A Reason to Learn Church History
Charlemagne (crowned in 800) didn’t just blur the lines between church and empire—he erased them. His military campaigns forced entire populations into baptism under threat of death. For him, Christianity wasn’t a call to discipleship but a tool for unifying his empire. He entirely missed the irony of Revelation 4, where Christ, the slain Lamb, comes not through domination but through sacrificial love. Charlemagne’s empire-building set a precedent that would haunt the church for centuries.
Fast forward to the 20th century, and we see a similar tragedy in Nazi Germany. Many Christians, instead of resisting Hitler’s rise, embraced nationalism as a form of faithfulness. The “German Christian” movement reshaped theology to support the Reich, exalting racial purity and national strength over Christ’s radical call to love and justice. Those who opposed—like Dietrich Bonhoeffer—were in the minority.
These historical failures are not just cautionary tales; they are urgent reminders. When the church becomes a servant of the state or a tool of nationalism, it ceases to be the church of the crucified Christ.
The church’s only true allegiance is to the crucified and risen Christ. When we embrace the lordship of Christ fully, every aspect of our lives—our politics, our communities, our relationships—becomes shaped by self-giving love. This means rejecting all idols of power, nationalism, and conquest, and instead bearing witness to a kingdom where the last are first and the poor are lifted up. The gospel calls us beyond borders, beyond empire, beyond self-interest, to the God who has opened divine life to all people. May we abandon every false allegiance and devote ourselves wholly to the Lamb who was slain—for God alone is worthy.