Christian nationalism poses a threat to the gospel and church witnesses, not the Bible, but the representatives heard at a meeting of the annual representatives of the Swiss Evangelische Allianz/Sea held in May 2025.
Speaking at the event was Jeff Fountain, former European Director of Mission (YWAM) and current director of the European Studies Centre in Amsterdam. In his keynote address, Fountain challenged the growing influence of Christian nationalist ideology, distorted Jesus’ teachings and compromised the integrity of the Christian faith.
The Sea organized a public debate entitled “A Holy Nation!? A Critical Examination of Nationalist Politics under the Fabric of Christianity.” There, he warned that the fusion of Christian identity with national identity would lead to a politicized version of Christianity, which prioritizes power over disciples.
“Christian nationalism is a political ideology that mixes Christian identity with national identity,” Fountain said. “We argue that certain countries (like the United States) should be founded by Christians and governed by “the principles of Christianity,” and that being a “true” citizen often means that (some kind of) is linked to being a Christian. It usually focuses on restoring or protecting what is seen as a Christian cultural heritage. ”
Fountain recognized that it would be reasonable to restore Jewish-Christian heritage in the secularized West. However, he warned against the dangers of combining faith with political power. This “mixing” is “now evident in a variety of leaders who use Christian rhetoric to strengthen their positions of power,” according to the latest in The Sea.
At the event, Fountain advised representatives to pay close attention to the fruits of such actions.
Fountain acknowledged the ongoing public debate on whether Christian nationalism is truly Christian, but he argued that many theologians and Christian leaders opposed this perspective.
He outlined biblical points to support this opposition. First, Christianity is “the core” of its loyalty to Jesus Christ, not an earthly nation (Philippians 3:20 says, “Our citizenship lies in heaven”). Second, Jesus often rejected political power and nationalism (John 18:36 says, “My kingdom is not of this world”). Third, the New Testament views the vision of the Church as both multi-ethnic and global consensus, and “is not linked to any nation or ethnic group (Revelation 7:9).
“Critics often twist Christian nationalism into a tool for political power, rather than following Jesus’ teachings about humility, service and love of neighbors, including outsiders and enemies,” Fountain said.
“On the other hand, some supporters of Christian nationalism believe they are faithful by protecting God’s role in public life, or by defending the moral values they believe come from the Bible.”
Fountain summed his views by saying that while Christian nationalism borrows Christian language, “many would argue that it is more about politics and culture than the real Christianity that Jesus teaches.”
At the Sea Conference, he also outlined recent reactions by various Christian groups to Christian nationalism. He noted that many major denominations “strongly rejected it.”
The example given was the United States’ Southern Baptist Treaty (SBC), which is conservative from a historical perspective, but the SBC “passed a resolution on confusing the church’s mission with political activity and nationalism,” Fountain said.
Another example is the condemnation of Christian nationalism by the National Council of the United States, including major denominations such as Methodists and Presbyterians, calling it “gospel distortion.” Fountain also highlighted another example of a dissent from Roman Catholic leaders to link faith to nationalism.
But evangelical leaders were more divided into their views. Leaders such as Russell Moore, former chief of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Freedom Committee, and Beth Moore, a biblical teacher and author, have opposed Christian nationalism with warnings that they risk turning American faith into “civil religions” rather than simply following Jesus.
“Christian nationalism is not just a political issue. It is a theological issue. It treats the gospel as a means of political power rather than the end itself,” said Russell Moore, cited by Fountain.
“I am forced to be as clear as I know that mixing the gospel with the political ideology of Jesus Christ corrupts the gospel and insults the cross,” said Beth Moore, cited by the Fountain.
At the same time, Fountain noted that “other evangelicals embrace the rhetoric of Christian nationalists and view it as a defense against what they feel is expanding secular and anti-Christian sentiment in society.”
Fountain noted the fact that grassroots Christians against the Christian nationalist movement were established in 2019 by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom. He said the movement was supported by thousands of clergy and egg-laying.
“They argue that Christian nationalism “threate both our religious freedom and democracy,” Fountain noted.
“Christian nationalism seeks to blend Christian and American identity and distort both Christian faith and American constitutional democracy,” reads Christian official statements on the Christian nationalism website. “Christian nationalism implies that Christianity requires privileges by the state and that it must be Christians to be a good American.”
Fountain argued that “there is a widespread and growing consensus among many Christian groups, even among those who may be politically opposed, and that Christian nationalism is not faithful to the gospel and in fact threatens the spiritual mission of the Church.”
Fountain delegated that Christian nationalism is not a major aspect of Switzerland’s political spectrum, but small groups “promote that element.”
He pointed out what was “most notable” as the Swiss Federal Democratic Union (EDU), and viewed it as “a minor Protestant fundamentalist party that fuses Christian identity with nationalist rhetoric.” Founded in 1975, the party opposes cultural events when it violates Christian morality.
Fountain cited the example of EDU, who wanted Switzerland to stop holding the Eurovision Song Contest, as some of the performances are “celebrations of Satanism and Occultism.” The party is also gathering support from right-footed groups such as the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) on specific issues. However, Fountain admits that “support is usually problem-specific and does not represent a broad embrace of Christian nationalism.”
According to Fountain, other Christian-focused parties in Switzerland defend social democracy and Christian democracy, rather than Christian nationalism, as countries with increasingly secular vision. He lists these as the Evangelical Party (EVP) and the Center (formed from the merger of the Christian Democrats’ Party and the Conservative Democrats).
“In summary, elements of Christian nationalism exist in Switzerland through small parties like Edou, but that remains a fringe movement with no major political traction,” Fountain concluded.
Two local Swiss politicians spoke at a sea event in response to the Fountain’s views, giving them different perspectives on the issue of Nationalism: EVP National Councillor Marc Jost and Bernese Edu Grand Councillor Samuel Kullmann.
Kullmann agreed with the view that mixing faith with power is dangerous. Still, he believed that Christian politicians should evoke Christian values when necessary in the course of law.
“It’s an illusion to think that if only Christians are in power everywhere, it’s a good thing,” Yost said, appealing to the ethics of humility. “Because every human being is wrong.”
Yost welcomed the prospect of various ideas and opinions being expressed, saying that Christians should not hide their values in the public sector of debate.
Other “On the Podium” was historian Pastor Christian Schadegger and president of umbrella organizations Freikirchen.ch and Peter Schneeberger.
“No one saw the Christian nation as a desirable goal,” a Sea News update concluded. “Instead of rule, Christians should serve according to the example of Jesus Christ.”
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Timeline: American Christian Nationalism (presented by Jeff Fountain)
1950s – “We trust God” and “Under God”
After World War II, and after the Cold War era, there was a great drive to present America as a religious (Christian) nation against “Godless Communism.”
1954: Congress adds “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.
1956: The official motto is “We trust in God.”
This era linked Christianity with patriotism more closely, but it was not yet “Christian nationalism” in the modern sense.
1970s-1980s – The rise of “moral majority”
Evangelical leaders like Jerry Falwell Sr. helped form political groups that stated that America needed to return to “biblical values.”
They mix with conservative Christian beliefs with national political goals (abortion, school prayers, etc.).
This began to link Christian identity with specific political platforms.
1990s-2000s – Christian symbols in politics
The courts around things like the 10 Commandments Memorials, Nativity Scenes, and School Prayers have promoted the “pushed out” stories of Christians’ public life.
Some Christians began to believe that regaining political power is part of faithfulness to God.
2010s – The rise of populist movements
Political leaders have begun to openly talk about Christianity and America under threat.
Christian nationalism has become stronger in response to cultural change (e.g. racial diversity, LGBTQ+ rights, religious pluralism, etc.).
Books and movements began to promote ideas such as “America was founded as a Christian nation” and had to be “restored.”
January 6, 2021 – Capitol Riot
The Christian symbols (like the cross, “Jesus Save” banner, and the Christian flag) were very prominent among the crowds raiding the US Capitol.
This shocked many Christian leaders, and for the first time in the United Way’s main way it opposed Christian nationalism.
today
Currently, there is a fierce national debate within the church about Christian nationalism. Many pastors warn that it is a major threat to both democracy and church witnesses.
