The Gospel of Kooky ‘Christian Nationalism’
- Scott Bullerwell
- Apr 1
- 17 min read
Updated: Apr 4
So let me cut to the chase: “I’m Tired of Loopy, Kooky Christian Nationalists.” Of course, I’m equally tired of Evangelical believers with their fancy formulas and cabalistic ‘insights’ setting magical dates for the return of Christ ... Christians whom in their inability to control their hatred of the Maga Man, invoke images of that German guy with the toothbrush style mustache ... AND, I’m not a fan of drivers who ride your bumper, don’t know how to yield and apparently have never heard of a turn-signal – but, ‘God-bless-them,’ they have a ‘Christian’ fish symbol rivetted to their bumper for all to see. But, hey, one thing at a time.
Precisely why Pentecostal/Charismatics/Neo-Charismatics are so well represented in Christendom’s fringe department, I cannot say - but they are. Like pollen and taxes – they are inescapable. I listen to their bizarre utterances ... watch their loopy escapades ... reflect on their prophetic drivel ... and I shake my head! “Why,” I ask God? “Why?” But ... God in His wisdom remains silent!
Now for sure, I am not looking to collectively sentence all the folks in the three waves of Charismatic Christianity to the bughouse. 1 Not at all. Charismatics (and Neo-Charismatics) have built on the theology of their fore-running ancestor – Classical Pentecostals – and overwhelmingly have made a deserving, credible contribution to the growth of the Gospel and the living out of the Spirit-empowered life around the world. 2 My interest within these three God-raised waves is more discriminating. A modification of the worldwide Pentecostal-Charismatic movement, ‘Christian Nationalism’’ is a transnational Neo-charismatic movement.
Our World
First, a couple of preliminary thots.
(1) There is nothing wrong with nationalism in and of itself. It is the glue that binds societies together, allowing folks to corporately share a set of values and affirm a love for their country and culture – while accepting that alternative points of view are not anathema. The post-modern left has always insisted that patriotism is a precursor to fascism – but that is nonsense. A devotion to your home and country is not in itself a moral sin. Even Paul was perfectly open to identifying himself as a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37-38; 22:25-28) and not once did he stutter.
(2) I understand citizens desiring a muscular reaction to governmental over-reach (e.g. In Canada, Trudeau’s use of the Emergencies Act, was egregious and illegal) or the strategies proposed by international global governance and corrupt, self-serving plutocrats, who disapproving of nationalism, fly into that pop-up utopian Magic Mountain called Davos each year to find more ways to openly reject the nation-state and disempower citizens.
In 2015 (Dec. 8), just months into his tenure, Trudeau told the New York Times, “There is no core identity, no mainstream in Canada .... Those qualities are what make us the first post-national state.” Wow! Now, fast forward 10 years to this past March, 2025 and the former PM is now leading Canadians in a Patriotic, flag-waving cheer: “We will not be the 51st State.” Talk about chameleon! Frankly, while Trudeau the Younger has dismantled Canada as PM, his statement ... is true. Why? Because ‘Post Nationalism’ looks to dissolve borders, transferring power to global institutions like NATO, the WHO, and the World Economic Forum (precisely what Davos elitist Trudeau 2.0, Carney will do). Who would have thought we would see the day when our globalist, ex-Prime Minister would defend the sovereignty he was destroying? Still, that is not the kind of nationalism I have in mind here. And, yes, it is a trust issue for me! 3
(3) Finally, my thoughts are NOT focused on the kind of nationalism that devalues people, is to the detriment of migrants, immigrants or refugees or champions campaign’s (as nativists do) to ‘reclaim Canada for Canada.’ Nor have I in mind the kind of broad nationalism that endorses violent extremism, tears down statues, starts conflicts, goes to war, is antisemitic, anti-colonial or quashes citizens under oppressive regimes.
So, my interest, more theological and ecclesiastical than political, is in a particular kind of nationalism ... one that is religious in nature, ‘Christian’ by declaration, independently ‘Charismatic’ by fact and demonstratively politically active in the marketplace. Popularly known as ‘Christian Nationalism,’ it goes by a variety of every-changing names ... and is invariably linked to the Pentecostal, Charismatic and especially the Neo-Charismatic streams within evangelicalism.
Every ‘family’ whether Griswold or Christian, has a cousin Eddie disrupting their perfect household ... or a sweet, senile aunt Bethany who brings her cat over to the home wrapped in a gift box ... later to get torched in an over-burdened Christmas tree. So I get it!
Remember the snake handlers of the Appalachian Mountains? Pentecostal / Charismatic.
How about the Word of Faith crowd. Yes – the name it and claim it, blab it and grab bunch so popular with many believers is Charismatic.
Anyone remember the “Jesus is coming ... and I-know-exactly-when” date setters, with their calendars and mathematic formula’s. Neither the N.T. apostles or church councils ever predicted a date. But, to no surprise, Charismatics have and do!
How about the extrabiblical prophecies that declared DJT was going to be re-elected in 2020? When Biden won the election ... true to form, divine messages surfaced saying that God was going to defeat the demonic forces propping up Trump’s enemies and take back the stolen election. Yeh God! Charismatics one more time!
Not to be embarrassed, when Trump became the elected 47th President this past November, the ‘prophets’ shamelessly declared “The prophecies were right, but the dates were wrong.” OK – so God got the prophesy right ... and the date wrong!!! Wow. Tip your hat to those Neo-Charismatics!
Interested in Grave Soaking, Grave Sucking or Mantle Grabbing ... so you can pull out the power of the Holy Spirit? A visit to globally influential Bethel Church, that Neo-Charismatic church in Reddington, California, and its pastor Bill Johnson, could be of help to you.
AND finally, who can forget the adjectival defying Neo-Charismatic prophesies of NAR ‘prophet’ Julie Green’s (Julie Green Ministries International) declaring (Word received Feb. 27, 2022) that California Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi “loves to drink the little children’s blood,” and that the Angel of Death will come for her before the 2022 midterms ... that Joe Biden is secretly dead, being played by an actor ... the clock tower in London, “called Big Ben, it will fall to the ground” ... AND ... Prince Charles III would murder his mother the Queen – “He will never get that crown he killed for.” 4 Read Green for yourself. Just be sure you are sitting down.
Sorry, but my lunatic translator gizmo just broke.
Can someone help me decipher this NAR nonsense?
Now, in the spirit of transparency, I can report that I am not a disciple of New Order of the Latter Rain, Restorationism 5 ... Dominionism ... Triumphalism ... Kingdom Now ... Reconstructionism ... Christian Supremist theology or todays popular charismatic New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), with it wacky ‘Seven Mountain Mandate’ (7M) — all of which are ideological types of Christian Nationalism. 6 Surprisingly, many church goers would not be aware they are part of a NAR church or follow the ministries of their leaders.
Listen to former Professor of Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary's School of World Missions, the architect and high priest of NAR Peter C. Wegner, as he offers an explanation on their mission as Christian nationalists:
“Society is controlled by seven mountains. … So our goal is kingdom-minded and kingdom-motivated individuals on the top of each mountain because on the mountains, the influence comes from the top down. It doesn’t come from the bottom up. It comes from the top down. So we need the kingdom-minded, kingdom-motivated people at the top of each mountain. Then the influence of the kingdom will go right down through the mountain.”
NAR – the New Apostolic Reformation is not New ... Apostolic ... or a Reformation. It is a collective of charismatics who function more like a Saturday Night Live episode, offering new, strange and funny twists to old things. The incongruity of their irritating
hermeneutic is staggering.
The U.S. Capital Riots
Now I mention New Apostolic Reformation in particular, because interestingly, when the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capital riots took place, four of the six permits issued for that day by the Capital Police went to independent charismatics groups broadly committed to Christian Nationalist ideas – waging spiritual warfare campaigns against spiritual wickedness, territorial spirits, casting out demons (a la New Apostolic Reformation) ... and looking to overturn the election through spiritual warfare, not blunt instruments. For the record, the four were:
Area 8 – One Nation Under God
Area 10 – Women for a Great America: 50+ Days of Blessing
Area 11 – Rock Ministries International
Area 15 – Jesus Lives 7
Behind the scenes that infamous January 6th were NAR apostles and prophets like Texas-based NAR prophet Lance Wallnau – scheduled to speak that day ... leading NAR apostle Che Ahn – busy issuing prophetic decrees ... and prophetess Cindy Jacobs of Generals International – leading spiritual warfare efforts to tear down the powers and principalities blocking God’s will in the election. Jericho marches, “Make America Godly Again” flags, tongue-talkers publicly assailing demonic powers, shofars blowing , visions of death, destruction and the conquering of political adversaries – it was a scene even Barnum and Bailey would have had a hard time orchestrating. In my view, if Jesus did not get highjacked that day for political purposes, he certainly got mugged.
But the NAR fingerprint was bigger than that in the January 6th leadup. Eight days earlier, on December 29, 2020, NAR apostles like Dutch Sheets, Tim Sheets, Don Lynch and 12 other Christian nationalist mobilizers were busy meeting with high level administrative officials in a White House conference room for some two hours. What happened there, we are not told but apparently it was to find ways to “join the natural to the spirit.”
Christians used to believe that the way to transform a nation is through revival. No longer, it seems! These days, transformation comes through revolution and the holding of political power to advance Christianity. That ideology needs dismantling.
Even presidential spiritual advisor and higher-up NAR advocate, Paula White-Cain jumped in, with a nutty prayer / prophetic effort to secure Trump’s re-election. Need proof? Have a look yourself. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DlRueGU1AU]. If Paula White Cain, now married three times, but who’s counting (never mind the rumours of an affair with Benny Hinn) cannot get her home life together under Christ – by what thinking can we conclude she can get her nations life together for Christ? Yes – I am pointing her out!
Through the benefit of time, we can now positively say that things did not turn out very well for the babbling prophets, their prophecies, or their pick ... for as history shows, ‘Joe-you-know-who,’ hiding like Punxsutawney Phil, finally did leave his basement to lead the nation these last four years. Though I am not persuaded that there was a Christian national insurgency on January 6th, I do believe it helped fuel events that day, with its religious paraphernalia everywhere. To this end, I trust this helps frame a better understanding of the lead-up to events that January day ... and the role some loopy charismatics did play.
Frankly, I am not looking for a muscular Christianity
in Canadian politics, one that invades Babylon
to take back this country for God. The Church’s singular
mission is to spread the Kingdom message.
“Just the Facts, Ma,am" – Sgt. Friday, TV Series Dragnet.
Now, not all Evangelicals are ‘White’ Christian Nationalists ... something I can personally testify to. Still, even though I am ‘Not One of Those” ... this Christian supremacy faction that I call NAR-ism, remains a growing movement within Christianity, particularly among independent Neo-Charismatics and it continues to gain religious and political influence. By some estimates it claims to have grown in the U.S. from three million in 2015 to upwards of thirty-three million adherents / influencers in 2022. Though not centrally controlled, many of their leaders are household names within the movement, some leading mega churches; others ministries. For example, Harvest International Ministry in Pasadena, California, led by apostle Che Ahn claims to have a network of some 20,000 churches in 50 countries.8
Generals International under Cindy Jacobs exemplifies the latter.
This body of independent charismatics believe and practice all manner of eye-brow lifting theology. It is as though their hands are magic when handing and interpreting the Bible – conjuring up conclusions which no self-respecting exegete would ever arrive at and which would make the sorcerer at Endor (I Samuel 28) envious. This is likely why the NAR has its own Passion Translation Bible, produced by a single apostle, Brian Simmons, who himself has no formal academic training in theology and limited knowledge of the biblical languages. I guess it’s better to manufacture a ‘new translation,’ yourself when you can’t get legitimate biblical support from honest translations. 9
If you would like an overview of the figures and organizations connected to the NAR brand, the following Resource Directory would be a good place to begin:
Like pizza, NAR-ism comes in many sizes ... with lots of different crusts and toppings. Most of the leaders cultivate their own brands – given that there is a tremendously large religious marketplace. Some, like “The Line of Fire” radio host Michael Brown, formerly an advocate for mainstream charismatics and Pentecostalism and now an NAR apologist providing cover for them, questions whether the New Apostolic Reformation even exists. Cunningly avoiding truth, it is all just “Conspiracy theorists” and “hearsay,” says Brown.
NAR apostle Mark Chironna teaches that apostles
function at an unparalleled “level of genius.”
Oh, oh. In that case, we are seriously pooched!
Here are a few things its leaders would collectively agree on:
The Church is the governing Body of Christ on the earth.
The five-fold ‘offices’ of Ephesians 4:11-13 are being ‘restored. This ‘2nd Apostolic Era,’ began in 2001, says Wagner. The offices of apostle and prophet hold formal leadership not simply over evangelists, pastors, and teachers and those within a congregation – but over a network of churches. Plus, there are sub-categories of apostles too: nuclear church apostles, vertical apostles, horizontal apostles, territorial apostles, hyphenated apostles, strategic and tactical apostles, says Che Ahn, an NAR-ist himself.
Fail to submit to their authority and chances are you are under the influence of the demon called “Spirit of Religion.” Demonology and territorial spirits is big stuff in their ‘spiritual warfare’ campaign.
Christians are called by God to exercise dominion by taking control of both political and cultural institutions and this must happen prior to Jesus’ return. Government, with Christians at the top will ensure to advance the cause of Christianity. Think theocracy, not democracy! Yep - total societal dominion!
Once ‘Market Apostles’ (or ‘Work Place’; Apostles who combine business and ministry) have achieved success, there will be a “great wealth transfer” from the ungodly to the godly, which shall in turn facilitate the rapid expansion of the “Kingdom” (Wagner). Indeed, a 48 Apostle Council will be formed to oversee this wealth transfer.
The Great Commission of Matthew 28:16-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,” is about discipling the nations themselves; not each person within each nation, as traditionally believed.
Music is ‘sonic and micro-spiritual warfare battle against demons,’ they say. With massive worship events (e.g. ‘The Call - DC,’ ‘The Return,’ ‘Let Us Worship), that include “children and preteens decked in matching camouflage outfits,” music is a kind of guerilla warfare battle to wrest dominion over territorial demons hidden in the hills, away from view. 10 So, not surprising, at the 2020 meeting at the National Mall in D.C., NAR Apostle Lou Engle threw his Nazarite lunch pail at a giant “Jezebel Spirit” Burning Man he claimed he saw hovering over the field. When set to worship music – I confess, it is pretty-hyped-up impressive.
Lets’ do this Jeopardy style. “Religion for $1,000.”
Answer: “An example of eisegesis!”
Question: “What is a Super-Apostle?”
The Good News!
All of what I have just said NAR-ists believe - is kooky nonsense and not rooted in any objective biblical / theological reality. Frankly, I would take “the words of the prophets written on the subway walls,” (a la Simon and Garfunkel) any time, over their imaginations. Still, a few responses here might be helpful.
The Church is not the governing Body of Christ on earth. It is the Bride of Christ and Scripture says nothing about the Church taking over Jesus’s duties before he appears at his second coming. The kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God are different kingdoms (John 18:36). The goal of the Church is to spread the kingdom of God through the gospel, a goal the state does not share. Consequently, God has not called us to usher in the Kingdom but to manifest his kingdom – show others what the kingdom of God looks like when believers manifest the realities of heaven among them. Our commission is spiritual (not cultural or political) ... and anything that interferes with this goal will lead to massive mission drift! Likewise, conflating religious authority with political authority is just plain idolatrous
There is a serious flaw in reasoning that
human action conditions, controls or otherwise,
governs the divine calendar. The independent sovereignty of God is not within the scope
or jurisdiction of human calculation and control.
The ‘five-fold’ offices are not being restored ... because frankly they were never ‘lost’! When it comes to “apostles, prophets,” much could be said here, but I need to resist and be satisfied with just a few responses.
In the language of Ephesians 4:11, the emphasis does not lie in them as offices, but the stress is as gifts of Christ to His Church. The Greek text literally reads: “καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκε τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους” – (“and He gave some indeed [to be] Apostles”). Notably, the Greek text does not use the word ἔθετο - ("appointed, set”), which could infer offices. ‘Function,’ – not authority, is in view.
Apostles were eyewitnesses to the risen Lord and personally sent by him (Acts 2:21-22). Paul is included in this number, as he should be. Compare Acts 9:3-9 and 22:3-9 with I Corinthians 15:3-8, and notice Paul’s testimony: “he appeared to me also.” With their death, the apostolic ‘office’ ceased.
The witness of Hebrews 1:1-2 is clear: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son ...” The prophetic office is closed, the Scriptures are the complete and finished body of God’s revelation. What we can hope for is an illumination of that revelation.
The witness of Ephesians 4:11 is that God "gave some . . . prophets" Are O.T. or N.T. prophets in view here? Many, including classical Pentecostals, believe it to be a reference to NT prophets. Why? Well ... notice that earlier in Ephesians 2:20 - 'apostles' also comes before 'prophets.’ If O.T. prophets were in view, we should expect 'prophets' to be first; same holds true for 3:5. Interestingly, the Old Testament prophets that God raised up, were 100% right ... all the time ... every time!
The revival of the prophetic gift was promised in Joel 2:28-32. Two emphases are given by him: (1) the fullness of the Spirit (poured out) and (2) the democratization of the Spirit (on all flesh). “Would that all of God’s people were prophets”, said Moses (Numbers 11:29). Now with the advent of Pentecost, that potential exists for every member of the Church (I Corinthians 14:1; 12:28-31).
I am not prepared to concede the term Evangelical to loopy, charismatic, Christian nationalists, interested in
successfully manufacturing an environment that ‘permits’ Jesus, their mascot, to show up.
I think we can agree that the Apostles of Scripture were hardly saints. They quarreled (Luke 22:24), displayed jealousy (Matthew 20:24-28), were ill-tempered (Mark 14:4-9), had moments of doubt (Matthew 28:17), fear (Mark 6:50; 14:66-72) and were slow on the up-take when trying to understand Jesus’ teachings (Mark 4:13; 7: 18).
Unimaginably, todays modern-day Christian Nationalist apostle and prophet leaders have succeeded in outdoing, out-stripping and outperforming their predecessors in their ungodly, sinful, personal behavior. Even if we ignored their loopy prophecies for a moment, their heavy drinking, long term homosexuality, inappropriate behavior, moral failure, sexual abuse, lawsuits, countless marriages, and more – would make even a N.T. apostle blush with shame. I am tired of the church making ‘heroes’ of ungodly leaders who see the Church as chumps, so they can attract greater influence, status, control and wealth for themselves.
If you are going to call yourself an Apostle or Prophet today – know that the stakes are high. You are not above criticism, rebuke, even defrocking. And, does anyone know if stoning is still permissible?
Christian Nationalists have short memories! Anyone remember when Baptist Jimmy Carter became the 39th President (1977-81)? Many thought his rise was the highpoint of Christian political theology. After all, he was a Bible-believing ‘saved by the blood of Jesus,’ Christian. In the end, while he was a principled, honest, even progressive Christian, his administration performed below average, his failures were legion. This Evangelical-in-Chief failed to adequately master social righteousness in his country. Only in his post-presidency and later, his death, has Jimmy become more popular.
Jump ahead to the 44th President, Barack Obama (2009-2017) - that United Church of Christ ... Baptist ... Methodist ... Episcopalian follower of Jesus Christ. His administration stopped the enforcement of the Marriage Acts, supported gay marriage and for 7 years went after the Little Sisters of the Poor for fighting his contraceptive mandate. No, Christians did not fair well under his watch either. Donald J Trump will not fix things for ‘Christian Nationalists either, in case you are wondering.
Only a NAR-ist could imagine the Kingdom of God detached from Jesus himself. Not possible. In fact,
3rd. century theologian Origen went a step further
by picturing Jesus as autobasileia, that is, Jesus is
himself the kingdom and King of the Kingdom
(Luke 17:21; 22:28-30). I love Origen’s Christology here.
So, here is where I land:
I am not a Christian nationalist or an NAR disciple.
I am not looking to define Canada as ‘Christian.’ It is not and ... it is not going to be!
I am not expecting our Canadian political masters to specifically privilege Christianity.
I do not believe in ‘victorious eschatology’ (Wagner), that Christians are called by God to exercise dominion by taking control of our political institutions and controlling the world – in the name of Jesus.
I do not believe Christ in us takes dominion – that we are divinely called to establish and usher in God’s Kingdom here on earth so that Jesus, who apparently is stuck in heaven (Acts 3:2) is able to finally make it ‘home’ like E.T. the alien.
AND ... I do not believe Trump was created on the 8th day. Nor do I hate him, like many of my Christian friends and former students do. Maybe Face Book should be renamed Hate Book!
What I do believe is that God is calling us all to “seek the Kingdom” (Matthew 6:33). This should be our norm. Therefore, let us continue to do good wherever we can: feed the homeless, help restore broken families, and encourage the transformation of hearts by the Gospel of Christ. Unfortunately, there appears to be an appetite within Christianity, for being conned and exploited. Such is our treacherous human nature that thinks wishfully, rather than correctly.
Let us hope that free-thinking, informed believers grow tired of serving the self-interests of the false prophets and super-apostles. “OnlySaying...”
1. 1st wave - Classical Pentecostalism (1900 – 60s); 2nd wave - Charismatics (1960s –mid 1980s); 3rd wave - Neo-Charismatics (1980s – present). There are differences between Classical Pentecostalism and the Pentecostalism of the modern megachurch movement.
2. Many within the Charismatic and Neo-charismatic movement reject the idea that speaking in tongues is the initial physical sign of Spirit baptism. My denomination, The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada seems destined to arrive at the same conclusion, given the lack of clarity in their 2022 “refreshed” Statement of Essential Truths (SOET).
3. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/magazine/trudeaus-canada-again.html It is no secret that carbon taxes and energy restrictions intended to cripple Canada’s oil and gas industry, are forcing reliance on WEF-controlled “green energy” policies [Financial Post – Mar. 17, 19, 2025; Globe and Mail – Mar – 19, 2025]
4. https://www.jgminternational.org/prophecies/things-are-about-to-change-all-over-this-earth OR https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/doug-mastriano-campaign-prophet-julie-green-political-executions-are-coming
5. See my article, Restorationism: A Contemporary Theological Extreme. (Fall, 1987). https://www.spiritwatch.org/firerestore.htm
6. NAR-ists believe they have an obligation to have dominion over the seven mountains of religion, education, family, business, government, arts, and the media.
8. Canadian scholar André Gagné, in his book ‘American Evangelicals for Trump: Dominion, Spiritual Warfare, and the End Times,’ writes that NAR “boasts now some 2000 apostles in 85 different countries across the world.” I would highly recommend Bradley Onishi’s’ Preparing for War, a book that traces the history of White Christian Nationalism. A former evangelical who has since jettisoned his faith ... he offers a thoughtful history of the madness of far-right conservative belief, though I fundamentally disagree with a number of his evangelical depictions.
9. Simmons has a Doctorate from Wagner Leadership Institute (WLI), the premiere educational institution of the NAR. It’s website says “WLI desires to remain unhindered from traditional higher-level educational format requirements and is not an accredited institution.”
10. “Operation Ice Castle” was a 1997 trek prophet Ana Mendez and a team took to Everest to physically confront the demon ‘Queen of Heaven’, who has an ice castle 20,000 feet up the mountain. Mendez writes, “to get there we had to cross the ice fall, the most dangerous part of the Everest ascent, with no guide but Him and no help from other than angels.”
The Khumbu ice fall crevasses are indeed considered one of the most dangerous sections of the South Col route. To think Mendez’s team of rando trekkers got past Gorak Shep to the actual Everest Base Camp (EBC) where climbers pay companies tens of thousands of dollars to try and summit ... got by the Sherpas teams who know each other and confront ‘strangers’ not connected to teams ... moved through EBC to the ice fall in their crampons and used the fixed ropes and rented ladders others set up ... had no permit to climb from the Nepalese government and ... navigated Khumbu “with no guide,” up to 20,000 feet. Wow!!!!!!!!
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