TGC 579 – Christian Nationalism on Trial: A Conversation Pro and Con

In this episode, we tackle the contested and often misunderstood question of Christian Nationalism. With two guests offering opposing perspectives—David Ramirez arguing in favor and Peter Burfeind raising concerns—we explore what the term actually means, where it comes from, and whether it can be squared with Lutheran theology. The conversation probes the relationship between Church and state, the limits of political authority, the nature of Christ’s kingdom, and the risks of confusing the Gospel with national identity. Our aim is not heat, but clarity—testing claims carefully, naming real points of disagreement, and helping listeners think more precisely about faith, nation, and Christian witness in the public square. Links: Books/Articles:  "The Challenge of History: Luther's Two Kingdoms Theology as a Test Case" by Prof. Cameron MacKenzie  http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/mackenziechallengeofhistory.pdf Gnostic America by Pr. Peter Burfiend https://www.amazon.com/Gnostic-America-Contemporary-according-Christianitys/dp/0692260498 Martin Luther and Religious Liberty by Pr. David P. Ramirez  https://www.academia.edu/89633865/Martin_Luther_and_Religious_Liberty "Are Rulers to Uphold both Tables of the Law" by Pr. David Ramirez https://cc.lutherclassical.org/summer-2025/are-rulers-to-uphold-both-tables-of-the-law/ Interviews (in chronological order): Christian Nationalism-The Gottesdienst Crowd https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2022/11/2/tgc-232-christian-nationalism Biermann-Ramirez Debate on Christian Nationalism-On The Line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIru3RAff28 A Christian Response to Christian Nationalism-Issues, Etc. https://issuesetc.org/2025/10/09/a-christian-response-to-christian-nationalism-pr-peter-burfeind-10-9-25-2822/   ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. David Ramirez Special Guest: Fr. Peter Burfeind ----more---- Become a Patron! You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/ You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/ As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support.