Pastor and author John MacArthur criticized the concept of Christian nationalism, telling his congregation that “the church’s responsibility is not to advance the kingdoms of this world.”
MacArthur also said elections are becoming increasingly confusing for Christians because “anti-abortion” candidates can be “sinful and evil in other categories.”
Pastor of Grace Community Church and popular radio ministry host blessings to you I commented inside Question-and-answer session at his congregation last week.
Asked for his opinion on Christian nationalism, MacArthur began by saying, “The kingdom of God is not of this world.”
“[Jesus] “My kingdom is not of this world.” If my kingdom were of this world, my subjects would fight. ” His kingdom is not of this world. The kingdoms of this world are another world. they are not linked to each other. Let me put it another way. Nothing happens politically or socially in any country, whether it is a communist state, an Islamic state, a pseudo-Christian state, or an atheist state. It is. It has nothing to do with the progress of God’s kingdom. Because the kingdom of God is separate from that system. Jesus said that God is building His church in His sovereignty, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
“So the idea that part of Christian progress should be associated with some political effort, some political process, some social process, some acquisition of power or influence in a culture is alien to Christianity. Our Lord and the apostles, especially the apostle Paul, never did anything like that. [Paul] He did not seek to gain any favor from the Roman Empire, or for that matter any other rulers he encountered during his life. ”
MacArthur said that Christians should vote, but that elections are not as black and white as they once were.
“We must be upholders of justice. When we vote, we want to vote for the most correct option. Obviously, we cannot vote for righteousness, but God’s We must vote in a way that reflects our commitment to righteousness. Therefore, electing abortionists, LGBTQ or LGBTQ-affirming people, or anyone who deviates from God’s righteous moral standards is I couldn’t. I guess that’s harder these days, because even when politicians are more conservative and anti-abortion, they can still be sinful and evil in other categories. And it’s very difficult to tell who is truly honest and who is just dishonest and power-seeking.
“But in the end we do what we can.” [in elections] With the understanding that the church’s responsibility is not to advance the kingdoms of this world. That’s the wrong view. ”
Christian nationalism is “usually associated with what is called postmillennialism,” he added.
“And that is the view that the church can somehow bring about the kingdom of Christ by influencing the culture. The idea is to establish a kingdom and hand it over to Christ. That’s not what the Bible teaches. What the Bible teaches is what we learn from Revelation. It means “to do”. And the end of human history will not be for the Church to triumph and rule the world and take over the structure of the human kingdom. That won’t happen. At the end of human history, believers will be persecuted and killed. And that is exactly the opposite of what Christian nationalism expects. So we believe the Bible teaches that things will get worse and worse, moving toward the wrath of God as seen in Revelation. And our Lord will return to establish His kingdom. ”
Image credit: John MacArthur Facebook
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His story was published in Baptist Press. Christianity Today, Christian Poecent, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star and of knoxville news sentinel.
