Christian Nationalism?

Rob Flynn recently posted an engaging entry about Hitler being the most famous "Christian" of the 20th century. (You can read my reply there @ his blog.) His point was that millions of Germans were misled by "Christian" Nationalism. That the tarantulist messiah misled many Germans is, sadly, uncontestable. But that's as far as I can go in agreeing with Rob's conclusion.

First of all, the Nazis were Pagan to the core (cf. for example Hans Frank's comment---paraphrased here---"in times past, it was common to base one's morality and ethics on an outdated Jewish code; we ask only, 'What saith the Fuhrer?' "); Hitler might've claimed to be a Catholic, but that in no way proves him to be a "Christian." Someone can pass himself off as an MD, but that in itself doesn't prove he is. To paraphrase Paul, no one is a [Christian] who is merely one outwardly, nor is [conversion] outward and physical. But a [Christian] is one inwardly, and [conversion] is a matter of the [innermost allegiance], by the Spirit, not by the letter.

Secondly, biblically, there can be no such thing as "Christian" Nationalism; that's an oxymoron. Jesus made it very clear that His kingdom was not of the type won by violence: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting..." Yes, a Christian man might yield to the state's command to be drafted (altho there's also plenty of room for Christian pacifism), and yes, ROMANS 13 exhorts the Christian to obey the laws of the land (as long as they do not conflict with God's Law), but nationalism by its very essence is worldly, totally clashing with what John says: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Nationalism---specifically when it degenerates into jingoism---is a form of idolatry. (And no, I am not hereby advocating globalism or one-world government. Those are anathema.)