Christendom and the Nations by James B. Jordan

Christendom and the Nations Reviews

• 
  John

  This is a slightly updated version of Jordan's book "The Bible and the Nations" published in 1987. The book is a collection of essays on biblical principles that help guide national policies and international relations.
  
  The book begins by studying what the Bible teaches concerning nations and boundaries. He emphasizes the difference between nations and states. Nations are "organic social groupings of people" that usually "has a common language... a common cultural outlook... shared religious presuppositions..." and usually desires self-government. p. 15 States, on the other hand, often "correspond to nations as cultural units" but not always. States boundaries are often arbitrary and governed by those more interested in ruling the geographical boundaries than the nation, or nations, within their boundaries. p. 9
  
  Jordan helpfully argues that "global unity" should not be sought at "the level of the state" but "in the Church and in the faith." p. 32 Here, he reminds us that "the Church is always perfectly united, despite appearances." p. 40 This Christian unity "...transforms the nations from the inside out, from the bottom up, from the nursery of the Church to the fullness of all Kingdom activities. The quiet, life-changing ministry of the Church works to create true unity among all peoples." p. 42
  
  Genesis 2:11-12 shows us that natural resources are distributed such that nations are dependent upon one another for different material and that trade is built into creation. As Jordan writes, "No one geographical area is sufficient unto itself, so men need to learn cooperation. They have to learn to help one another through trade and bartering." p. 48
  
  So while men must cooperate together on God's terms, not man's. Jordan shows that at the Tower of Babel, God forever frustrated all attempts that man will ever undertake to cooperate to "make a name for ourselves." Jordan argues that the "one language" is "lip" in Hebrew, and is a "common ideology." He writes, "the scattering of languages at the Tower of Babel was not a curse...it was the multiplication of pagan religions that showed God's judgment against the Tower builders." p. 15 The most important thing that occurred at the Tower of Babel was that "God acted to diversify paganism." p. 14 It is this diversity that frustrates all "non-Christians to form a world coalition." p. 15
  
  We see this diversity at work both in the ancient world, where nations worshipped the same kinds of gods that had different names, inevitably leading to conflict. We see this in the modern world when Bolsheviks can't get along with Mensheviks, socialists with communists, and so on.
  
  In his chapter on "National Boundaries" Jordan gives us "six general principles of warfare." p. 62-65
  
  1. "war must never be aggressive"
  "The integrity of each nation under God means that aggression and conquest are never permitted."
  
  2. "crushing the head"
  "The Bible holds the leaders of society primarily responsible for social decisions." This principle is seen throughout Judges 3, 4, 5, 7:25, 8:21 as well as 1 Samuel 15:8-9, 20-33.
  
  3. "offer of peace"
  "The carrot of negotiated peace is to be offered right up to the end."
  
  4. "the land is not to be wasted in warfare"
  "...war is to be made against warmongers, not against everything and everyone residing in the enemy nation."
  
  5. "universal participation"
  "...the main defense of the nation was the job of the citizen militia."
  
  6. "localism"
  "...local men defend their local situation."
  
  Jordan discusses alliances and argues for two principles. First, "the Christian nation must always deal from strength." We ally with the Lord, not "heathen nations around us. If they want to ally with us, then we must set the terms. We must never seek to ally with them."
  
  Second, "we must never assist or finance those who openly oppose the Lord and his purposes on earth. If they want our help, then we can give it, but only if they permit the gospel to go forth unhindered in their land." p. 87-88
  
  The remainder of the book is the application of these principles to both the history of our nation as well as its current challenges. He comes to some interesting conclusions, having first laid down biblical principles that help us to apply wisdom to our own age without falling into arbitrary or emotional traps that beset most contemporary critics.
  
  This is a really well thought out, well argued, and fascinating work based upon biblical exegesis that most biblical writers either don't, or won't write or think about.
• 
  Jake Litwin

  2022 Update: I revisited this book and skimmed things I highlighted and reread some sections again. This is robust biblical theology on how to think about Christian nations. In light of all the Christian nationalism talk happening this year, this book needs to be read with an open Bible. Excellent study from Jordan on nations, foreign policy, immigration, and much more.
• 
  James Mongeau

  short, insightful, practical
  
  The review title really says it all. The book is down to earth and simple and almost never overstays it’s welcome on any one point. It’s of course not exhaustive, but that is not the book we need at the moment. We need a book that presents the issues succinctly and winsomely, with a plan towards the future to get over one on the same page, we need a book that gives us a foretaste of what can be had to inspire men and women of the church to work towards such a goal and to actually put it into practice at which time a more exhaustive volume will actually be require because the church is actually doing something and needs further guidance on how to proceed.
• 
  William Schrecengost

  Very good treatise on how Christian nations should interact with one another. A lot of this is him laying out what he developed in some of his lectures.
• 
  Grant Van Brimmer

  Excellent treatment of how Christians should think about discipling the nations.
• 
  Daniel Hoffman

  This book attempts to discern whatever wisdom and principles can be gleaned from the Bible as applied to, basically, international relations. In the Great Commission, Christ left the church the task of discipling the nations, and Jordan makes basic point:
  
  "After all, are we to disciple the family? Then why not the state? Biblical Christianity claims that all areas of life are claimed by Christ the King, and all must answer to Him. There is a kind of Christianization that is appropriate to the state and another kind appropriate to the individual. A Christian state is one that conforms to the principles of Divine law and recognizes the sanctity of the Church. A Christian Church is one that properly administers Word and sacraments. A Christian person is one who is faithful in life. These are different ways in which the rule of Christ is made manifest in the various spheres of life."
  
  Lots of thought-provoking stuff here.
• 
  Christian Wermeskerch

  Interesting book, but not for everyone. How do you take Biblical theology and use it to inform political theology? James Jordan uses his "Through New Eyes" framework to investigate what the BIble says about politics, the state, and international relations.
• 
  Scott

  James Jordan does a wonderful job talking about how Christendom can work within a nation. He also shows how it can be a blessing to other nations. You may not agree with everything he says, but read the book and search the scriptures.
• 
  Jerry

  Never uninteresting with JBJ.
• 
  Jonah

  This is a big little book packed with wisdom. I should have read it years ago.
• 
  Kyle Grindberg

  What a great book, highly recommend.
• 
  Juan

  This is a great book on a Christian perspective on government and nations. It's a nice overview. Short and sweet.