Why worship is the right lens
Most resources dedicated to Christian Nationalism highlight aspects other than how its adherents worship — their demographics, political activities, historical predecessors, and psychology. So why focus on worship?
Two excellent reasons. First, differences in how Christian Nationalists worship are a good way to see the variety and types within the movement. Their different theologies shape their respective spiritualities, and their spiritualities shape how they worship. Second — and more importantly — worship is a window into the hearts of Christian Nationalists and a venue into what they value and love most. Look at their worship and you can see what captivates and motivates them.
The same theologies can be turned around and used as guides for the shaping of solid, orthodox Christian worship.
Four theologies for assessing Christian nationalist worship
Because worship is such a rich thing, no single theology is sufficient to account for its full breadth and depth. But four theologies offer particularly useful vantage points for understanding, assessing, and critiquing the worship offered by Christian Nationalists. Each is rooted in the nature of the Triune God, of Jesus Christ, and of the Gospel.
- Dynamic Narrative: Worship is the doing of God’s story.
- Eschatological: Worship is the preliminary in-breaking of the future.
- Trinitarian: Worship is getting caught up in the dynamics between the three Persons of the Trinity.
- Christological: Worship is the continuation of Christ’s ministry on earth.
Each of these theologies generates a set of probing questions that can be applied to any worship service — including those shaped by Christian nationalist assumptions. Explore each theology in depth using the links below.