If you are unfamiliar with Andrew Torba, you will likely not understand some elements of this book. The first google search result for “Andrew Torba” gives you this; an article from the Jewsish Anti-Defamation League accusing Torba of rampant anti-semitism, misinformation, right-wing extremism, and hateful dispositions to minorities. While there are some elements of the book that can be enjoyed in their own right, it is still obvious that this book contains rebuttals to common misconceptions of his opinions. I do not fault him for this, but I do find myself saddened that it would be necessary for him to explain his beliefs through a lens he did not create himself.
The last thing to note before reading is to take the word “guide” as a bit of a misnomer. This book does not read like a guidebook, but rather functions as a call to action. The book is energetic and motivating, unburdened with footnotes and intense, scholarly history. I probably should have been able to assume that from it’s length (took me 2 hours to read), but I also wish the title was a little more clear. That being said, let’s get right into the review!
Definitions
The book wastes no time with build up, background, or history. In fact it is almost such a fast introduction, you probably would have been wise to do a little research before hand on what Christianity or Nationalism even is. The word Christian is given a basic and adequate definition:
“In the simplest terms, a Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ who seeks to take dominion in all areas of life by obeying His commandment in the Great Commission to disciple all nations. A Christian loves his country—his place in the world— and because he loves his neighbor he seeks to take dominion and disciple it for the glory of God.”
Torba and Isker – Christian Nationalism, 2022
It is clear at this point that this is not a book for digesting profound theological concepts. Christianity has a working definition, time to get moving! While not giving an explicit definition for the word “nationalism”, it is clear how the two work together. The book cites 1 Timothy 5:8 as the basis for a nationalistic approach to Christianity. To the Christian: loving your neighbor means loving those that within your house. For the father, loving your neighbor means caring for your children and wife. On a larger scale, loving your neighbor means loving your community, state, or nation. At this point the book addresses the issue of Zionism, or Jewish Nationalism. To Torba and Isker, it does not make sense for a man to love the nation of Israel, and at the same time hate his own nation. Hating your immediate neighbor for the sake of a distant neighbor is like the man that “does not provide for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)
The rationale is simple and effective. Today’s culture loves to misuse the saying “loving your neighbor”, but it feels like Christian Nationalism reclaims the phrase. Unfortunately, this particularly powerful line of reasoning left me wanting more. I would have loved to stay and unpack the implications of this, but the book did not stay here for long. There were more topics to unpack.
The Mandate
I am sure that part of the reason Torba and Isker spend so little time convincing you of this ideology is because they feel, at least in part, that you should already be on board. The book uses the great commission as an integral piece of their Christian mandate. Modern preachers have used Matthew 28:19 in many different ways and to many different ends. Christian Nationalism takes the simplest approach, and with the most effective logic.
“But if you are a Christian, there is no way of getting around Jesus’s Great Commission to the Church. As He was about to ascend into heaven to rule this world, in light of that authority over heaven and earth, He commanded His apostles to baptize the nations and teach them to do as He commanded. If you are a Christian you believe this. And since America is a nation, America needs to be baptized and discipled into obeying Jesus.”
Torba and Isker – Christian Nationalism, 2022 (Emphasis Added)
Once again, the reasoning is straight-forward and powerful. The biblical mandate is already here. Are you not a Christian, living in the United States of America? Coming to terms with a reality like this will leave you with another question that is not explicitly asked.
If you are a Christian, why do you not extend the impact of the great commission to your own nation?
This once again leads to Torba and Isker’s initial line of reasoning. You cannot love your neighbor, or fulfill the great commission in an abstract way. Christianity has far more to offer than a theoretical love of neighbor. Living as a Christian is more than just affirming a metaphysical love of humanity. But once again, there is no need to the reader of this ideology. You’re a Christian, buddy, you should know this! Time to move on.
The Call to Action
At this point, the book goes into what a Christian Nationalist looks like, and the sort of things he would support. If you are a remotely conservative Christian, these talking points should not be new to you. You are encouraged to disengage from fruitless media, be bold in affirming biblical gender distinctions, stand apart from the wickedness of the world, etc… But there are few things that stand out to me. In chapter 9 – “If Your Pastor Did Not Celebrate Roe Being Overturned, It Is Time To Find A New Church”, I truly appreciated the need for Christian Nationalism. The age of pietistic thinking is over. Christianity in America can no longer consider faith a purely internal affair. If your church continues to avoid politics in today’s state of affairs, you may be in a church of cowards.
Abortion, homosexuality, and transgender issues are easy selling points. A Christian cannot support these in good conscience. The book affirms that religious liberty does not look like a state church. Instead, think of religious liberty as the ability to refuse things that violate conscience.
“History shows us that Christians are the forefathers and defenders of all types of liberty including but not limited to freedom of speech, religious freedom, private property, and the creation of freest nation in the history of the world: the United States of America. Bible-believing Christians have always been defenders of the right to say “no.” We have a sacred duty as Christians to dissent against all forms of evil, wickedness, and terror be it from kings, demagogues, tyrants, or even from within the church itself.”
Torba and Isker – Christian Nationalism, 2022
To be a Christian Nationalist is to be a defender of religious liberty. Today’s United States tramples this notion of freedom, and violates the conscience of it’s citizens. If you still cannot see this, perhaps you were the person this book is targeting.
A Christian History
The book does not delve too deeply into the history of a Christian’s relationship to the state. In fact, it saves this juicy discussion for the final epilogue. The final section of the book deals with the idea that the United States was not founded as a Christian nation. Modern secularists love to use this line of reasoning to justify a separation of church and state. Today’s culture loves to claim that the creators of the Constitution were just deists, and not Christians. I understand the need to offer a rebuttal.
Once again, this book does not delve into this complex relationship very deeply. Instead, they argue that the United States did not start with the US Constitution. If you study the charters for the original colonies and States, it becomes very apparent that colonial America had a Christian foundation.
Because America’s founding can be considered definitively Christian, it follows that Christian Nationalism is the true inheritor of the word Conservatism. If you believe that America had a Christian founding, being a conservative means “re-christianizing” it’s government. Once again, the straight-forwardness of the argument is effective. This is not a unique re-imagining of a man’s relation to God and government. Instead, the Christian Nationalist movement is about returning to the ideas that were already present.
Conclusion
This is a great book, with simple and effective communication. The message is clear, concise, and wastes no time with the philosophies involved. To some, this may be disappointing. To others, this may be a fantastically accessible book for understanding today’s cultural issues. My recommendation is to use this book as a conversation starter with other Christians that are heavily influenced by today’s secular ideas. I imagine this book will be a fantastic way of opening their eyes.
I also wanted to note the history of this book’s author. It is possible that you will called anti-semitic, a right-wing extremist, or some kind of white supremacist for even recommending this book. Unfortunately, Torba has been deplatformed from social media, banks, and everything in between. Activists continue to doxx and harass him for his bold convictions. If you are unaware of this while reading the book, you may be surprised by the sub-heading for chapter 4 – “A Preface For Lazy Journalists.”
This chapter deals with religious differences between Christianity and Judaism. The book makes painfully clear that there is no ill-will toward the Jewish race. However, there is a clear distinction between a Christianity of the Bible, and a Semitic religion with the Talmud. A religion that does not acknowledge Christ as savior is incompatible with Christianity. Once again, this feels obvious to someone like me, but I am mostly just saddened that this is a necessary talking point for today’s world.
All in all, I would recommend this book. Don’t expect a deep dive into the history of nationalism or Christianity. Rather, see this book as an encouragement, or a motivational tool. The American Christian must return to a path that has been lost. Jesus is Lord. All things were created through Him, and for Him (Colossians 1:16). Our founders knew this, and we must remember it. The book ends with a final conviction.
“The fact remains: Christian Nationalism is the heritage of the American people. Secular pluralism is the aberration. This vague, anti-Christian civic religion, which is terrified of the name of Jesus Christ is the thing that is novel, that is out of step with the history of our people. It is past time it gets thrown onto the dustbin of history, and America bows the knee to Jesus Christ once again.”
Torba and Isker – Christian Nationalism, 2022
You can purchase the book on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCRZSHM3/
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