10 Bible verses Christian nationalists take out of context to seize power

This article originally appeared at Baptist News Global on July 20, 2025.

Christian nationalists are world-class experts in seizing power by taking Bible verses out of context. Growing up, my independent Baptist high school constantly used Philippians 4:13 as proof we could win the state championship, Jeremiah 29:11 as proof God would let us get married and have sex someday, and 2 Chronicles 7:14 as proof God would spread the wildfires of revival and solve all our nation’s problems and make us rich if only the Republicans could control the government.

So when House Speaker Mike Johnson equated “the ministry of reconciliation” in 2 Corinthians 5:18 to the GOP passing the so-called “big beautiful bill” during a budget reconciliation process, none of us who grew up in this environment were surprised.

In light of this latest example of biblical nonsense, I decided to come up with a list of the Top 10 Bible verses Christian nationalists take out of context. Of course, while this list may be exhausting, it is by no means exhaustive.

“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

—Matthew 6:10

With a “Don’t Mess With Our Kids” banner overhead and an “As It Is In Heaven” banner hanging stage left, Russell Johnson and Ross Johnston waged worship as a weapon in Seattle’s Cal Anderson park. The phrase “As it is in heaven” comes from the Lord’s Prayer, when Jesus prayed that God’s kingdom would come and God’s will would be done “on earth as it is in heaven.”

For white evangelical nationalists, this happens through a concept called the ekklesia. In the Roman Empire, the ekklesia was a term for “a governing body.” When the Christian New Testament was being written, the authors co-opted certain imperial terms to provide a Christian alternative vision. One of the terms they used was ekklesia, which meant “assembly” or “congregation.”

“For authoritarian Christians, God ruling on earth means God putting Christians in charge of their neighbors.”

One might assume the biblical authors had something different in mind than the values of the Roman Empire. But for authoritarian Christians, God ruling on earth means God putting Christians in charge of their neighbors, who must bend the knee. This is why one of the leaders at the Battle of Seattle commanded the supposedly demonic protesters, “You bow at the name of Jesus right now! … You’re silenced! Your voice is cut! … Fall to the ground!”

Continue reading at Baptist News Global.