Christian Imperialism and Nationalism

 

 

Christian Imperialism and Nationalism is quite an intriguing phenomenon. The concept of mixing God and Government, Spiritual and Secular, and Faith and Fraternity seems reasonable doesn't it?. Why not have a Christian empire or nation? Wouldn't that be the most ideal form of government? A theocracy where the Almighty and Temporal Powers work together to create a civilization of Christians known as Christendom? Is this not to be the greatest achievement of Christ's followers? To forge a kingdom on earth that submits to God, a kingdom of heaven? Surely such an endeavor would be blessed by the Most High and a nation of this sorts would shine before all the others.

Oh Christian Imperialism how romantic thou art. The idea of Christian empire is old. It began with Emperor Constantine in 333 A.D. who built an empire called Byzantium. During a war against a rival emperor Maxentius, Constantine had a vision in the sun (Eusebius says a dream before the battle) in which he beheld a cross and the words "In Hoc Signo Vinces: In this sign you shall conqueror." Upon seeing this, Constantine ordered his army paint red crosses upon their shields and the Emperor proclaimed that if the battle was won that day, he would embrace the Christian faith. And so as chance (Satan) or Providence (God) would have it, Constantine prevailed and he made good his word. Constantine brought an end to the persectution of Christians and established Christianity as the official religion of his empire, The Eastern Roma (Rome) and created his capital Constantinople on the Bosporus sea. The Christian empire of Constantine came to be known as Byzantium would last from 300 A.D. to 1453 A.D. In its time Byzantium was gem in a world fracturing apart as the Western Roma (Rome) was beginning to decline and inevitably fall. Byzantium became a decadent epicenter for Eastern Orthodox Church, with the Holy Church of Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) being one of the wonders of the world. The Church had two protectors, one was Patriach (Bishop) who cared for the souls of Christians, and the other was the Emperor whose care was for bodies of Christians using his armies and mighty walls to keep the People of God safe. Byzantion civilization was saturated with Biblical and Pagan terminology. While it is estimated over four hundred thousand churches were within the city Constantinople alone, the ancient Greco pagan pantheon of gods remained intact. Byzantium was certainly a Christian empire, albeit one mingled in paganisms or better known as Pagan Christianity. Byzantium would know its first collapse when Crusaders (western Christians) came to the aid of Isaac II Angelos (Alexios IV) against Alexios III and in failing to have their demands met, the crusaders conquered and sacked Constantinople on 1204 A.D. The Byzantines regained their capital after exile, but were again conquered by Ottoman Turks in 1453 A.D. and the empire of Constantine was no more.

The next great Christian Empire was called The Crusader States, also known as Outremer. It was created in Levant, in Syria and Palestine by Europeans (though the designation European did not yet exist). In 1095 A.D. Pope Urban II called the knights of the West to come to the aid of Byanztium and repel the rise of the Seljurk Turks, Muslims who an aptitude for conquest. The goal was aid for the Byzantine Empire, securing safe passage for pilgrims to the holy sites in Palestine, and an added prospect of conquering the holiest place in Christendom, Jerusalem, and placing the place Jesus Christ died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven under Christian rule. The Crusaders (as we call them, closest term used in their time was Crucinatius, Crucinatia: meaning signed with the cross because when crusader took the vow to fight for the holy land, he sowed a fabric cross on his shoulder or the chest of his tunic) marched to Constantinople under the leadership of Godfrey of Boullion, Baldiwn of Bolougne, Tancred of Taranto, and infamous Bohemond of Toranto. Friction grew between the Byzantine Christians and Latin Christian Crusaders over language, ethics, customs, and even religion (Byzantines were Eastern Orthodox or Greek Orthodox using Greek in their liturgy and the Crusaders were what is now called Roman Catholic with Latin used in their liturgy). The Crusaders after some scrimishes and threats exchanged with Emperor Alexios I Commenus made for Palestine. The knights of the West conquered Edessa, Antioch, Tripoli, and finally Jerusalem on 1099 A.D. The Crusaders would hold Jerusalem until 1187 A.D. when Saladin Ayyubid conqured it and the last of Crusader states would fall in 1291 A.D. at Acre to the Mamluke Muslims. The Crusader kingdoms lasted a mere two hundred years, while the Byzantine Empire lasted a thousand years more

Perhaps the most wide reaching Christian empire came not from an emperor or king, but from a priest. Europe from 400 A.D. to 1600 A.D. was ruled in practice and then in theory by the high priest of Catholic Church, The Papa or Pope. The reign of the Papacy over kingdoms of England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Hungary, Swedan, Switzerland, and more was a thousand years (more for some kingdoms). Entire civilzations were influenced by the Catholic Church and its head the Pope. Kings and Emperors in theory were subjects and subservient to the Pope. This differed drastically from Byzantium which had separate powers: one was Patriarchate of Constaniople and the other the Emperor. The Patriach (Bishop) safeqaurded the souls of Byzantium (praying for his subjects and doing spiritual warfare), while Emperor safeguarded the bodies of Byzantium (offering protection from invaders and evil doers). The Pope in contrast wielded both ecclesiastical and temporal powers; he was a cut above the emperors and kings. The Patriarch and Emperor in the East were equals, both safeguarding different parts of the Church and both needing each other. The Pope exerting lordship alleviated his position as Patriach Emperor and so had independence from temporal powers of kings and emperors, that patriachs in the East never could claim. This duo-power of the Pope led to incredible abuses and while Pope did have an empire of his own known as Papal States (all that remains now is Vatican City and some islands), he also exerting power over the kingdoms of Europe without contestation for centuries. The seed to unseat St. Peter began with Charlemagne, who envisaged the Eastern idea of a Bishop (Patriach) and Emperor being the two side sword to protect Christendom. Pope Eugenius III hindered this idea by cornating Charlemagne and thus proclaiming him holy emperor, by doing this the Pope was declaring he had the authority to consecrate an emperor, thus ensuring Bishop (Pope) of Rome remained the highest throne and effectively challenging the Eastern Emperor of Byzantium who called themselves Holy Roman Emperors. The Papal Empire of St. Peter's end began in 1600's and the long standing control of Europe was lost and the Pope's power isolated to eccesaistical affairs and small swarth of land called Vatican City. The Papacy's rule over nations came to an end.

The latest and argued greatest Christian Empire is the United States of America. The Northern America Pennisula was settled by very zealous and strict sect of Christians called the Puritans. The Puritans envisioned a "City on a Hill," a nation under God and built on the Bible's principles. They were to christen a new Byzantium in the Brave New World, but their zealotry and intolerance in the Civil War of England (in which they were primary force fighting under Oliver Cromwell) and in Geneva developed a reputation that did not sit well with other Christians. The Pilgrims who came to Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, were fleeing religious persecution and were not Purtian but Sepratists. The City on the Hill did get built until almost two hundred years after Puritans and Pilgrims had come to America. The Founding Fathers such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin to name a few decided to draft a Constituion and proclaim a new nation in wake of a Revolutionary War. They desired a nation with freedom of religion (at that time only Christian, so they meant no persecution would come to any sect such as Angelicanism, Puritanism, Lutheranism, Anabaptist, Minnionite, Calvinist (Reformed, later called Presbyterian), Catholic, and etc). The documents and law of the newly created United States of America were based on Bible and were powerfully religious in tone. Unlike Byzantium, Outremer (Crusaders), and The Papal States, Amercia would allow freedom of religion and there would be no state church (official church, Church of America, like how England has the Church of England/Angelican Church). The Founding Fathers albeit knew that for the "City on a hill" to survive, religious and secular powers must be separated. There was to be no Emperor and Patriach, nor a Pope over the Presidents, the government and God were to be separated in that clergy would not control the highest offices or dictate law, but that did not mean religion was separate from the state, the entire government was Christian (with few Diests) and they practiced their faith in public and in government buildings, even saying a prayer before Congressional meetings, the difference is that America would "appeal to heaven" not try to enforce the "kingdom" on its citizens; a radical step in Christian Imperialism to Christian nationalism.

I have touched only on the major Christian Empires and Nations. Christian Imperialism and Nationalism was also featured majorly in The British Empire (16th-18th centuries) which endeavored to conquer the world for Christ and moved in missionary manner that was not a hallmark of the Byzantine, Crusader, and Papal States. Having mentioned the British, I move on to the most important question of all, what does Jesus Christ think of all this? Did our Lord and Savior raise up these great empires or were they selfish ambition? (James 3:16, Philippians 2:3-4). Did God have hand in Byzantium, Outremer, Papal States, British Empire, and The United Sates? The answer is a complicated one. We shall begin with the most obvious place to start, Genesis. God said to Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, subdue the earth (put to order and govern) and steward the wildlife." (Genesis 1:28). In the beginning mankind was given the Kavod (the full authority over the earth) from the Almighty. This authority was lost when Man fell (Genesis 3), but was regained when Christ died on the cross. It would seem that we are indeed suppose to make a "City on Hill" and "Holy Nation" before God right? Well then there is the dialogue between Jesus and Pontius Pilate. Here is the conversation: "Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place. "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:36-37). Jesus seems to avoid the idea of being an earthly king and says His "kingdom is not of this world." Earlier, some followers of Jesus wanted to make Him king by force and Jesus fled (John 6:15). However, we have to understand Jesus has come at this time to settle are debt of sin with his death and resurrection, and at His Second Coming he will be conquering King: "From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16).

It is my opinion that building a Christian civilization is beneficial, but flawed. No empire or kingdom will ever last that even proclaims the only true King of Kings. The reason is that for a empire or nation to last, it must have Jesus Christ as its King in the flesh, which will not happen until Jesus Returns and reigns for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6). Until then, we are doing the best we can as Christ reigns through us. For as Apostle Paul said, "It is not I but Christ who lives in Me," (Galatians 2:20) and "Do you not know you are the temple of God?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). God dwells in all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can create a nation, kingdom or empire that is Christian and Christ can reign through those who know Him, but eventually someone will take the throne or presidential seat that is not true follower of Christ and it will all come crashing down. In order for perpetual paradise to reign, Christ must come back in the flesh and take the throne of David in Jerusalem. Only when Christ who is God comes back to reign, will a Christian Civilization and Kingdom last forever. What is more important for us beleivers is to be focused on the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:44) and spiritual kingdom of the unseen world. We can strive to create the "city on the hill" or "celestial city" on earth, but without Jesus Christ fully present; God in flesh reigning, we will always only have partial-paradise. What we need is for the Lord Jesus to come quickly and come soon (Revelation 22:20).