Christian Nationalism in American Megachurches
Christian Nationalism in American Megachurches
Christian nationalism in American megachurches refers to the ways some large evangelical and charismatic congregations connect Christian identity with ideas about American national identity, political authority, public institutions, elections, and cultural influence. The sources surveyed describe a diverse and contested phenomenon rather than a single unified movement. Some pastors and churches explicitly embrace the Christian nationalist label, while others reject it even when they argue that Christianity should have a prominent role in American public life. Still others actively organize against Christian nationalism and warn that it confuses religious faith with political power.
Megachurches are important to the study of Christian nationalism because they can provide large audiences, sophisticated media operations, extensive donor networks, leadership pipelines, educational programs, and connections to political organizations. The uploaded material documents churches and pastors involved in candidate training, voter mobilization, political rallies, patriotic worship, government outreach, church-based organizing, and theological movements that seek greater Christian influence over public institutions. At the same time, the material includes substantial disagreement among evangelicals over whether these activities constitute ordinary Christian political participation, conservative activism, civil religion, dominionism, or Christian nationalism.
Megachurches as Political and Cultural Institutions
Several case studies show how large churches can function not only as places of worship but also as centers of political and cultural organization. Mercy Culture Church in Fort Worth receives extensive attention in the source material. Reporting describes its charismatic theology, emphasis on spiritual warfare, political activism, and efforts to influence government, education, business, media, and other institutions. Its Campaign University program has trained conservative Christians interested in seeking political office, presenting political participation as part of a broader religious mission.
Dream City Church, Awaken Church, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, First Baptist Dallas, Free Chapel, Cornerstone Church, Global Vision Bible Church, King Jesus International Ministry, and other congregations also appear in reporting on the intersection between evangelical ministry and conservative political activism. Some churches have hosted political conferences, candidate events, voter programs, civic-engagement ministries, or organizations such as Turning Point Faith.
The sources suggest that megachurch size is only one part of their political significance. A pastor may exercise influence through television, radio, podcasts, social media, national speaking appearances, denominational networks, political advisory roles, and relationships with elected officials even when the congregation itself is not among the country's largest churches.
Turning Point Faith and Church-Based Political Mobilization
Turning Point USA and its religious outreach project, Turning Point Faith, appear repeatedly in the material. Reporting describes efforts to build networks of politically active churches, encourage pastors to address political and cultural issues, and mobilize Christians around elections and public policy.
Dream City Church and other congregations have hosted Turning Point events in which political speeches, worship, conservative activism, and evangelical ministry overlap. Some participating pastors argue that churches have avoided political questions for too long and should become more active in public affairs. Critics contend that such programs risk transforming congregations into partisan political organizations.
Turning Point's expansion into Christian colleges and evangelical institutions is also described as part of a broader strategy to develop a religiously motivated political constituency. The material presents this development as one example of a larger trend in which political activism is increasingly conducted through church networks rather than exclusively through conventional political parties or campaign organizations.
New Apostolic Reformation and Seven Mountains Theology
A significant portion of the sources focuses on the New Apostolic Reformation and related charismatic movements. Figures such as Lance Wallnau, Ché Ahn, Dutch Sheets, Cindy Jacobs, Lou Engle, and others appear in discussions of Seven Mountains theology and dominion-oriented political activism.
Seven Mountains teaching generally identifies major areas of society—often including government, education, media, business, family, religion, and entertainment—as spheres in which Christians should exercise influence. Critics interpret this approach as a form of dominionism when it moves from general cultural engagement toward the goal of Christian control over institutions.
Lance Wallnau's political organizing, including the Courage Tour, illustrates the combination of charismatic worship, spiritual-warfare language, prophecy, election activism, and efforts to recruit Christians into political roles. Reporting on these networks emphasizes that they do not represent all evangelicals or even all charismatic Christians, but they have gained visibility through alliances with political movements and large churches.
Trump-Era Megachurch Leadership
The rise of Donald Trump transformed the political role of several prominent evangelical and megachurch pastors. The source material identifies Robert Jeffress, Jack Graham, Jentezen Franklin, Paula White-Cain, David Jeremiah, Guillermo Maldonado, and others as participants in Trump's evangelical advisory networks or related political initiatives.
Trump's 2016 evangelical advisory board brought together pastors, televangelists, religious broadcasters, and leaders of large churches. Some became regular public defenders of Trump or advisers on religious and political matters. Others attempted to influence administration policy on issues including immigration and religious liberty.
First Baptist Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress became one of the most visible examples. His statements that the United States was founded as a Christian nation have been examined by scholars and journalists debating the boundary between conservative evangelical patriotism and Christian nationalism.
Jentezen Franklin, pastor of Free Chapel, likewise became involved in national political and religious events. King Jesus International Ministry in Miami hosted the launch of Evangelicals for Trump in 2020. These cases demonstrate how megachurch pastors can connect local congregations to national political leadership.
Patriotic Worship and Civil Religion
Another recurring theme is the use of patriotic symbols and national rituals inside churches. The sources discuss worship services that incorporate American flags, patriotic songs, founding documents, military recognition, national holidays, and rhetoric presenting the United States as having a special relationship with God.
Scholars and Christian commentators disagree over when patriotic worship becomes Christian nationalism. Some argue that gratitude for one's country and participation in civic life are compatible with Christian faith and should not automatically be labeled nationalist. Others warn that worship can become nationalistic when the United States is treated as a divinely chosen nation, biblical promises to ancient Israel are applied directly to America, or national identity becomes intertwined with Christian salvation.
The concept of civil religion is important to this discussion. Some sources trace Christian nationalism partly to older Protestant traditions in which American history, national symbols, and Christian language were blended in public ceremonies and church services.
Churches as Political Organizing Centers
The uploaded material documents numerous examples of churches serving as bases for political activity. These activities include voter registration, election education, candidate training, political conferences, ballot initiatives, election-worker recruitment, civic-engagement programs, and public-policy campaigns.
Texas appears frequently in the sources because of its large evangelical population, extensive megachurch networks, and organized conservative Christian political infrastructure. Reporting describes pastors and political activists challenging conventional interpretations of church-state separation and promoting greater biblical influence over government and education.
The role of the federal Johnson Amendment, which restricts partisan candidate intervention by tax-exempt organizations, is also relevant. Changes in enforcement or interpretation of these restrictions could affect how openly churches participate in electoral politics.
Christian Nationalism Inside Congregations
Christian nationalism can also produce conflict within individual churches. Some pastors have attempted to prevent congregations from becoming dominated by partisan politics, while members have demanded stronger political engagement.
Reporting on McLean Bible Church, for example, describes political and racial disputes within a large evangelical congregation. Other sources recount individual Christians attending churches led by pastors associated with Christian nationalist organizations and struggling with how to respond.
The sources also document churches that explicitly embrace nationalist or postmillennial political theology. Doug Wilson and the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches are prominent examples. Wilson's church network has gained increasing political visibility, and new congregations connected to that movement have attracted national attention.
Christian Responses and Internal Evangelical Debate
Christian opposition to Christian nationalism is an important part of the material. Christians Against Christian Nationalism, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Presbyterian groups, mainline Protestant organizations, evangelical writers, and other religious leaders have developed educational campaigns and theological critiques.
These critics argue that Christianity should not be identified with any nation, political party, or ethnic identity. They frequently emphasize religious liberty, pluralism, and church-state separation.
Other Christian writers caution that the term Christian nationalism can be applied too broadly. They argue that conservative Christians should be able to participate in politics, advocate biblical moral positions, or express patriotism without automatically being classified as nationalists. This definitional debate is central to the literature.
Research, Polling and Definitions
National surveys from Pew Research Center and the Public Religion Research Institute show that Americans differ widely over the role Christianity should play in government. Some respondents support describing the United States as a Christian nation, while others strongly support institutional separation between church and state.
Research also finds variation across religious traditions. White evangelical Protestants have generally shown higher levels of support for Christian nationalist ideas than many other religious groups, while substantial numbers of practicing Christians reject those ideas.
Scholars increasingly distinguish between different forms of Christian nationalism rather than treating the phenomenon as a single ideology. These can include cultural nationalism, religious traditionalism, charismatic dominionism, explicitly theocratic movements, patriotic civil religion, and political identities that connect Christianity with conceptions of American national belonging.
This distinction is particularly important in the study of megachurches because churches may share some characteristics—such as conservative theology or patriotic worship—without sharing the same political objectives or understanding of national identity.
Church-State Boundaries
Debates surrounding Christian nationalism frequently involve the First Amendment, religious liberty, and the proper relationship between churches and government.
Some activists argue that the modern concept of church-state separation has been interpreted too expansively and that Christian principles should influence public law and institutions. Critics respond that government preference for Christianity would threaten religious minorities and undermine equal citizenship.
Megachurches can become important participants in these debates because they possess organizational resources and large constituencies capable of influencing school boards, state legislatures, elections, and national political organizations.
Media, Worship, and Networked Influence
Modern megachurch influence extends far beyond Sunday services. Livestreaming, podcasts, social media, Christian television, worship music, conferences, political tours, and online ministries allow pastors and activists to reach national audiences.
Sean Feucht's worship events provide one example of how contemporary Christian music can move between church settings and political rallies. His public embrace of the Christian nationalist label contrasts with other evangelical leaders who reject that description.
Digital media also allows ideas associated with Christian nationalism, spiritual warfare, prophecy, election activism, and cultural restoration to circulate among churches that may not share formal denominational structures.
Diversity Within American Evangelicalism
The uploaded material repeatedly demonstrates that American evangelicalism is not politically or theologically uniform. Megachurch pastors disagree over Christian nationalism, Donald Trump, patriotic worship, political endorsements, immigration, race, religious liberty, and the relationship between Christianity and American identity.
Some churches actively support conservative political movements. Others attempt to remain politically neutral. Still others organize specifically against Christian nationalism.
The term therefore describes a contested field of beliefs and practices rather than a position held by all evangelicals or all megachurches. Careful analysis requires distinguishing between Christian political participation, partisan activism, patriotism, civil religion, religious conservatism, dominion theology, and explicit Christian nationalism.
Conclusion
American megachurches have become significant institutions in debates over Christian nationalism because they combine religious authority, organizational capacity, media reach, large congregations, and access to political networks. The uploaded sources document churches involved in political training, voter mobilization, charismatic activism, patriotic worship, government outreach, and campaigns to reshape public institutions according to Christian principles.
At the same time, the sources show deep disagreement within Christianity about these developments. Some pastors and activists openly advocate a stronger Christian role in government and national identity, while others reject the Christian nationalist label or oppose the ideology altogether. Scholars and journalists likewise caution against treating every form of evangelical political participation as Christian nationalism.
The evidence therefore presents Christian nationalism in American megachurches as a broad and internally diverse phenomenon. Its significance lies not simply in individual pastors or congregations but in the networks connecting churches, political organizations, media platforms, theological movements, donors, activists, and public officials. Understanding those networks—and the debates within Christianity over their legitimacy—is essential to understanding the contemporary relationship between religion and politics in the United States.
Megachurch Case Studies and Direct Reporting
1. | Mark Wingfield | Baptist News Global | September 14, 2026
Examines First Baptist Dallas, Jeffress' national political visibility, and the distinction between a pastor's political influence and the current size of his congregation.
2. | Rachel Monroe | The New Yorker | March 15, 2026
Examines Mercy Culture, a rapidly growing Fort Worth megachurch whose pastors combine charismatic Christianity, conservative political activism, and efforts to influence government and elections.
3. | Mercy Culture | Mercy Culture | 2026
Primary-source collection showing how a politically active megachurch addresses government, education, business, media, sexuality, religion, and American culture.
4. | Awaken Church | Awaken Church | 2026
Primary-source page describing Awaken Church's political-action ministry, partnership with Turning Point Faith, Biblical Citizenship courses, and efforts to influence government and culture.
5. | Calvary Chapel Chino Hills | Calvary Chapel Chino Hills | 2026
Primary-source church page documenting election-related ministries, voter guides, ballot collection, and civic engagement.
6. | Rick Pidcock | Baptist News Global | July 7, 2026
Examines patriotic worship at Houston First Baptist and other large churches, asking when religious celebration of the United States becomes Christian nationalism.
7. | Jentezen Franklin Ministries | Free Chapel | April 1, 2026
Provides a primary-source example of a megachurch ministry describing its participation in White House religious events and emphasizing faith's role in national leadership.
8. | Mercy Culture | Mercy Culture | June 4, 2026
Presents Mercy Culture's understanding of cultural and institutional transformation through explicitly biblical principles.
9. | Mercy Culture | Mercy Culture | April 20, 2026
Primary-source discussion of the Christian-nationalist label from a church deeply involved in conservative religious political organizing.
10. | Mercy Culture | Mercy Culture | April 20, 2026
Primary-source commentary connecting Christian faith, national identity, culture, and the future of the United States.
11. | Religion News Service | Religion News Service | April 21, 2026
Examines use of 2 Chronicles 7:14 in nationalist religious rhetoric and discusses Georgia megachurch pastor Jentezen Franklin's use of the passage at a Trump rally.
12. | Marissa Greene and Cecilia Lenzen | ProPublica / Fort Worth Report | November 10, 2025
Investigates Mercy Culture's Campaign University, which trains conservative Christians to run for political office and teaches that Christian faith should influence government.
13. | Marissa Greene and Cecilia Lenzen | The Texas Tribune | November 10, 2025
Reports on Mercy Culture's candidate-training program and its effort to cultivate what church leaders call "spirit-led" political candidates.
14. | Harrison Mantas | Fort Worth Star-Telegram | October 15, 2025
Reports on Fort Worth officials seeking greater involvement from churches and the framing of municipal politics as a spiritual struggle.
15. | David Smith | The Guardian | September 20, 2025
Provides a broad account of the development of contemporary Christian nationalism, including Trump's megachurch advisers, charismatic pastors, the New Apostolic Reformation, Turning Point Faith, and the Seven Mountains concept.
16. | Carly Rose Jackson | The Texas Tribune | August 4, 2025
Examines how changes in federal enforcement of restrictions on church political endorsements could increase the political influence of Texas pastors, noting the state's unusually large number of megachurches.
17. | First Baptist Dallas | Religion News Service Press Release Distribution | June 23, 2025
Primary-source statement from First Baptist Dallas describing Robert Jeffress' support for Trump administration military actions and the congregation's response.
18. | Clarissa Moll | Christianity Today | April 17, 2025
A first-person account of worshiping in a congregation led by a pastor associated with a Christian nationalist clergy network.
19. | Tiffany Benson | Turning Point USA | January 5, 2025
Primary-source coverage of Turning Point Faith leader Lucas Miles explaining why pastors should preach about political and cultural issues.
20. | Lisa Hagen | NPR | October 24, 2024
Investigates Charlie Kirk's growing work with megachurch pastors, Turning Point Faith, Dream City Church, and charismatic leaders involved in conservative political mobilization.
21. | Robert Downen | ProPublica / The Texas Tribune | October 2024
Investigates Texas pastors and billionaire donors Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks and the political infrastructure surrounding conservative Christian policymaking.
22. | Erica Ramirez | Patheos / Anxious Bench | March 2024
Reflects on fieldwork in Texas megachurches and examines patriotic ritual, nationalism, race, and the complexity of identifying Christian nationalism inside large churches.
23. | Nicole VanDyke | The Christian Post | September 20, 2023
Reports on Cornerstone Chapel pastor Gary Hamrick's argument that pastors should address political and cultural issues from the pulpit.
24. | Jack Jenkins | The Washington Post | June 12, 2023
Reports on Dream City Church, Awaken Church, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, and Turning Point Faith's attempt to build a politically active network of evangelical congregations.
25. | Jack Jenkins | Religion News Service | June 9, 2023
Examines Turning Point Faith events at Dream City Church and similar congregations, including political organizing presented alongside worship and evangelical ministry.
Uses First Baptist Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress as a case study in debates over what beliefs and political goals qualify as Christian nationalism.
27. | Samuel L. Perry and Andrew L. Whitehead | History News Network | November 8, 2022
Discusses Jeffress' public statements and explains how scholars distinguish patriotism, conservative Christianity, and Christian nationalism.
28. | Mark Wingfield | Baptist News Global | July 5, 2022
Examines Robert Jeffress' statements about the United States as a Christian nation and his distinction between that claim and the label "Christian nationalist."
29. | Annie Gowen | The Washington Post | March 31, 2022
Profiles Global Vision Bible Church pastor Greg Locke and the merging of charismatic revival, election denial, conspiracy claims, and conservative politics.
30. | Matthew Boedy | Political Research Associates | January 28, 2022
Traces Turning Point USA's transformation from campus conservatism toward church-based organizing, including its alliance with Dream City Church and Pastor Rob McCoy.
31. | Bob Smietana | The Washington Post | November 19, 2021
Covers the same Cornerstone Church rally and Flynn's statement that the United States should have "one religion," placing the event within a broader Christian-right network.
32. | Bob Smietana | Religion News Service | November 15, 2021
Reports on a ReAwaken America event at John Hagee's Cornerstone Church in San Antonio featuring Michael Flynn and other figures associated with Christian nationalist politics.
33. | Stephanie McCrummen | The Washington Post | July 11, 2021
Profiles Mercy Culture Church in Fort Worth and its emphasis on spiritual warfare, political engagement, and extending biblical authority into government, business, schools, and other institutions.
34. | Sarah Pulliam Bailey | The Washington Post | October 26, 2020
Profiles Patriot Churches explicitly combining evangelical Christianity, American nationalism, conservative politics, and support for Donald Trump.
35. | Yonat Shimron and Bob Smietana | Religion News Service | February 20, 2020
Discusses political conflict within the Southern Baptist Convention and references Prestonwood Baptist pastor Jack Graham and his congregation's political influence.
36. | Cheryl K. Chumley | The Washington Times / Jentezen Franklin Ministries | April 13, 2019
Discusses Free Chapel pastor Jentezen Franklin and the return of prominent evangelical pastors to direct political organizing during the Trump era.
37. | Sarah Pulliam Bailey | The Washington Post | November 12, 2017
Explores Trump's relationships with prominent evangelical leaders, including megachurch pastors Jack Graham and Jentezen Franklin.
Turning Point Faith, Charismatic Networks and the New Apostolic Reformation
38. | Ché Ahn Ministries | Ché Ahn Media | 2026
Primary-source biography of Harvest Rock Church pastor Ché Ahn and his leadership of Harvest International Ministry and Wagner University.
39. | Right Wing Watch | People For the American Way | 2026
Collection documenting Lance Wallnau's Seven Mountains teachings, Christian nationalist self-identification, and political mobilization.
40. | Kyle Mantyla | Right Wing Watch | February 24, 2026
Uses Feucht's response to Muslim public prayer as a case study in religious exclusivism and Christian nationalist conceptions of American identity.
41. | Right Wing Watch | People For the American Way | 2025-2026
Collection of reporting on Harvest Rock pastor Ché Ahn's political activism, dominion theology, and involvement in Christian nationalist organizing.
42. | Paul A. Djupe and collaborators | Politics and Religion | 2025
Analyzes multiple forms of American Christian nationalism, including charismatic dominionism and the New Apostolic Reformation.
43. | Academic Authors | Politics and Religion | 2025
Provides a scholarly framework for distinguishing different theological forms of Christian nationalism, including Seven Mountains and charismatic dominionist movements.
44. | Religion News Service | Religion News Service | November 1, 2024
Examines Turning Point USA's expansion into Christian colleges and churches and its rhetoric about reclaiming American institutions for Christianity.
45. | Emily Belz | Christianity Today | November 2024
Reports on Turning Point USA's expansion into evangelical campuses and debates within Christian institutions about Kirk's increasingly religious political message.
46. | Lisa Hagen and Audrey Nguyen | NPR / Oregon Public Broadcasting | October 7, 2024
Reports on Lance Wallnau's Courage Tour, which combined charismatic revival practices with recruiting Christians to become poll workers and election observers.
47. | Geoff Bennett and Matthew D. Taylor | PBS NewsHour | September 30, 2024
Explains Lance Wallnau, the New Apostolic Reformation, Seven Mountains theology, and their growing connection to electoral organizing.
48. | Jack Jenkins | Religion News Service | May 23, 2024
Traces the Appeal to Heaven flag through New Apostolic Reformation networks and explains its contemporary association with campaigns for Christian political restoration.
49. | Bob Smietana | Religion News Service | May 1, 2024
Examines the transformation of contemporary evangelical worship music into political ritual at Sean Feucht events and Christian nationalist gatherings.
50. | Adam Gabbatt | The Guardian | April 7, 2024
Examines charismatic Christian leaders who describe Trump through biblical prophecy and links this worldview to NAR figures and megachurch networks.
51. | André Gagné | Religion News Service | April 4, 2024
Explains Lance Wallnau's Seven Mountains teaching and the New Apostolic Reformation's emphasis on gaining influence over government and other cultural institutions.
52. | Sean Feucht | Sean Feucht Ministries | 2024
Primary-source commentary defending Feucht's political worship activism and responding to critics who characterize his movement as Christian nationalist.
53. | Kyle Mantyla | Right Wing Watch | April 21, 2023
Documents Sean Feucht explicitly embracing the Christian nationalist label and advocating Christian control of lawmaking during a church appearance.
54. | Bob Smietana | The Washington Post | January 6, 2023
Presents a taxonomy of Christian nationalist networks, including megachurch pastors, charismatic prophets, NAR leaders, and explicitly theocratic organizations.
55. | Bob Smietana | Religion News Service | January 6, 2023
Describes six overlapping Christian nationalist currents, including Trump prophets, NAR leaders, conservative pastors, and other activist networks.
56. | Liz Hayes | Americans United | September 29, 2022
Profiles Greg Locke and examines how partisan endorsements and Christian nationalist rhetoric can emerge directly from church pulpits.
57. | Emyle Watkins | Buffalo Toronto Public Media | August 21, 2022
Reports on Christian nationalist messages surrounding the ReAwaken America Tour and statements by pastor Greg Locke.
58. | Associated Press and FRONTLINE | PBS FRONTLINE | September 2022
Summarizes evidence connecting Flynn's political movement to pastors, churches, Christian nationalist rhetoric, and spiritual-warfare language.
59. | Michelle R. Smith and Associated Press / FRONTLINE | PBS FRONTLINE | 2022
Investigates Michael Flynn's alliance with pastors and Christian nationalist groups and the merging of revival-style religious events with political mobilization.
60. | Religion News Service | Religion News Service | September 14, 2021
Examines the intersection of Christian nationalism, pandemic resistance, worship rallies, and religiously framed opposition to government authority.
61. | Bob Smietana | Religion News Service | August 7, 2021
Reports on an "America's Revival" gathering that blended megachurch-style worship, conservative political activism, election claims, and Christian nationalist rhetoric.
62. | Katelyn Beaty | Religion News Service | September 23, 2020
A first-person critique of a Sean Feucht worship gathering that argues contemporary evangelical nationalism can blur the boundary between Christian worship and political identity.
Churches, Pastors and Political Mobilization
63. | Robert Downen and Religion News Service | The Texas Tribune | August 13, 2026
Contrasts competing Christian interpretations of political engagement, including direct criticism of Christian nationalism.
64. | Texas Tribune Staff | The Texas Tribune | June 14, 2026
Reports on explicit discussion of Christian nationalism and Christian influence in government at the 2026 Texas Republican convention.
65. | Megan Fowler | Christianity Today | July 30, 2026
Reports on Protestant denominations formally studying Christian nationalism and developing church responses to the movement.
66. | Russell Moore | Christianity Today | June 29, 2026
Discusses patriotic worship and the theological distinction between gratitude for one's country and religious nationalism.
67. | Russell Moore | Christianity Today | June 24, 2026
Discusses how churches can acknowledge national holidays without making American identity central to Christian worship.
68. | Russell Moore | Christianity Today | June 15, 2026
Addresses practical questions from Christians dealing with Christian nationalist ideas inside congregations.
69. | Mike Ferguson | The Christian Century | May 29, 2026
Reports on pastors and hymnwriters developing worship resources intended to counter nationalist ideas within congregations.
70. | Russell Moore | Christianity Today | May 20, 2026
Critiques efforts to apply biblical covenant language directly to the United States during national religious gatherings.
71. | Christianity Today | Christianity Today | May 2026
Warns against applying the Christian nationalism label too broadly and argues for distinguishing ordinary conservative Christian political participation from genuine nationalist ideology.
72. | Robert Downen | The Texas Tribune | March 17, 2025
Examines increasingly explicit Christian-right efforts to shape Texas legislation, education policy, and public institutions.
73. | Robert Downen | The Texas Tribune | January 15, 2025
Documents pastors and political leaders arguing against church-state separation during the opening of the Texas legislative session.
74. | Robert Downen | The Texas Tribune | May 28, 2024
Reports on Christian nationalist rhetoric, spiritual-warfare language, clergy involvement, and church networks at the Texas Republican convention.
75. | Peter Smith | Associated Press | March 2024
Examines the belief that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and contrasts claims made by pastors and politicians with historical scholarship.
76. | Jonathan Tran | The Christian Century | July 2024
Examines problems of definition and cautions that Christian nationalism can refer to several related but distinct phenomena.
77. | Robert Downen | The Texas Tribune | November 3, 2023
Profiles Christian-right historian David Barton and the networks promoting biblical influence over American government.
78. | Robert Downen | The Texas Tribune | May 4, 2023
Examines the role of conservative Christian activists and Texas megachurch pastors in campaigns challenging traditional church-state boundaries.
79. | Peter Stone | The Guardian | May 1, 2023
Investigates Pastors for Trump and its plans to organize churches and clergy in politically important states.
80. | Christianity Today | Christianity Today | March 2023
Examines common practices associated with Christian nationalism in evangelical churches, including patriotic symbolism and treating biblical promises as specifically American.
81. | Daniel Silliman | Christianity Today | October 31, 2022
Explores disagreement among evangelicals over Christian nationalism, political power, national identity, and the meaning of America's Christian heritage.
82. | Amanda Tyler and contributors | BJC / Freedom From Religion Foundation | February 2022
Extensive report documenting Christian nationalist symbols, clergy, organizations, theology, and rhetoric surrounding January 6.
83. | Americans United Staff | Americans United for Separation of Church and State | May 16, 2022
Documents a complaint asking the IRS to investigate explicit partisan political statements by Global Vision Bible Church pastor Greg Locke.
84. | Ed Pilkington | The Guardian | February 24, 2021
Reports on more than 100 evangelical leaders condemning Christian nationalism after the January 6 attack.
85. | Mya Jaradat | Deseret News | February 7, 2021
Examines how pastors and congregations can respond to Christian nationalism following the January 6 Capitol attack.
86. | Associated Press and FRONTLINE | PBS FRONTLINE | 2022
Investigates Michael Flynn's alliance with churches, pastors, ReAwaken America, and Christian nationalist activists.
87. | Adrian Horton | The Guardian | April 27, 2024
Reviews the documentary "Bad Faith," which traces Christian nationalist organizing through churches, political strategists, donors, and evangelical institutions.
88. | Clarissa Moll | Christianity Today | April 17, 2025
A first-person account of worshiping in a congregation led by a pastor associated with a Christian nationalist clergy network.
Trump-Era Megachurch Leadership
89. | Lauren Costantino | Miami Herald | May 19, 2026
Reports on King Jesus International Ministry pastor Guillermo Maldonado participating in a national religious rally linking prayer, politics, and America's Christian heritage.
90. | Matthew Avery Sutton | The Washington Post | April 21, 2026
Traces Trump's relationship with televangelists and prosperity-gospel leaders, including former megachurch pastor Paula White-Cain.
91. | First Baptist Dallas | Religion News Service Press Release Distribution | June 23, 2025
Primary-source statement from First Baptist Dallas describing Robert Jeffress' support for Trump administration military actions and the congregation's response.
92. | Aleja Hertzler-McCain | The Washington Post | May 17, 2023
Discusses Christian nationalism among Latino evangelical communities and Trump's 2020 Evangelicals for Trump event at Guillermo Maldonado's Miami megachurch.
93. | Michelle Boorstein | The Washington Post | October 29, 2020
Provides additional background on Jentezen Franklin's status as a prominent megachurch pastor and Trump evangelical adviser.
94. | Religion News Service / Jentezen Franklin Ministries | Free Chapel | March 19, 2020
Discusses Franklin's leadership of Free Chapel and his extensive contacts with President Trump as an evangelical adviser.
95. | Sarah Pulliam Bailey | The Washington Post | February 14, 2020
Describes Trump's close relationship with Robert Jeffress and other evangelical pastors who advised his administration.
96. | Associated Press | PBS NewsHour | January 3, 2020
Covers Trump's launch of Evangelicals for Trump at El Rey Jesus/King Jesus International Ministry, a Miami Latino megachurch.
97. | Cheryl K. Chumley | The Washington Times / Jentezen Franklin Ministries | April 13, 2019
Describes Free Chapel pastor Jentezen Franklin's political engagement and participation in Trump's evangelical advisory circle.
98. | Eugene Scott | The Washington Post | May 14, 2018
Profiles First Baptist Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress and his role as a prominent Trump evangelical adviser.
99. | Meridith McGraw | ABC News | May 14, 2018
Reports on Robert Jeffress delivering a prayer at the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and his relationship with the Trump administration.
100. | Frances Stead Sellers | The Washington Post | September 4, 2017
Shows megachurch pastors acting both as Trump political allies and as advisers attempting to influence administration policy.
101. | John Fea | The Washington Post | July 17, 2017
Uses First Baptist Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress to examine the emergence of prominent evangelical pastors acting as informal religious advisers to Donald Trump.
102. | Gainesville Times Staff | Gainesville Times | 2016
Profiles Jentezen Franklin's role advising the Trump campaign and the political influence of his multisite megachurch ministry.
103. | Donald Trump Campaign | American Presidency Project | June 21, 2016
Primary-source list of Trump's evangelical advisory board, including megachurch pastors Robert Jeffress, Jack Graham, Jentezen Franklin, Robert Morris, David Jeremiah, Paula White, and others.
Patriotic Worship and Civil Religion
104. | Rick Pidcock | Rick Pidcock | July 7, 2026
Expanded discussion of patriotic church services featuring American symbols, founding documents, national songs, and Christian worship.
105. | Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood | Americans United | May 29, 2024
Examines American civil religion and the historical blending of patriotic ceremonies with Protestant worship.
106. | Thomas Lecaque | TIME | October 2023
Places contemporary white Christian nationalism within a longer history of American sacred-nationalist narratives.
Christian Nationalism Inside Congregations
107. | Tracy Simmons | Religion News Service | December 10, 2025
Traces fifty years of Doug Wilson's Christ Church and the growing national political visibility of his Christian nationalist theology.
108. | Jason Wilson | The Guardian | September 3, 2025
Examines political and theological messages distributed through media networks associated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches.
109. | Mariya Manzhos | Deseret News | August 16, 2025
Profiles Doug Wilson's explicitly Christian-nationalist theology and the growth of his church network.
110. | Jack Jenkins | Religion News Service | July 14, 2025
Reports on the launch of Christ Kirk DC, an extension of Doug Wilson's church network, with senior government officials among attendees.
111. | Bob Smietana | Religion News Service | November 15, 2024
Reports from Tennessee congregations following the 2024 election, including politically conservative megachurches whose pastors differed over the meaning of Trump's victory.
112. | Michelle Boorstein | The Washington Post | July 22, 2021
Examines political and racial conflict inside McLean Bible Church and pastor David Platt's attempts to keep partisan politics from controlling the congregation.
Church-State Boundaries and Political Endorsements
113. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | February 17, 2026
Provides current state-level data on Christian nationalism and its relationship with evangelical affiliation, church attendance, prayer, scripture reading, and political identity.
114. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | February 2026
Full report presenting detailed data on religious practice and Christian nationalist beliefs throughout the United States.
115. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | February 8, 2023
National study examining evangelical identity, worship attendance, religious practice, and support for Christian nationalist ideas.
Research, Polling and Definitions
Examines how Christian nationalist beliefs relate to Christian ideas about charity, justice, social responsibility, and building the Kingdom of God.
117. | Chip Rotolo and Gregory A. Smith | Pew Research Center | May 14, 2026
Provides national polling on Christian nationalism, church involvement in politics, church-state separation, biblical influence on law, and differences among religious groups.
118. | Academic Authors | Religions | 2025
Studies political polarization and Christian nationalism within congregational settings and discusses challenges facing pastors and churches.
119. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | February 4, 2025
Updates national and state estimates and examines Christian nationalism alongside voting behavior, church attendance, media habits, and political attitudes.
120. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | February 4, 2025
Highlights the relationship between Christian nationalist beliefs, frequent worship attendance, white evangelical identity, and 2024 voting patterns.
121. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | October 30, 2024
Examines Americans who reject or remain skeptical of Christian nationalism across religious traditions, states, and demographic groups.
122. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | October 30, 2024
Summarizes national and state-level resistance to Christian nationalist beliefs.
123. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | September 10, 2024
Examines correlations between Christian nationalism, authoritarian attitudes, political violence, immigration views, patriarchy, and democratic norms.
124. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | February 28, 2024
Maps Christian nationalism across the United States and examines relationships with religion, political affiliation, race, education, and geography.
125. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | February 27, 2024
Summarizes the first PRRI state-level analysis of Christian nationalism and highlights particularly strong correlations with white evangelical Protestant identity.
126. | Chip Rotolo, Gregory A. Smith and Jonathan Evans | Pew Research Center | March 15, 2024
Surveys Americans' views on Christian nationalism, church-state separation, Christianity's role in government, and the Bible's influence on law.
127. | PRRI Staff | Public Religion Research Institute | February 8, 2023
Reports strong associations between evangelical identity, frequent church attendance, partisanship, and support for Christian nationalist beliefs.
128. | Pew Research Center | Pew Research Center | October 27, 2022
Explores what Americans mean when they say the United States should be a Christian nation and how those beliefs relate to religion and politics.
129. | Pew Research Center | Pew Research Center | October 27, 2022
Provides detailed survey results on Americans' attitudes toward the phrase "Christian nationalism" and competing understandings of the concept.
Christian Responses and Internal Evangelical Debate
130. | Andrew L. Seidel | Americans United | May 1, 2026
Addresses historical claims frequently used to support the argument that the United States was constitutionally established as a Christian nation.
131. | Eric Lane | Americans United | April 1, 2026
Presents a theological critique arguing that reliance on state power conflicts with evangelical teachings about Christianity's spiritual mission.
132. | Americans United | Americans United for Separation of Church and State | 2025-2026
Resource hub explaining Americans United's definition of Christian nationalism and providing historical, legal, and educational materials.
133. | Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service | April 4, 2025
Covers Amanda Tyler's explanation of Christian nationalism and its implications for religious liberty and pluralistic democracy.
134. | Religion News Service | North Carolina Council of Churches | November 7, 2024
Reports on congregations and ecumenical organizations organizing educational programs to counter Christian nationalist ideas.
135. | Russell Contreras | Axios | October 7, 2024
Reports on evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox, and mainline Christian leaders organizing against Christian nationalism within churches and public life.
136. | William J. Barber II et al. | Sojourners | September/October 2024
Collection of perspectives from pastors, scholars, and activists on how churches can respond to Christian nationalism while remaining engaged in public life.
137. | Ronald S. Cava | Baptist News Global | July 2, 2024
A Baptist theological assessment of Christian nationalism emphasizing religious liberty and historic Baptist support for church-state separation.
138. | Russell Contreras | Axios | June 24, 2024
Overview of Christian nationalism's political influence that specifically discusses reports of megachurches becoming increasingly identified with partisan politics.
139. | Adam Russell Taylor | Sojourners | April 3, 2024
Discusses pastoral reluctance to confront Christian nationalism and argues that silence within churches can allow nationalist ideas to spread.
140. | Russell Contreras | Axios | February 29, 2024
Examines support for Christian nationalist ideas among Latino Protestants and efforts by conservative religious organizations to organize Latino evangelical pastors.
141. | Axios Staff / Kristin Kobes Du Mez | Axios | February 8, 2024
Discusses how evangelical religious identity, nationalism, political grievance, church culture, and support for Donald Trump have become intertwined.
142. | Laura Barrón-López and Brad Onishi | PBS NewsHour | February 1, 2024
Introductory discussion of Christian nationalism's history, beliefs, relationship to evangelicalism, and implications for democratic pluralism.
143. | Kathryn Post | Religion News Service | January 8, 2024
Examines grassroots Christian opposition to Christian nationalism and efforts to counter it in churches, school boards, and local governments.
144. | Margaret Hoover and Tim Alberta | PBS Firing Line | 2024
Discusses Tim Alberta's reporting on political transformation within evangelical churches and the growth of Christian nationalist rhetoric during the Trump era.
145. | Laura Flanders | PBS | 2024
Discussion of the documentary "God & Country" and the relationship between evangelical churches, January 6, nationalism, and American politics.
146. | Bradley Onishi | Americans United | February 28, 2023
Excerpt from Onishi's account of his years inside conservative evangelicalism and his eventual rejection of Christian nationalist theology.
147. | Jack Jenkins | Religion News Service | August 2, 2019
Reports on Christian leaders launching Christians Against Christian Nationalism and defining the ideology as distinct from ordinary Christian political participation.
Broader Context for Megachurch Research
148. | Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty | BJC | 2026
Profiles a North Texas organizer with previous pastoral experience in large evangelical and multisite churches who now works with congregations responding to Christian nationalism.
149. | Jason Wilson | The Guardian | May 13, 2026
Reports on a Washington religious rally bringing together government officials and speakers associated with Christian nationalist activism.
150. | Jason Wilson | The Guardian | April 26, 2026
Examines the growing political influence of explicitly Christian-nationalist church networks connected to senior government officials.
151. | Jason Wilson | The Guardian | August 22, 2025
Investigates political and theological rhetoric within a church network associated with postmillennialism and Christian nationalist politics.
152. | Sojourners Contributors | Sojourners | 2024
Collection of perspectives from Christian pastors and scholars on recognizing and responding to Christian nationalism inside churches.
