The Lie of Christian Nationalism | Follow-Walking in the Way of Jesus | Sunday May 3rd, 2026

May 03, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Coins and the Cosmic Kingdom

Jesus faced religious leaders clutching Roman coins in the temple. They demanded: "Should we pay taxes to Caesar?" He asked for a denarius, held up the emperor’s image, and said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s—and to God what is God’s." The coin bore Caesar’s face, but every human bears God’s image. [27:31]

Jesus refused to reduce allegiance to political binaries. He exposed their hypocrisy—they carried Caesar’s currency while claiming exclusive loyalty to God. His answer dismantled tribal thinking, declaring God’s claim over every sphere of life.

You carry competing loyalties daily—careers, ideologies, comforts. What "coins" do you clutch while claiming to serve God? Where have you let earthly systems define your worth or security? What tangible step could loosen your grip on Caesar’s kingdom to grasp God’s?

"Then they brought [a denarius]. And [Jesus] said to them, 'Whose likeness and inscription is this?' They said to him, 'Caesar’s.' Jesus said to them, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'"
(Mark 12:15-17, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one area where you’ve prioritized earthly systems over His kingdom.
Challenge: Write down three daily choices (e.g., spending, voting, social media use) and evaluate their alignment with God’s image in you.

Day 2: Image Bearers in Exile

The Pharisees and Herodians united to trap Jesus, yet He exposed their divided hearts. Both groups sought power—through moral superiority or political compromise. Jesus declared God’s people are exiles bearing His image, not tribal loyalists. Their true citizenship transcended Rome’s borders. [31:28]

Identity in Christ reorders every allegiance. Like Daniel in Babylon, believers live distinctively without withdrawing from culture. Political tribes demand total loyalty; Jesus demands total transformation. His kingdom advances through renewed hearts, not policy wins.

Where do you hide your Christian identity to fit cultural expectations? At work, in friendships, or online? Practice saying, "As a follower of Jesus…" before stating an opinion today. What fear makes you hesitate to name your primary citizenship?

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
(1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one relationship where you’ve muted your identity in Christ to avoid tension.
Challenge: Identify one conversation today where you’ll openly attribute a conviction to following Jesus.

Day 3: When Obedience Defies Empire

Hebrew midwives defied Pharaoh’s infanticide order. Shadrach refused Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. Peter kept preaching despite threats. Each chose civil disobedience when laws contradicted God’s commands. Yet they honored authorities by trusting God’s justice, not personal retaliation. [36:11]

Jesus’ kingdom confronts systemic evil without adopting its methods. When governments devalue life, suppress worship, or normalize injustice, believers resist—not through rage but radical love. Our weapons are truth and service, not coercion.

What modern issue tempts you to compromise biblical ethics for cultural acceptance? How could you creatively disobey lies while actively blessing opponents? Where is God calling you to defend the vulnerable this week?

"Then Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'"
(Acts 5:29, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for religious freedom, and intercede for persecuted believers choosing obedience.
Challenge: Research one organization defending religious liberty or human dignity, then share their work with three people.

Day 4: The Weakness That Conquers

Jesus died penniless, powerless, and shamed. Yet His resurrection disarmed every earthly authority. Rome crucified Him; He transformed execution into redemption. The cross proves God’s strength thrives in surrender, victory blooms in sacrifice. [45:59]

Political power controls behavior; gospel power transforms hearts. When believers cling to comfort, they mirror Caesar’s kingdom. But embracing Jesus’ way—serving enemies, forgiving freely, giving generously—unlocks eternal impact.

What personal loss or limitation are you resisting? How might releasing control to Christ unleash unexpected purpose? Where can you trade self-protection for sacrificial love today?

"He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."
(Colossians 2:15, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to redeem one area of weakness into a testimony of His strength.
Challenge: Share a personal struggle with a trusted believer, inviting them to pray for Christ’s power in it.

Day 5: Deployed for Declaring and Demonstrating

Early Christians rescued discarded infants, fed plague victims, and rebuilt cities after disasters. They didn’t lobby emperors—they loved neighbors. Their deeds validated their message, proving Christ’s kingdom transcends politics. [01:14:22]

You’re Christ’s ambassador, not a culture warrior. Every act of mercy—meals shared, prejudices dismantled, forgiveness offered—declares His reign. The kingdom grows where His people embody His character.

What injustice stirs your passion? How can you address it through both proclamation and practical service? Who needs to experience God’s love through your hands today?

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
(Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for placing you in your community as His agent of renewal.
Challenge: Perform one tangible act of service (e.g., grocery run, encouraging note) for someone outside your church circle.

Sermon Summary

Longing for God's glory sits at the heart of spiritual life, and the Bible insists that hearing truth and grace opens the eyes of the heart to that glory. Faith does not demand a physical sight of God to transform identity. When the good, great, gracious, and glorious nature of God is received, it reshapes desire, uproots fear, and reorders allegiance. Identity, purpose, and belonging flow from that revealed glory and form the contours of genuine discipleship.

Discipleship brings tension with culture because allegiance to Christ outranks ideological labels. Citizenship in heaven reframes political loyalty and resists fusing faith with a national project. Christian nationalism mistakes governance for the instrument of final redemption; true kingdom work attends to heart change rather than political capture. The biblical scene in Mark 12 models a different posture. The command to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s refuses partisan adoption and exposes the limits of political power.

Scripture calls for responsible participation in civic life while preserving conscience informed by Scripture. Submission to governing authorities carries boundaries. The Bible records justified civil disobedience when laws demand idolatry, the taking of life, or censorship of gospel witness. Kingdom action requires both principled cooperation and courageous refusal when earthly authorities contradict God’s commands.

The kingdom advances through humility and apparent weakness rather than through accumulation of power, wealth, or glory. Jesus demonstrated that transformative authority flows from sacrifice, not domination. Resurrection vindicates that strategy and empowers followers to offer open hands rather than clenched fists. Social renewal therefore springs from transformed hearts and Spirit-led communities who embody justice, mercy, and human flourishing. The church does not need the state to be the church; its calling is to witness, serve, and invite renewal through example and sacrificial love.

Practical application centers on surrendering control, testing competing allegiances, and trusting Christ’s kingship. When allegiance to Jesus governs decisions about policy, protest, and public life, action becomes faithful witness instead of tribal defense. Communion seals that allegiance and calls disciples to live as citizens of a kingdom that transcends nations and endures beyond political cycles.

Key Takeaways

1. Kingdom identity not political ideology Identity in Christ overrides political labels. A disciple’s primary allegiance shapes how political options get evaluated, preventing ideology from becoming the source of selfhood. Holding Christ as first identity allows engagement without tribal absorption, making discernment possible when policies or parties conflict with gospel commitments. [27:58]
2. Render to Caesar, give to God Participation in civic obligations does not equal surrender of ultimate loyalty. Paying taxes and showing respect count as responsible engagement, while Scripture reserves the right to refuse commands that demand idolatry or violate the sanctity of life and gospel witness. Conscience guided by Scripture determines where submission ends and prophetic dissent begins. [34:28]
3. Kingdom grows through powerlessness The gospel advances by sacrificial weakness rather than political domination. Jesus modeled a kingdom that transforms hearts through humility, suffering, and resurrection, showing that ultimate authority issues from self-giving love not coercive control. Followers who imitate that posture invite durable change that political power cannot manufacture. [42:12]
4. Freedom flows from transformed hearts Lasting social renewal begins with spiritual change not legal mandates. Laws can curb behavior but only the Spirit changes affections, restores dignity, and sustains mercy and justice. The church’s witness aims to embody human flourishing so that society is renewed organically as people encounter gospel transformation. [49:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:23] - Longing to See God’s Glory
[12:08] - Faith: Seeing by the Heart
[18:42] - Discipleship: Identity Purpose Belonging
[22:01] - No Christian Nation: A Kingdom Claim
[27:58] - Render to Caesar and to God
[34:28] - Submission and Its Boundaries
[36:11] - Biblical Grounds for Civil Disobedience
[42:12] - Kingdom Built in Powerlessness
[49:22] - Transformation Not Political Capture
[51:18] - Surrender Control Test Allegiance Trust King
[73:48] - Communion and Response
[74:22] - Commission and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Mark 12:13-17 (ESV)
13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

Observation Questions

In Mark 12:17, Jesus says to “render to Caesar” and “to God.” What specific examples of “rendering to God” does the sermon highlight as non-negotiable, even if they conflict with cultural or political expectations? [36:11]
The sermon mentions biblical examples of civil disobedience (e.g., Hebrew midwives, Shadrach/Meshach/Abednego). What three categories of laws did these examples refuse to obey? [37:13]
According to the sermon, how does Jesus’ resurrection redefine power and success compared to worldly political systems? [45:59]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus’ refusal to align with either the Herodians or the Pharisees (Mark 12:13-17) challenge modern assumptions about faith requiring political alignment? [30:09]
The sermon argues that Christian nationalism “settles for too little” by focusing on political control. How does prioritizing heart transformation over legal mandates better reflect the scope of Christ’s kingdom? [23:42]
How does Jesus’ choice to advance His kingdom through “powerlessness” (e.g., crucifixion) redefine what true authority and influence look like for His followers? [42:12]

Application Questions

Where do you feel pressure to prioritize political, cultural, or ideological labels over your identity in Christ? What practical step could help you recenter your primary allegiance this week? [19:29]
The sermon warns against defining ourselves by what we’re against rather than what we’re for (e.g., being for orphan care, not just against abortion). What is one area where you could shift from opposition to proactive, grace-filled action? [39:59]
Surrendering control to Christ’s kingship might mean releasing anxiety over finances, policies, or societal trends. What specific fear or “grasp for control” do you need to entrust to Him today? [51:43]
How could your community embody “open hands instead of clenched fists” (e.g., serving neighbors, advocating for justice) in a polarized cultural moment? [47:58]
When has loyalty to a political party, social cause, or personal preference conflicted with following Jesus’ teachings? How did you respond, and what would you do differently now? [33:40]

Sermon Clips

27s

#NoSuchThingAsAChristianNation

“Now, those things bring us an attention. So being a disciple is living with a little bit of internal and maybe external conflict. Particularly in how we navigate culture, in how we navigate politics, in how we navigate our view of the government. I'm gonna say something that some of you might disagree with, and that's okay. But here's here's what I believe. There's no such thing as a Christian nation.”

34s

#NeitherTribeJesusIsForeign

“But they come with the same question. The question is this, should we revolt or should we pay our taxes? And Jesus says neither or both. He doesn't pick a side, does he? He doesn't give a binary yes or no. Why? Because it's not about choosing sides. It's worth emphasizing that Jesus is refusing to be adopted by either one of these political tribes. Reminds us that any Christian who is identifying primarily with God's kingdom might feel like a foreigner in the political system.”

34s

#OrphanCareResponsibility

“This is when the church is at its best. That as much as we are against any kind of infanticide in the womb or outside of the womb, we also need to carry with us an orphan care priority. That if Canada abolished abortion today, how would the church step up in adoption and in foster care and actually take responsibility for what we're against?”

25s

#ResistTheElementaryForces

“When we consider the magnitude and majesty of our omnipotent God, it is impossible to make all oppression small enough. It's impossible. Jesus is the resurrection in life. Jesus is the victorious king of ages. Jesus will reign forever and ever and ever. And this means that you can resist the elementary forces of this age. Why? Because they are elementary and they are of this age.”

32s

#EternalSpiritualKingdom

“The forces of evil that gain strongholds in the political realm of empires and republics will ultimately be destroyed. That the kingdom is not bound to nation. It is in the spiritual realm and one day it will come in the physical realm. One day, heaven and earth will collide and all things will be made new. It's eternal. It will not face election every four years. It will not be overthrown by a foreign power, and it doesn't die with the death of the king.”

31s

#SurrenderControlToChrist

“How do we do this? Number one, surrender control. Number two, test allegiance. Number three, trust Christ is king. Surrender control. Let me ask you this. Where are rising costs, financial pressure, or economic uncertainty tempting you to grasp for control? And what would it look like to entrust your provision and security to Christ instead of the outcome of policy or markets? That's a big question.”

32s

#OpenKingdomForThePowerless

“When we test our allegiances, do you know what it feels like? It doesn't feel like oppression, it feels like hope. When we trust Christ as king, and it doesn't feel like being lost, it actually feels like faith. This is Jesus' kingdom, and it's open to all. All who are powerless to save themselves. All who are impoverished enough to know their needs. All who are broken enough to long for peace. All who are lost enough to cry out to be found.”

39s

#CrossNotElectionNewKingdom

“When we see our need, and we see his ability to meet our need, that that is when we're experiencing a new kingdom. Jesus wasn't looking to get elected. Jesus was looking to get executed. He knew that this revolution would be met by resistance because the human heart doesn't like the tension. At the same time, what he is what he was accomplishing in his execution was victory and justice that his resurrection made sure for all of us. And in so doing, brought about a new kingdom, and that kingdom, it's cosmic.”

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Saanich Baptist Church This sermon · AI assistant

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