Nicholas Smith

So much of what passes for “Christian influence” today sounds more like Christian control. We hear calls to “take back the culture,” “reclaim America for Christ,” and “restore Christian values.” But the kingdom of God doesn’t come by seizing cultural control. It doesn’t advance by force or fear. It spreads through weakness, confession, forgiveness, and love. “Christian nationalism” turns the Christian’s calling to serve into a crusade to conquer. It assumes that the kingdom of God is something we build, when the gospel says it’s something we receive. Grace frees us from the burden of “taking back” anything. The world doesn’t need our dominance — it needs our service. The gospel doesn’t build empires — it resurrects sinners.

America was not founded to be a “Christian nation”— it was founded to be a free one. The founders understood, wisely, that faith cannot be forced, legislated, or nationalized without losing its essence. Christianity thrives not because it’s mandated by governments, but because it’s proclaimed by grace to sinners. Jesus came to set people free—but not through political coercion or cultural dominance. In fact, he was a grave disappointment in his day to those who thought he was coming to “reclaim” national ground. He wins hearts, not elections. The gospel advances not by law but by love, not by power but by mercy. When we confuse the kingdom of God with the kingdoms of this world, we turn good news into bad law and trade the scandal of grace for the illusion of control.