What is Christian nationalism?

Is it the mission of the church to create a “Christian” nation?

What is the difference between Christian nationalism and patriotism?

Should Christianity enjoy a favored political status in the U.S., and does such favoritism advance the cause of the gospel?

Denver Seminary is hosting a free conference Friday — in person and online — that hopes to answer these questions with the help of scholars and theologians who have wrestled with these issues.

“Compelling and Credible Witness: The Church and Christian Nationalism” starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs for five hours.

“We think it’s important for evangelicals to better understand what Christian nationalism is and how being identified with this phenomenon affects our witness in the broader society,” said Mark Young, the seminary’s president.

“Our goal is to help one another think critically about the theological foundations and missional implications of Christian nationalism.”

The conference is part of the seminary’s “Gospel Initiative” to provide churches with learning resources and practical ministry solutions.

The keynote talk is by Samuel Perry, a Dallas Seminary graduate who teaches sociology at the University of Oklahoma and has written two acclaimed books on the subject: “Taking America Back for God” and “The Flag and the Cross.”

Speakers include Ryan Tafilowski, who taught at Colorado Christian University and now serves as chair of the seminary’s theology department and as lead pastor of Denver’s Foothills Fellowship Church. His research explores Lutheran pastors and theologians who sought to “re-Christianize” Germany and supported aspects of the Nazi party platform.

Conference speaker David Ritchie is a pastor in Texas and author of “Why Do the Nations Rage?” He argues that Christian nationalism is a form of religion, not ideology, and writes, “The impulse behind nationalism is as ancient as the tower of Babel and as demonic as the worship of Baal.”

The questions raised by Christian nationalism are more than academic because questions of faith and politics impact the lives of both believers and unbelievers:

Should U.S. laws be based on Christian values? Is Christian faith required to be truly American? Has God blessed America more than other nations. Does the U.S. have a special role in God’s plans? Is religion good for government? Is politics good for the church?

Some local religious organizations promote Christian nationalism. Andrew Wommack pushes the “7 Mountains Mandate” that claims Christians should have dominion over government and other “spheres of societal influence,” and he’s trying to follow that model in Woodland Park.

Meanwhile, more than 100 Colorado Springs area residents have signed a statement from Christians Against Christian Nationalism that claims this view threatens faith and country. Signers include believers affiliated with churches in these denominations: Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian-Universalist and United Church of Christ.