The Kingdom of God Needs No Empire: Why Christians Must Stop Picking Sides in Wars

Should Christians Pick Sides in Wars Between Empires or Stay Faithful to the Kingdom of God?

Dr. Harvey Kwiyani, a Malawian missiologist and theologian, has published a powerful article warning Christians about the spiritual dangers of aligning their faith with geopolitical empires. Writing for Christian Daily International on March 12, 2026, Kwiyani addressed the growing temptation believers face as global conflicts intensify.

Kwiyani argues that whenever war begins, Christians face what he calls "a quiet but dangerous temptation: to decide which empire God must be supporting." He points specifically to the ongoing conflict involving Israel and the United States against Iran as a present day example of this temptation.

The theologian traces this pattern back to Augustine's "Just War" doctrine, developed within the context of Christianized Rome. Kwiyani notes that this theology "proved extraordinarily convenient for empires" by shifting moral responsibility upward to commanders and away from individual believers who participated in warfare.

Christian identity can no longer be easily tied to a single civilization or geopolitical bloc.

This statement from Kwiyani reflects the reality that Christianity is now a truly global faith, with its center of gravity shifting to Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. Rather than asking which side must prevail, Kwiyani urges churches to ask how reconciliation remains possible.

The core of his message calls churches to embody "reconciliation, justice, humility, and sacrificial love" rather than sanctifying state strategies. These practices, he writes, may appear quieter than political rhetoric but reflect a deeper and more authentic Christian witness.

Why the Global Church Must Reject the Temptation to Serve Earthly Empires

Kwiyani, who serves as founder and executive director of Missio Africanus and has taught African theology at Liverpool Hope University, brings a distinctly non Western perspective to this conversation. His work challenges the assumption that Christianity naturally belongs to any single political or cultural power.

The article was originally published on Kwiyani's Substack, Global Witness Globally Reimagined, and has sparked discussion across denominations about the proper relationship between the Church and political power in times of war.

The Crusader's Opinion

Dr. Kwiyani raises a point that every believer needs to wrestle with. I will say this plainly: the Kingdom of God does not need the permission or protection of any earthly empire to advance. Every empire that has tried to hijack the Cross for its own purposes has eventually fallen, while the Church remains. Rome fell. The British Empire fell. And whatever superpower stands tallest today will also pass into history. What will remain is the Body of Christ. Our loyalty is to the King of Kings, not to any flag. That said, Christians must never be naive. We must defend our brothers and sisters who are persecuted, speak boldly against evil, and refuse to let any government tell us when and where we can worship. The answer is not passivity. The answer is allegiance to Christ above all else.

Take Action

• Read Dr. Harvey Kwiyani's full article on Christian Daily International and share it with your church leadership.
• Start a conversation in your small group or Bible study about how your church can maintain faithful witness without becoming politically captured by any side.
• Support persecuted Christians around the world through The Shepherd's Shield, which provides direct aid to believers facing persecution.
• Give to Open Doors USA or Voice of the Martyrs to help Christians suffering under hostile governments and empires.
• Pray daily for the global Church, especially believers in conflict zones, that they would stand firm in Christ and not be swayed by the promises of earthly powers.