This episode places the question regarding Christian nationalism in the greater context of the problem of power, the major concern informing republican ideology of the Founders. While none of them were 5 point Calvinists, they nevertheless imbibed heavily from republican ideology, which was substantially informed by a pessimistic, almost Calvinist view of human nature. Human nature is corrupt, and power magnifies and makes manifest the evil of men. Consequently the maxim of republican ideology: "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The Constitution consequently limits power exercised by any one man or branch in government, fragmenting power on numerous levels to limit potential abuse. This realistic solution to the problem of power led to the Constitutional "separation of powers." When Christian nationalism is evaluated through the lens of the problem of power, arguably THE issue of republican ideology, the answer is clear: the Church should be separate from the State. The Establishment Clause of the Constitution is arguably the natural application of Federalist #10 to the potential mixing of Church and State.
Sloth, Ignorance, and Persecution: the Legacy of Christian Nationalism
Established churches, according to Madison, lead to "pride and indolence in the clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, and in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution." This episode unpacks this statement, emphasizing that state churches lead to a confounding of kingdoms. A natural bi-product of Christian nationalism, where Christianity blends with the State is conflation of natural and spiritual identities. The latter Christian identity requires repentance and faith in Christ, followed by regeneration and entrance into the kingdom of God. (John 3:3) The former natural identity requires...NOTHING. Most Anglicans in Virginia likely presumed that natural and spiritual identities were fused together since Virginia was a Christian state. As long as Virginians attended the state Anglican church and partook of the sacraments, they were by definition Christians. The clergy as a consequence need do very little: disciples aren't made through the preaching of the gospel, for their infant baptism makes them Christians. The laity in turn is ignorant of the requirements for Kingdom entrance, presumptuously resting on natural citizenship of "Christian" Virginia. Worse, both clergy and laity persecute Baptists for preaching "you must be born again." Baptists correctly spelled out the entrance requirements for the Kingdom of God, dismissing its association with the "kingdom" of Virginia. They consequently spear-headed the separation of church and state, maintaining that Christ's otherworldly Kingdom is distinct and separate from the kingdoms of this world.
Christian Nationalism: a Debate over Means
This episode acknowledges agreement on some core beliefs among evangelicals who nevertheless disagree on Christian nationalism. Evangelicals typically agree that Christ is the only way of salvation, and they earnestly desire that all come into relationship with Him. Evangelicals in the United States are nevertheless divided over the Church's relationship to the State: Christian nationalists want to "Christianize" the State ostensibly to bring people to Christ and/or make society more "Christlike," while "separatists" see a Church-state mixture as an obstacle to Christ's Kingdom because it corrupts the Church. Importantly, well-meaning believers want the same thing, but disagree over means. The program cites passages in Memorial and Remonstrance in which Madison (a quasi-Christian deist?) articulates the same core evangelical beliefs, that Christ is the only way to God and those "in darkness" need to come to Christ. Importantly, Madison maintains that 15 centuries of Christian establishments prove that state churches are averse to the goals of Christianity, leading to "pride and indolence in the clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both superstition, bigotry and persecution." The episode finally details the disestablishment position of the Baptist preacher John Leland, who observed that established churches "have done more harms than persecutions ever did."
The Proper Response to Christ’s Authority
This episode unpacks the appropriate response of believers to Christ's triumphant resurrection. "All authority has been given to Me [Christ] in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18-19) Based on Christ's universal authority, Christians are commanded to make disciples of all the nations, and their primary mission is to proclaim the gospel, calling people out of darkness into the marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) The universal body of Christ is composed of those who have been called out of the kingdom of the darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ. (Colossians 1:13) The word "church" literally means "those who are called out of," and believers are given the veritable keys to the kingdom, as they proclaim access to God's kingdom through repentance and faith in Christ. This then is the mission of the church and the mandated response to Christ's universal authority. It is NOT the setting up of an abominable church-state mixture where all are compelled to submit to Christian rule, in the same way that mosque and state are intertwined in predominantly Islamic countries. The episode finally concludes that the principal enemy of the church (those who are called out of) is demonic forces ("gates of hell"), not the world, whose hostages we are called to liberate.
Christians: a Holy Nation Composed of Aliens
The first part of this episode urges believers to promote the betterment of society through persuasion. This kind of "Christian nationalism" is certainly Biblical. Many however assess that Christian nationalists are those who would impose specifically Christian laws on the rest of society, going beyond the means of mere persuasion. The latter half of this episode provides Peter's assessment of kingdom citizenship in light of earthly citizenship. Believers' fundamental identity is that of a "holy nation" (1 Peter 2:10), and earthly citizenship status by comparison is demoted to that of "aliens." (1 Peter 1:1)
Christ, our True Identity
This episode unpacks the process of sanctification, in which we progressively abandon fleshly identities and make Christ our true identity. It culminates with 1 Peter 2:9-11 which describes our true identity as a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation." This identity puts fleshly identities in perspective, Peter describing Christians as "aliens" who reject worldly lusts. Put together with 1 John 2:16, Christians are those who reject fleshly identities borne out of the boastful pride of life. The implication is that identity politics should never be embraced by a Christian.