just conservative) it seems that the Holy Spirit must do the same work he needs to do for Muslims, that is to remove the veil that is covering their eyes from the truth. They truly do not see that they are worshipping a cult personality. However, I also have seen small changes in some friends over the years. It is incremental but noticeable. I trust that the Lord works in his time and we keep doing the work that he has called me to.
Hi Adam,
Thank you for your post.
What lessons can we draw from Jesus’ response to imperial power for today’s public theology?
Shela,
Jesus used a non-violent tactic but he was also pretty intent on subverting the wicked ways. He certainly engaged in the politics of his time by showing how ridiculous they were at times and instead demonstrating that he was doing something different.
Adam, Your post brought me back to pledging allegiance to the Christian flag! Oh how things look differently my angle now. As I was reading this week’s book, I was reminded how God has used people in my life to remind me I am not alone in my non-right, centric Evangelical political stancel. You have been one of those people God has used! Thank you for bodly living out your faith and convictions in spite of the pushback and isolation.