Christian Nationalism Under The Microscope
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a theologically conservative denomination, has voted to establish a committee to examine the concept and influence of Christian nationalism within its ranks. This decision came during a Thursday business session at the PCA’s General Assembly, where a commissioner from Central Florida Presbytery advocated for approving multiple overtures, including those focused on this issue. The assembly overwhelmingly supported the move, with 1,708 votes in favor and only 28 opposed.
Among the approved overtures was Overture 3 from the Arizona Presbytery, which calls for a temporary committee to investigate Christian nationalism, Theonomic Reconstructionism, and similar ideologies. The goal is to assess whether these perspectives align with the Westminster Standards, the PCA’s doctrinal framework, and to offer pastoral guidance for addressing these topics with church members and potential leaders. A similar proposal, Overture 4 from the South Texas Presbytery, emphasized confusion and division arising within the denomination due to differing interpretations of Christian nationalism and urged for doctrinal clarity.
A third proposal, Overture 47 from the Great Lakes Presbytery, also passed with substantial support. It reflects the growing concern within the PCA about how Christian nationalism influences both church governance and congregational unity. The formation of these committees highlights the denomination’s intent to address theological and cultural tensions through structured, doctrinal analysis.
The broader conversation about Christian nationalism continues to generate debate in both religious and political spheres. Conservative Christians often argue the term is unfairly used to criticize their political involvement, while progressive voices view it as a distortion of Christian teachings. Some, like Bunni Pounds of Christians Engaged, argue that the label is disproportionately applied to Evangelicals advocating traditional values, ignoring similar activism among liberal Christians. Others, such as Amanda Tyler of the Baptist Joint Committee, warn that Christian nationalism conflates faith with political power, leading to idolatry.
Scholars like Owen Strachan push back against claims that Christian nationalists seek to enforce authoritarian theocracies or uphold racist ideologies. He contends that many conservative Christians are simply motivated by values like religious liberty, limited government, and economic freedom, rather than any extreme political agenda. The PCA’s decision to form a study committee represents a denominational effort to navigate these complex dynamics while maintaining theological integrity.