Grace Saves All: Christianity and Universal Salvation
Ep. 184 Brian Zahnd - When Christianity becomes tangled up in violence, nationalism, and empire
May 6, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Brian Zahnd, a pastor and author known for his insights on faith and politics, tackles the troubling entanglement of Christianity with nationalism and violence. He explores the historical evolution from a peaceful faith to its entwinement with empire, particularly focusing on America's modern imperial identity. Zahnd addresses hyper-masculinity's role in shaping authoritarian nationalism and emphasizes the importance of embracing diverse cultural identities within Christian unity. His thoughts provoke a deeper conversation on faith's political implications.
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Quick takeaways
- The early church prioritized loyalty to Jesus over political power, emphasizing peace and love against the Roman Empire's imperial claims.
- Constantine's rule transformed Christianity into a state religion, intertwining faith with nationalism and justifying violence, overshadowing Jesus' original message of nonviolence.
Deep dives
The Early Church's Stance on Empire
In the first three centuries of Christianity, the early church maintained a clear ambivalence towards the Roman Empire, focusing instead on their allegiance to Jesus as their ultimate king. This stance placed them in direct conflict with imperial claims of authority, particularly when they boldly declared Jesus as Lord, implying that Caesar was not. Early Christians abstained from political ambition or military involvement, choosing instead to promote peace and love, as evident in their interpretation of prophetic verses calling for swords to be turned into plowshares. Their identity was deeply rooted in the belief that they served a kingdom that operated outside the political machinations of Rome.
