The gospel is not a vague offer of spirituality. It is the royal announcement that Jesus Christ is Lord, crucified, risen, and enthroned. This good news is not limited to the private heart. It demands obedience from kings as well as common men.
“Now therefore, O kings, show insight; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship Yahweh with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He become angry and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 2:10–12)
Christ’s authority is universal. He Himself said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:18–19). Revelation declares Him “the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5). To oppose the public rule of Christ is to oppose the gospel itself.
Christian rulers are not permitted to govern neutrally. They must “kiss the Son” by ruling in obedience to His Word. The magistrate holds a distinct office from the church. He bears the sword (Romans 13). The church proclaims Word and sacrament. Both remain accountable to Christ.
God’s law is not fragmented. The ceremonial shadows are fulfilled in Christ. Israel’s civil code as a nation has passed away. Yet the abiding moral principles remain. The Westminster Confession says, “The moral law doth for ever bind all” and that the civil laws expired “save only the general equity thereof” (WCF 19.4). That equity still governs nations. When God commanded Israel to build railings on rooftops to protect life (Deuteronomy 22:8), He revealed His enduring concern for justice and safety. Rulers today are no less bound to reflect His standard.
The civil magistrate must legislate by God’s moral law and the principles revealed in Scripture. Neutrality is a lie. Every ruler confesses a god, whether Baal, Allah, the “will of the people,” or Christ. The gospel requires that kings bow to Jesus.
Semper Reformanda
Objection: “Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world.” Many take this to mean Christ’s rule is entirely inward and spiritual, with no claim over politics, nations, or public life. But Jesus was speaking of the origin of His kingdom, not its reach. His authority is from above, not from men. Yet He immediately commanded His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:18–19). John 18:36 does not limit Christ’s kingship; it proclaims its heavenly source and worldwide scope.
Objection: “We must avoid theocracy.” The fear here is of a church-run state or coerced religion. And they are right to fear it, because worship cannot be forced, and the church does not wield the sword. But this misses the point. The magistrate still answers to Christ. Romans 13 says rulers are “ministers of God” who must punish evil and reward good. The church and state have distinct roles, but neither is free from Christ’s authority. A faithful Christian nationalism is not about priests in parliament, but rulers governing in obedience to God’s law.
Objection: “Pluralism protects liberty.” The claim is that neutrality is the safeguard of freedom, and that rulers must not favor one religion above another. But neutrality is a myth. Every law reflects morality, and every morality flows from a confession of who or what is ultimate. If Christ is not Lord in the public square, then another god will be. Scripture warns rulers of this false neutrality: “Now therefore, O kings, show insight; take warning, O judges of the earth. Kiss the Son…” (Psalm 2:10–12). Liberty is only safe where Christ reigns.
Objection: “The gospel is about saving souls, not nations.” This is perhaps the most common retreat. But it divides what Scripture holds together. The same Christ who saves sinners is the One who rules nations. The Great Commission does not stop at individuals but commands, “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Isaiah foresaw the day when kings would “shut their mouths” because of Him (Isaiah 52:15). The gospel is personal, but it is never private. To reduce it to soul-saving only is to cut off its cosmic scope and deny its full power.
Truth That Withstands
Some say Christ’s kingdom is only spiritual. Others fear theocracy. Still others cling to pluralism or shrink the gospel down to saving souls. Each of these objections misses the point. Christ is Lord already, not by our permission but by the Father’s decree. His kingdom is not from this world, but it fills this world. The church does not wield the sword, but the magistrate still answers to Him. Neutrality is a myth, and every ruler serves some god. And the gospel that saves sinners is the same gospel that commands nations to bow.
The gospel announces a reigning King. Christ is Lord over heaven and earth, over private men and public rulers alike. To oppose His kingship in the civil realm is unbelief. Christian rulers must govern by His Word, and the church must proclaim that no authority stands above Him.