Christian nationalism is an ideology in the political sphere that binds together Christianity with American identity. But Christian nationalism means different things for different people. In general, there are two broad points of view for defining Christian nationalism:
     1. The responsibility of every Christian to bring God’s kingdom to earth through modern politics
     2. A sinful exaggeration of patriotism that distorts Christianity and ignores the ultimate citizenship in heaven
The first side sees Christian nationalism as a positive ideology, while the second side sees it as dangerous or even sinful. Let’s look at the arguments for both sides.
1. Christian nationalism is a positive ideology
Christian nationalists believe the United States to be a Christian nation, and they think that the laws of the country should reflect Christian values. They believe that those who occupy positions in the government should actively work to establish laws to preserve its Christian roots. The foundation for this belief is that the United States was founded by Christians and on the pillars of Christianity. 
Christian nationalism privileges Christianity over other religions and often believes that non-Christian worldviews are a danger to the country as a whole. Some Christian nationalists believe that liberal or left-leaning ideology is a serious threat to Christian values or even the entire notion of religious freedom. They may also think of non-Christians as enemies who stand against the original purpose of the nation.
The goal of Christian nationalism is to fuse together Christian and American identities. This is accomplished through political means, and Christian nationalists believe that the government should establish America as an officially Christian nation. They advocate for laws that privilege Christian values, and they believe that God’s providential plan includes granting success to the United States.
There is a fair amount of diversity within the circle of Christian nationalism. Most Christian nationalists self-identify as Christians. But a growing number of those who identify as Christian nationalists embrace their Christian ancestry without necessarily participating in the faith themselves. They tend to argue more for the preservation of the values that Christianity established in past generations and believe that those values can thrive even in a post-Christian nation.
Christian nationalists often believe that the founders of America were attempting to establish a Christian nation, and they are very likely to see the United States as a Christian nation currently. They also argue that it is morally right for America to be a Christian nation. And they believe that it is the responsibility of Christians to bring God’s kingdom to earth through the use of human political systems.
But of those who hold Christian nationalism to be a positive ideology, there is no consensus for what the term “Christian nation” means. Some believe that being a Christian nation means having Christian values as the guide for society. Others believe it means that the people act according to a general faith and treat people with tolerance and love. Still others think it means that America should uphold God’s laws and Jesus’ teachings.
Christian nationalists are often leery of welcoming immigrants into the country. This is largely because they believe that immigrants inevitably bring with them values and traditions that go against Christian values. They disapprove of atheism and Islam, and they are eager to destroy secularism by whatever means necessary in order to preserve the biblical values that they know to be true.
2. Christian nationalism is a negative ideology
Those who oppose Christian nationalism recognize that the original values of the United States were largely the values of White, evangelical males. As America becomes less White and less Christian, they see that the values of the nation as a whole are shifting. White, evangelical males make up the largest portion of Christian nationalists today. Anti-Christian nationalists believe that they hold this belief largely in an attempt to maintain their power and influence in the country. They point out that some Christian nationalists are even willing to support an authoritarian ruler in order to keep their values in place.
Opponents of Christian nationalism also argue that Christian nationalism flies in the face of democracy and distorts Christianity in the process. They believe that its willingness to force Christianity on all American citizens threatens religious freedom and goes against the very principles of Christianity. And they state that its anti-immigration attitude goes against the love of neighbor that exists at the center of Jesus’ teachings.
According to critics of Christian nationalism, Christian nationalists act as if they have a mandate from God Himself to make America out to be some sort of theocracy. They recognize their tendency to embrace militant ideas and their willingness to use violence to bring about their vision for the country. Anti-Christian nationalists argue that true Christianity submits to human institutions so long as they do not directly contradict the commands of God. They also point out that true Christianity recognizes that every individual is made in the image of God with the freedom to accept God or reject Him.
Critics of Christian nationalism point out that Christian nationalism is oftentimes a mask for White supremacy and racism. And they see Christian nationalists as treating the American political system as if it were the savior. These opponents of Christian nationalism argue that America is not the ultimate citizenship for Christians. Rather, they argue that heaven is their ultimate citizenship. They believe that fusing together religious and political ideologies is a form of idolatry that often results in oppression.
Anti-Christian nationalists embrace patriotism instead of Christian nationalism, arguing that everyone has a right to practice their own religion. They argue that patriotism is a positive virtue that encourages contentedness with each person’s place in God’s creation. They believe that Christian nationalism wrongly excludes people from embracing their own country in a God-honoring way by placing definitions on who can or cannot be a true citizen. 
Opponents of Christian nationalism argue that Christian nationalism is divisive and tribalist. They recognize America’s founding as having been for the purpose of religious freedom, and they believe that people of different faiths can live in civic harmony with one another without compromising their own beliefs.