Thank-you for enlightening us, Ocean. May the Spirit of Truth continue to enlighten you on your path, and us on ours, as well.
Tillman, your words ring with the weight of time and the ache of discernment. Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13 is indeed one of the clearest lenses through which we can view the tangled mess of Church history and present-day allegiance. Wheat and weeds growing together—it’s not only a portrait of the world, but often of the Church herself.
Yes, the Church has walked arm-in-arm with empire more than once. From Constantine to Canterbury to Geneva to the American colonies, faith and power have shared uneasy beds. And you’re right to observe: every branch of the Church bears the fingerprints of its origin story, whether born of protest, reform, or royal convenience.
But here’s where I’d press just a little.
While it’s true that Christian nationalism exists and has influence, that doesn’t mean it is the Church’s inevitable future. The question “Should the Church align with Christian nationalists?” is still very much alive because alignment is an ongoing choice, not just a historical fact. The weeds may be present—but so are the wheat. And we, the Church, must be careful we’re not just accepting corruption as destiny instead of resisting it in faithfulness.
You say, “Each by their nature. Each to their proper place.” But the gospel is a story of transformation—not resignation. Peter was a denier, Paul a persecutor, Matthew a tax collector. Their nature didn’t define their end. Grace did. Let’s not fall into the trap of fatalism. Even now, Jesus is calling His Church to discernment, to repentance, to holiness—not just to “wait for the harvest” while the roots tangle.
And yes, Wisdom is proven right by her children (Luke 7:35). So we must ask—what kind of children are we raising in our churches today? Are they formed by the Sermon on the Mount, or by the slogans of political platforms? Do they hunger and thirst for righteousness, or for retribution? Do they carry crosses, or cling to crowns?
A division may indeed be coming. But let it not be between parties or flags. Let it be between those who bow to the Lamb—and those who bow to Babylon.
Your post is a sobering call. May we not only recognize the fruit, but ask the Gardener to tend us rightly.