Editing Openai/6832f0af-8c5c-8008-9d41-f372934c76ec (section)

=== Assistant: Great follow-up—and an important one. ===
Great follow-up—and an important one.

I mentioned “culture-war Christianity” and “nationalism” because they’re two powerful and prevalent forces in modern American faith and identity that often distort the heart of the gospel and misrepresent Jesus to the world.

Let me break down what those terms mean in this context, why they matter, and what their relevance is to Jesus’ message today:

===== What it is: =====
This is when Christian faith is reduced to a battle for political power, social dominance, or moral superiority, rather than a calling to live and love like Jesus.
* It frames non-Christians as enemies rather than lost children of God.
* It trades spiritual humility for ideological aggression.
* It often uses Scripture as a weapon instead of a witness.

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Why it matters:
Culture-war Christianity can make the Church appear angry, fearful, and defensive—obsessed with being "right" instead of being Christlike. It confuses moral outrage with spiritual maturity.

Relevance to Jesus’ message:
Jesus wasn’t a culture warrior. He was a Kingdom bringer. He never sought political leverage or social dominance. Instead, He:
* Ate with sinners
* Welcomed the marginalized
* Confronted religious pride
* Loved His enemies
* Was crucified by the very people He came to save

He told Peter to put the sword away (John 18:11). He said, “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

So today, Jesus would likely confront those who use His name to justify division, hate, or political crusades.

===== What it is: =====
Nationalism—especially Christian nationalism—happens when faith is merged with a specific country’s identity or political ideology. In this case, it’s the belief that America has a special covenant with God, and that to be a good Christian means to be a loyal American (usually with specific partisan overtones).

Why it matters:
This distorts the gospel by:
* Replacing Christ’s Kingdom with a political one
* Equating patriotism with righteousness
* Treating outsiders (immigrants, dissenters, other nations) with suspicion or hostility

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Relevance to Jesus’ message:
Jesus taught us to love our country—but worship God alone. When asked about Caesar, He drew a clear boundary:

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He would remind us that:
* His Kingdom includes every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 7:9)
* Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20)
* No political power can save, sanctify, or substitute for the gospel

===== Because many Americans today hear more about Jesus through the lens of politics and ideology than through the actual words of Jesus. =====
And when Christians:
* Confuse culture war with the Great Commission
* Replace the cross with a flag
* Weaponize truth without love

...we risk misrepresenting Christ, both to our own children and to the watching world.

===== Jesus' message in modern America wouldn’t just be about personal salvation. =====
It would be about breaking down the false gods we've built—of power, pride, and partisanship—and calling us back to humble, cruciform love.

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Let me know if you'd like this shaped into a talk, a post, or deeper teaching. These are tough but vital conversations for our time.