Are you a Christian?

I find myself asking this question daily: How can someone follow Jesus and still be a MAGA Christian? After everything I was raised to believe—the countless sermons, Sunday school lessons, the many times I was scolded for doing the smallest thing wrong—how can this be happening? How can someone believe with their whole heart that they're following Jesus while supporting movements that actively work to harm their communities?

As I talk to family and engage with people I once called friends, they believe wholeheartedly that God is in this and they're on the right side of history. Even churches are giving their approval through their communication, sermon series, small groups, and social posts. It's as if what's happening isn't happening at all for them. And remember: silence is approval.

Today, I want to gently challenge you to take a step back and ask: Am I really following Jesus, or have I unknowingly drifted into something else entirely?

The Checklist Christian

I attend church. ✅. I give money to the church. ✅. I pray for people. ✅. I try to read my Bible consistently. ✅. I listen to Christian radio sometimes (or all the time). ✅.

I'm a Christian... I'm a good Christian. Right?

It's easy to lull ourselves into thinking we're "good to go" with our faith. Every follower of Jesus should regularly examine their faith—think of it as an "audit."😂 When we don't check ourselves, we can use the list above and believe everything is alright while the house burns down around us. This is exactly what has happened with Christian nationalism.

The Subtle Shift

Christian nationalism weaves together seemingly logical elements and attaches a spiritual component. It starts innocently: Christians should follow God's law. We want to be good Christians, so we follow God's law as best we can. The Bible also tells us to follow the laws of the land. These must be connected, right?

But here's where Christian nationalism creates a dangerous bridge between following God and country. It blurs the line between faith and politics. This sounds great in theory, but what happens when you start excusing yourself from laws you don't agree with? Christian nationalism champions "law and order" (a phrase rooted in white supremacy ³ ), yet when certain political figures face legal challenges, their supporters are ready to dismantle our entire judicial system and replace judges with loyalists. So much for following the laws of the land like we follow God.

Signs You Might Be Following Donald "Jesus" Trump Instead of Jesus

1. Conditional Love vs. Christ's Love

Jesus called us to love our neighbors—even our enemies. Yet Christian nationalism encourages fear of "the other," whether they're immigrants, people with different beliefs, or those with different political views. Love becomes conditional: "I'll love them if they act like me, look like me, and believe like me." But Jesus never loved with conditions.

2. Power Over Service

Jesus told us to care for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed. But Christian nationalism often prioritizes maintaining cultural power over serving those in need. Consider this practical example: The Department of Education ensures children with disabilities receive equal access to education. Without it, can we trust states to dedicate resources to providing equal access, especially when some leaders advocate removing essential services like sign-language interpreters from public events? ^{1  2}

3. Kingdom Confusion

Jesus spoke constantly about the Kingdom of God—a kingdom of humility, grace, and peace. Christian nationalism, however, often pushes a specific political agenda under the guise of "Christian values." When these policies hurt or exclude others, we've strayed far from Jesus's path.

4. Faith vs. Fear

Christian nationalism thrives on fear—fear of loss, fear of change, fear of the other. MAGA adherents often claim fearlessness, but their rallies, interviews, and social media posts reveal deep-seated fears. Remember: throughout Scripture, God tells His people, "Do not be afraid." Jesus built His church on faith, love, and hope—not fear.

Finding Your Way Back

If this makes you uncomfortable, that's okay. Jesus often challenged His disciples to rethink their beliefs. The good news? It's never too late to realign with Him.

1. Return to the Gospels: Immerse yourself in Jesus's words. How did He treat people? What did He care about most? You'll notice Jesus focused on loving people, not acquiring political power.

2. Ask Hard Questions: Pray for God to reveal where you might be mixing faith with something that's not from Him. It's a difficult prayer, but one that leads to truth and freedom.

3. Listen to Others: Especially those different from you. People on the margins often understand Jesus's teachings more clearly because they live closer to the reality He described. Ask anyone who's returned from a mission trip—they'll tell you how people living under oppression know Jesus in a profound way.

4. Embrace Change: One of the most courageous things a follower of Jesus can do is admit when they've gotten it wrong. It's not weakness—it's strength and humility.

A Call for Grace

To those who haven't embraced MAGA ideology and love Jesus: we need to welcome people back into the family of Christ with grace. When someone realizes they've confused nationalism with faith and wants to return to Jesus's teachings, we must be ready to embrace them.

Final Reflection

I know this is a challenging conversation. But if you truly love Jesus, you'll follow Him wherever He leads—even if it's uncomfortable, even if it means letting go of things you once held tightly, even if it means admitting you've accidentally replaced Christianity with Christian nationalism.

Christian nationalism might feel right because it wraps itself in familiar language and symbols. But when you strip it down, it looks nothing like Jesus. And in the end, following Jesus—not a political party, not a nation—is what matters most.

So let's take that step back together and ask, Are we really following Him?

1  https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-calls-eliminating-sign-language-interpreters-during-emergency-briefings

2  https://www.nad.org/2025/01/10/nad-open-letter-to-charlie-kirk/

3  https://eloncdn.blob.core.windows.net/eu3/sites/153/2022/12/01-dalrymple.pdf