The End Times and Christian Nationalism

Kingdom Polemics

This Kingdom Polemics episode is a rebroadcast from the "City of God" podcast wherein Pastor Rob Pacienza from Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church talks with Pastor Aldo Leon from Pinelands Presbyterian Church and David Bibee, the director of Christian Education at Coral Ridge, about the theological foundation of Christian nationalism and how it relates to eschatology and cultural engagement. They discuss the problems and implications of Dispensationalism, the most common end times view among American Protestants, and contrast it with a more optimistic and biblical view of the future that sees the gospel advancing and the kingdom progressing in every sphere of life. They also address some of the common objections and misconceptions about Christian nationalism and how it differs from a Christ-centered perspective that honors the lordship of Christ over all things.

Some of the highlights and discussion points of this episode are:

• Dispensationalism: a theology of separation and escape. Dispensationalism separates the kingdom from the church, the Old Testament from the New Testament, the spiritual from the material, and the culture from Christianity. It also expects the world to get worse and worse until Christ returns, and thus fosters a mindset of escapism and defeatism among Christians.
• Postmillennialism: a theology of transformation and victory. Postmillennialism affirms the continuity and fulfillment of the Old Testament in the New Testament, the integration of the spiritual and the material, and the relevance and application of Christianity to culture. It also anticipates the world to get better and better as the gospel spreads and the kingdom grows, and thus inspires a mindset of transformation and victory among Christians.
• Christian nationalism: a biblical mandate and a historical reality. Christian nationalism is not a political ideology or a cultural preference, but a biblical mandate and a historical reality. It is the recognition and declaration that Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and that every nation and every sphere of life is under his authority and must submit to his law. It is also the acknowledgment and appreciation of the Christian heritage and influence that shaped the founding and development of America and other nations.
• Cultural engagement: a faithful witness and a fruitful work. Cultural engagement is not a worldly distraction or a carnal ambition, but a faithful witness and a fruitful work. It is the demonstration and proclamation of the gospel and the kingdom in every area of society, such as politics, education, arts, media, etc. It is also the application and implementation of the biblical principles and values that lead to the flourishing and blessing of humanity and creation.

Resources:

• Original YouTube Broadcast: Episode 52 of "City of God" (https://youtu.be/aIeCU6Cl6M4)
• YouTube Video, "On Earth as it is in Heaven" (https://youtu.be/jchu--KWvDw) mentioned by David Bibee as a good resource to find out more about Postmillenialism.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support Kingdom Polemics, please visit our "Buy Me A Coffee" webpage (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics) and consider making a donation to help us produce more quality content. You can also leave your comments and feedback on our YouTube page: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for more episodes of Kingdom Polemics.