Blog of A Plodding Visionary
Posts tagged nationalism
Is America A Christian Nation?
02 years ago
Is America an inherently Christian nation? Pay attention to commentary by a broad swath of evangelical writers and talk show hosts and one might be led to believe so. Much time and many words are spent attempting to demonstrate that America is more than just a nation founded on principles of religious freedom and Christian values; that it is actually inherently Christian in a corporate or collective sense. But which statements are based on fact, and which statements are based on wrongly grounded sentiment?
I. Influence vs. Inherency
First, contrary to what secular revisionist historians promote in the name of tolerance and political correctness, it is true that the European colonies on the east coast of North America in the 1500s and 1600s were founded for the purpose of religious freedom, or the freedom to worship without government dictation and oversight. Those who laid out the framework of the American government in the next century were also influenced by Biblical values, both as a result of actual faith (in the case of some) as well as common grace knowledge (in the case of others). Thus the case can be made that Christianity was a strong factor in the history of the United States. But today that’s not quite the story we hear from either side. On the conservative side, it seems that many are not content to simply acknowledge the influence God’s people have had on America but rather must proclaim an inherent Christian-ness of the nation. As believers in the sovereignty of God we must certainly acknowledge his direct involvement, as an active being and not some passive deistic force — but we also must remember to not neglect to distinguish between special grace and common grace, wherein special grace refers to God’s specific, active involvement with the elect and common grace refers to the blessings that are extended even to the unregenerate.
There is a significant difference between influence and inherency. To say that the United States, at its beginnings, was influenced by Christianity would be a correct statement. To say that the United States, from its beginnings, was inherently Christian would be a falsehood.
Expanding further on this thought, it’s evident that many of the blessings that we have had in this country have been a result of the good that the church has done in the society, as well as the sharing in those blessings by the unregenerate due to common grace. The statement can also be made that a great deal of the decline in values today has been due to the church retreating from culture and instead choosing to create and live in a sheltered, sub-cultural bubble that has no positive impact on society.
We can not, however, legitimately go to the extreme to say that the United States is or has been inherently Christian, or the more common (but synonymous) statement that America is a Christian nation. I believe that the evidence is sufficient to prove that statement false. While it would be a logical conclusion if we could say that America is a modern-day chosen nation, as some directly or indirectly contend, that is not a true statement. This designation may only be held by the church — the true spiritual Israel, the people of God. The modern day nation of Israel, as well as the United States of America, do not hold any special status. It is the church, not any political state, which holds the designation of being God’s covenant people.
Although this view may sound preposterous to some, it nonetheless has taken a strong foothold in the western church in recent times. From dispensationalists who teach that the nation of Israel is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, to Christian Reconstructionists who teach that the United States was once inherently Christian, has fallen away, and must be restored, this “special nation” idea is alive and active across the spectrum of evangelicalism.
The tendency among those who hold to the inherency argument, which I will categorize within the realm of dominion theology, is to look at Scripture passages speaking of the Old Testament nation of Israel, as well as Old Testament uses of the word “nation”, and automatically and unequivocally apply them to America. The parallel that some draw is to say that America is a covenant people and a chosen nation that has more recently become reprobate, much like Israel during the time of the prophets, and must return to God to once again be blessed.
The necessary balance to this extreme is to again recognize the good that the church has done in culture and seek to again influence culture rather than hide from culture — and remember that this has been a factor over the history of America, and not any inherent Christian-ness of the nation itself.
II. Cultural Involvement
In the first chapter of Genesis we have record of God’s command to “fill the earth and subdue it…” In the New Testament we also have record of Jesus’ command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” These two commands form the basis of what many refer to as the cultural mandate. However, there are some disagreements over how to carry this out. The most common interpretation involves the obvious answer — global missions and evangelism — as well as a goal of bringing all things in life under the influence of the Kingdom of God. This means that whatever we do, we do for the Kingdom. Thus some callings are not “higher” or “lower” than others, but instead that each of us has a part in God’s work simply by effecting change in our respective spheres of influence.
Proponents of dominion theology, however, take it quite farther by interpreting this as a command to make the whole world — or at least one nation, presumably the United States — a Christian society with Christian laws, Christian rulers, and Christian behavior. Belief that America is inherently Christian is obviously a convenient first step.
A former director of Coral Ridge Ministries, a Reformed organization which — though opinions vary on this — seems to lean in the direction of dominionism, said the following:
“Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ — to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest. That’s what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less… Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land — of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ.”
This is one of the clearest examples of the intent, belief, and goals of dominion theology. One element, at least, is mostly in line with the Scriptural command — winning the world with the power of the Gospel is certainly part of what we are commanded to do, though it should be noted that in reality it is not us who are actually doing the winning but rather being instruments used in that winning.
So in contrast to this view, should we just stand back and let the nation continue to go deeper into moral decline? No, absolutely not — but involvement must only be with the proper perspective. Returning to some idealized Victorian lifestyle (such as the ideals of Vision Forum and other similar organizations) will not fix the cultural problems. Pretending that the nation was once corporately Christian will do nothing to bring about real change. Seizing control of a power-hungry political party, donkey or elephant, and using it while being used will only result in a deeper quagmire. The only thing that can bring about real change is transformed hearts. Not transformation through grassroots politics, not transformation through making sure every family practices homeschooling, not transformation by making sure fathers rule their families as prophets, priests, and kings — assuming the role of mediator between God and family, not transformation by denying women education or voting rights, not transformation by controlling the media, but transformation by God’s people working within the spheres of influence they have to glorify God and point others to him. We must never back down from promoting truth in areas where Scripture is clear. Though some advocate a message of tolerance in all areas, we are not wrong to recognize the truth of Scripture and hold to areas where right and wrong are clearly spelled out. Still, we must give grace to one another in areas where Scripture is unclear or not specific and two may reasonably disagree and both be in right conscience. Failure to do so would be nothing less than counterproductive, silencing the very message of grace that we as Christians ought to be taking to the world.
So should Christians become involved in the political arena? By all means, just as they are involved in any other occupation or area of interest. We must remember that all callings are equal, however, and a Christian politician is not better than a Christian teacher, a Christian electrician, a Christian programmer, etc. We must just do the best we can, to God’s glory, in the different spheres of influence we have. For the one whose sphere of influence happens to be politics, there is nothing wrong with making our present home look a little more like our future home — as long as this is what we have in mind and not simply a little temporal satisfaction that our favorite party, whatever that is, rules this part of the world. If all of us were to go seize the political sphere and make it our own, would we not in some ways be guilty of the error of the Zealots and to the extreme, even be making Jesus out to be a liar when he said his kingdom is not of this world? But instead we should all remember our role as ambassadors of a better kingdom, communicating the message of our King to those in the foreign land we’re in. If we start to think of the United States as “home” — by believing that it is actually a corporate people of God, even a reprobate corporate people, we’ll lose sight of our actual identity as citizens of an eternal kingdom by having replaced it with the short-lived glory of temporal, earthly nation.
III. Cautions and Closing Comments
In summary, we need to remember that while there can certainly be blessings for Christians (and non-Christians too by common grace) if we do influence culture in a way that better points to the truth of God’s word, we can all too easily see that as the end in itself and assume that God has to think more highly of us for doing so. If we adopt this attitude then we’re in effect saying that our work has earned our standing with God, rather than that our standing with God is due to his declaration of us as righteous in Christ.
Finally, it is important to point out that this distinctly America-centric form of Christianity is in effect saying to the rest of the world that our nation has a special claim to Christ’s kingdom that all others do not have. Christians in other nations can be made to feel as if they are second-class compared to their American counterparts, or that they need to “westernize” in order to really please God, or that they are being ignored while Americans focus near-sightedly on their own interests.
So in conclusion, dominion theology takes what God commanded and takes it to an extreme, going beyond the commandment and into an area that is unsafe and potentially dangerous. We must certainly engage the culture and effect change to God’s glory in the areas in which we have influence. We also must certainly take the Gospel to all the world and to all people. But we also must always remember our citizenship is in heaven first and foremost, and not on this earth. Our identity is shared with Christians across the world, and not just under the flag of the United States of America.
IV. Notes and Quotes
Treaty of Tripoli, 1796: “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”
George Grant, Coral Ridge Ministries (Pro-dominionism): “Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ — to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest. That’s what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less… Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land — of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ.”
Meredith Kline (Anti-dominionism): “One radical fault that undermines the whole Chalcedon position is the failure to recognize that the socio-geo-political sector of the Israelite kingdom of God was a part of the total system of kingdom typology established through the covenantal constitution given to Israel in the law of Moses – just as much so as was the cultic sector.”
http://www.covopc.org/Kline/Kline_on_Theonomy.html
Robert Bowman Jr. (Anti-dominionism): “[A]re Christians supposed to be taking dominion at all? Granted that there is some confusion among American Christians as to what taking dominion would mean, is there a sense in which this really is the mission of the church? A careful reading of the Bible indicates otherwise. Simply put, the Bible never commands Christians to take dominion. A search for such a mandate proves fruitless. The Bible never even hints that this is to be a responsibility of the church between Christ’s first and second comings.”
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0024a.html
Gary DeMar (Pro-dominionism): “All government requires a reference point. If God is to be pleased by men, the Bible must become the foundation of all their governments, including civil government. This means that Biblical law must be made the foundation of all righteous judgment in every government: personal (self government), ecclesiastical, familial, and civil.”
About page from The American Vision (Pro-dominionism – Christian Reconstructionist – Theonomist): “American Vision’s (AV’s) mission has been to Restore America to its Biblical Foundation—from Genesis to Revelation since 1978.”
Particularly relevant
03 years ago
I’m so tired of these mortal men
with their hands on their wallets and their hearts full of sin
scared of their enemies, scared of their friends
and always running for re-election
so come to DC if it be Thy will
because we’ve never had a savior on Capitol Hill
You can always trust the devil or a politician
to be the devil or a politician
but beyond that friends you’d best beware
’cause at the Pentagon bar they’re an inseparable pair
and as long as the lobbyists are paying their bills
we’ll never have a savior on Capitol Hill
[Bridge]
All of our problems gonna disappear
when we can whisper right in that President’s ear
he could walk right across the reflection pool
in his combat boots and ten thousand dollar suit
You can render unto Caesar everything that’s his
you can trust in his power to come to your defense
it’s the way of the world, the way of the gun
it’s the trading of an evil for a lesser one
so don’t hold your breath or your vote until
you think you’ve finally found a savior up on Capitol Hill’
–A Savior on Capitol Hill
Lyrics and music by Derek Webb
No Other Gods
04 years ago
“You shall have no other gods before me.” ~ Deut. 5:7
For many of us, this seems like an easy commandment to keep. If we focus our attention on God and don’t worship idols or even general materialistic worldly things, then we are keeping the commandment… or so we think. However, are we being honest with ourselves? What about those things that mask themselves as angels of light and appear to be the inside track to a better relationship with God, when in reality are distractions that become ends in themselves? We spend so much time trying to serve God under our own power in the way that seems best to us — whether it is abstaining from pleasurable things, being painstakingly careful to only eat a healthy diet free of refined foods, living counter to the culture… the list could go on indefinitely — and become so involved in the how that we lose sight of the Who.
For example, consider how often people argue over “standards” in which one claims the higher road to God and declares the other to be worldly and inadequate. Instead of realizing that different people can both be right while appearing to be at odds due to different callings from God, and then focusing on Him, the lifestyles and “standards” become the end in themselves and are grounds for cutting individuals off from fellowship. If the lifestyle or “standards” unconsciously become the objects of devotion, then they become the authority by which good and evil are determined. If this is the case, then those who do not live up to another’s “standards” can and often are seen to be “not right with God”. But by what “god” is one being judged?
Or what about our identity? We love to label ourselves. It gives us a sense of community by becoming a part of a larger group. Group identification, however, subconsciously requires conformity. If we claim a group’s label, then we inadvertently take on the group’s characteristics. A common label that I (and many of my readers) claim is “American”. But if we identify as “Americans” then we take on to ourselves whatever characterizes America, and in doing so are then compelled to think as an American should think. But what do we do if America is contrary to God, as is very often the case? We are faced with two realistic choices: (1) to be an American or (2) a God-follower. Most of us try to create option #3: reconcile the two (which typically involves creating illusions about both). However, the unpleasant reality is that unless everything else takes a backseat to God so that we deny anything that stands in the way of God or obscures God, we have allowed another god before Him.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” ~ Deut. 5:11
Here’s another commandment that seems easy enough until we look deeper at the implications. The clearest meaning is extremely important. The Lord’s Name is not an exclamation, a filler-word, a swear word, etc. It is holy.
If we do not swear, are we obeying the commandment? Yes, although I think there is more to “taking the name of the Lord your God in vain” than initially comes to mind. You see, we “take the name of the Lord” every time we identify ourselves as Christians. This should serve as a sobering reminder to us as we live as Christians, knowing that if we claim Christ’s name then we are what people visualize when they think of Christ.
One more thought on this: because the term “Christian” involves taking the Lord’s name as identification — we must be very careful on how we use it. When we use terms like “Christian nation” in regards to the U.S.A., this is a form of taking the Lord’s name in vain. You see, America is not Christian. The people in America are not all Christian. It’s laws are not Christian. Yet when we say that America and its inhabitants are “Christian”, the rest of the world sees the arrogance and sin of the United States and associates it with Christ. By our very own proclamation that we live in a Christian nation, we have defamed the Name of the Lord before the world.
We must be careful to not identify anything with the Lord’s Name when it is not. Take the common phrase “God’s Standards”. Many of us have heard the term used to describe certain types of music, dress, food and drink, number of children, education of those children, etc. But these things really aren’t as black and white as they might seem. Scripture does not say, “You shall not listen to rock music. Your women shall only wear skirts. You shall have seventeen children and homeschool them all.” These are issues that are between a believer and the Lord. When we have a preference in a certain area and call it “God’s standard”, we are taking God’s name and applying it to our own laws. Suddenly we’ve made a god for ourselves (as described above) and then inappropriately used God’s name.
The finger is pointed at me. Guilty as charged.
Jeremiah 14:20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
and the iniquity of our fathers,
for we have sinned against you.
21 Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
do not dishonor your glorious throne;
remember and do not break your covenant with us.
22 Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Are you not he, O Lord our God?
We set our hope on you,
for you do all these things.
A little humor for your day…
04 years ago
Reprinted from http://www.christianlogic.com/chrisalexion/archives/satire/
The Postmodern Catechism
Q1: What is the chief end of humankind?
A: Humankind’s chief end is to promote world peace and enjoy it forever.
Q2: What rule do we have to direct us how we may accomplish this peace?
A: We have but one rule, and that is that we have none.
Q3: What is God?
A: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His design to Bless America.
Q4: Are there more gods than one?
A: There is but one only, though the term includes all religions.
Q5: How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A: As many as we want there to be.
Q6: What are the decrees of God?
A: The decrees of God are the contingent purpose according to the counsel of our will, whereby, for our benefit, He will make all our favorite sports teams win.
Q7: How doth God execute His decrees?
A: God executeth His decrees in the work of watching us exercise our free will.
Q8: Where and how is God to be worshipped?
A: He is to be worshipped at the Washington National Cathedral, in the name of the Father, Mohammed, and Jesus Christ.
Q9: What is the first commandment?
A: The first commandment is, Thou shalt make no Absolute Judgments.
Q10: What is the second commandment?
A: The second is like unto it: Thou shalt accept all views as thine own, and be not Bigoted.
Q11: Are we ourselves Bigoted in our thinking?
A: Not at all.
Q12: Not at all?
A: No.
Q13: Not even a little bit?
A: No.
Q14: No?
A: Absolutely not.
Q15: What is the only redeemer of postmoderns?
A: The only redeemer of postmoderns is the Lord High State, which though the coercer of men, condescended to feel our pain, and so was, and continueth to be, coercer and pain-feeler, in two distinct natures, and one administration, forever.
Q16: Wherein consisteth the humiliation of the State?
A: The humiliation of the state consisteth in its being limited by the Founders, in allowing Terrorist Attacks, and losing Jobs.
Q17: Wherein consisteth the exaltation of the State?
A: The exaltation of the State consisteth in it its overcoming of the Constitution, its rule at the right hand of God, and its creation of Jobs.
Q18: What office doth the State execute toward the redeemed?
A: The State executeth the office of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king.
Q19: How doth the State execute its office as prophet?
A: The state executeth its office as prophet by revealing to us, by the TV news, the will of the State for our salvation.
Q20: How doth the State execute its office as priest?
A: The State executeth its office as priest, in continually offering up tax dollars for social programs, and in delivering us from Hate Crimes.
Q21: How doth the State execute its office as king?
A: The State executeth its office as king, in subduing us to itself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all its and our enemies.
Q22: What is the true method of politics?
A: The true method of politics is, to take a position that avoids all extremes, even as this catechism is neither Larger nor Shorter but Medium-length.
Q23: What is the duty of civil government?
A: The duty of civil government is, in matters important, clemency; in matters unimportant, severity; in all things, neutrality.
Q24: What is the principal threat to neutrality in the civil realm?
A: The principal threat to neutrality is Religious Extremism.
Q25: What is Religious Extremism?
A: Religious Extremism is, the view that certain absolute truths exist independent of the minds of men and women, that if something is true, it is true, and that A and not-A cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense.
Q26: Who are the two most dangerous proponents of Religious Extremism?
A: The two most dangerous proponents of Religious Extremism are Jerry Falwell and Rush Limbaugh.
Q27: By what means may we defeat Religious Extremism?
A: We may defeat it by allowing it to make no Judgments in the civil realm.
Q28: Is this itself a Religious Judgment?
A: Nope.
Q29: Not at all?
A: Not at all.
Q30: Art thou sure?
A: Absolutely.
Q31: Though the aforementioned Extremism is a vicious crime, does this imply that there is no place for religion?
A: No, for there are the Liberal Churches.
Q32: What are the Liberal Churches?
A: The Liberal Churches are those churches which, to avoid conflict with non-Christian thought, and to maintain a High Level of Relevance, have rejected certain Minor points of faith.
Q33: Wherein consisteth the worship of Liberal Churches?
A: Liberal worship consisteth in tolerance, affirmation, lighting of candles, experiencing of religious experience, and the consumption of Goodies.
Q34: What is the Moment of Silence?
A: The Moment of Silence is, a time wherein one may engage in private prayer, meditation, or daydreaming, all while maintaining Religious Neutrality.
Q35: What are the seven deadly vices?
A: The seven deadly vices are, Intolerance, Bigotry, Logic, Extremism, Sexism, Smoking, and making Sin-judgments.
Q36: What is the postmodern view of organized religion?
A: Organized religion is to be carefully avoided (unless at the Washington National Cathedral or in certain Liberal Churches), as are the accompanying matters of liturgies, psalms, and catechisms.
The Religion of Patriotism
05 years ago
Originally posted July 4, 2006. Edited for accuracy on February 14, 2009.
Is it the duty of the American Christian to be patriotic to his or her own country? Is flying the flag, protecting it from desecration, and standing up for the leaders of the country an important part of faith and values? Or, asked more directly, has loyalty to the United States of America become equivalent to salvation and Godly living? In many American churches, it seems that this is becoming the case.
Consider that in many contemporary evangelical American hymnals there is “patriotic hymns” section, but many of the “hymns” are songs of devotion to the nation (conveniently written with Christian verbiage) rather than the Creator of the people of the nation. (Thankfully, this is not the case with the Trinity Hymnal!) Consider how commonplace it is to see a flag flying in the sanctuary of a church. Consider how frequent it is that the worship service on the first Sunday in July actually focuses on the nation. It is as though the country has become an object of worship next to God himself.
It is also extremely common in these church groups for believers to become very involved in partisan politics. While cultural involvement is a good thing, even a mandated thing, and party involvement can be one of the means to a goal, many Christians seem to make the Republican Party a key element of their identity and wrongly assume the goals of that party will serve to make the nation a better place and draw it back to God. The politicians and analysts have taken notice, referring to this large group of religious conservatives using terms such as “the core base of the Republican Party,” “values voters,” “Religious Right,” or similar names. It has to be considered as a fact that an integral part of the American Christian’s identity and reputation is tied to the politics of this particular political party. Through the means of clever public relations tactics and campaign marketing, the Republican Party has been successful in convincing Christians to regard active party membership as a patriotic duty to the nation and also another aspect of carrying out God’s work. In 2004, at least one American church made news when the church leadership expelled anyone who did not vote Republican, as party affiliation had become a more central issue than sound doctrine.
Politicians who hold to “conservative values” and frequently appeal to Christian voters through religious messages or by appearing to champion issues dear to Christians become elevated on a figurative pedestal. It reaches the point where some of the Christian voters will look the other way if any of these men were to do wrong, as it is believed that if these men are such strong Christians, God’s hand must be on their actions. Thus, the people give these men a license to do almost anything they please, through mandates given by re-election. This borders on a Pelagian view of the goodness of man, failing to consider that even if a Christian it does not mean these men are beyond sin.
What defines the American Christian’s goals and values? What is his identity? While we may consider our primary goals to be living according to Biblical teaching, evangelizing and witnessing, and worshiping God, those on the outside look at us and see a major political player. The Church has become an active and recognizable political group, such that the “evangelical vote” is one of the most coveted groups on Republican election nights.
Why has the Church chosen to take this route with political involvement? On the surface, it appears that most Christians chose to identify themselves with the Republican agenda as a response to the increasingly liberal agenda of the Democratic Party decades ago. Perhaps the Church also saw what was once the family, faith, and values agenda of the Republican Party as being in line with Christian teaching and chose to join the cause in order to have a powerful political force that seemed in line with the Bible. However, the question that must be asked is, “why has the Church seen such a need for political activism?”
The union between the Church and politics can be traced back to the Roman Emperor Constantine, who made the Roman Catholic Church the state religion of the Roman Empire in order to use the Church to fulfill political and social means. From that point on through the Reformation and afterward, the Church and the ruling class were linked together. “Christianity” was used as a means of conquest, both in the Crusades and in the conquest of the New World. What really were political wars and quests for gold and riches were both hidden under the guise of furthering Christianity and purging so-called evil.
This set the precedent for the post-Reformation Protestant ideal of reforming whole nations according to Christian teaching—effectively using outward elements such as politics to reform a society rather than emphasizing God’s inward work and His grace. In the modern era this carries on with programs and key phrases such as “reclaiming America for Christ” — using political power to make a nation inherently Christian. However, this is a road to certain failure as it follows along the same path as the medieval Crusades and exploration voyages: forcing outward behavioral and social change while doing little in the way of true heart change.
This leads directly into the next point: the issue of jingoism. Jingoism is described as a fanatical devotion, almost religious in nature, to one’s homeland. This is often manifest as an attitude that one’s nation can do no wrong and is superior to all other nations. Especially dangerous is when this attitude is mixed with religion so that it is believed that one nation, above all others, has a special blessing from God. That, in turn, leads one to believe that God has given one nation a mandate to extend itself to other nations. This belief is quite prevalent among American Christians, who can also cite many cases of the faith of the Founding Fathers, the faith of Presidents, and the Christian principles behind the nation’s great documents. But the faith of individuals does not make their product inherently Christian. Furthermore, God does not specifically work with corporate bodies and nations; His work is with the individual.
It cannot be denied that there are many references in the Old Testament to God’s blessing on a nation. But the important distinction here is that it seems to consistently refer to the nation of Israel during the period in which God worked with His covenant people in a theocratic, national sense. For the last two millennia, the covenant people have not been an earthly political entity defined by man-made borders but rather members of a Kingdom that is not of this world. This perspective changes everything on national identity and political associations. Christ’s mission was not to create an earthly kingdom from which to reign, nor was it to overthrow the evil and polytheistic Roman Empire. (This was the error of the Zealots, and it carries on to modern times.) His kingdom is the invisible church — those whom He chose from all nations of the world. In the Church, ethnic background, political affiliation, and national citizenship are meaningless, as they are things of the world that will pass away. Whether you are a Liberal or a Conservative, an American or a Zambian, a Republican or a Democrat, etc., it has no implications on the Kingdom of God as God is not a member of any of these groups.
This perspective should change many things for the Christian’s political identity. When we realize that our identity is in Christ and our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), temporal affiliations lose their meaning and significance. In the Kingdom of God, we are not regarded as “Americans” but rather as “Christians.” We are not primarily ambassadors for our earthly nation, but rather ambassadors for our heavenly nation. (See Ephesians 2:19.)
With this in mind, is it important that society be transformed and made Christian? Yes, absolutely. But I think that this can only be done through God’s work in the hearts of men. The transformation must be invisible before it can become visible. Using political means to achieve change is not the way Jesus worked when He walked on earth; it is the way of the Zealots. It will not win souls; it will make enemies. I see no reason to believe that the Church will be judged for failing to Christianize a nation. Instead, if anything, the Church could be criticized for becoming tied to the world. Did Jesus ever condemn the people of Judea and Galilee for failing to convert the Roman authorities and transform the government? Are the Christians in nations such as China being judged for allowing the government to continue as it is? Then why is it so prevalent in America for Christians to believe that they will be held accountable if the government is not Christian? Have we lost our identity in Christ to the point that we must find fulfillment in our earthly identity? Or do we think that Christ needs the United States of America in order to fulfill His will for His Kingdom?
Our political ties can even cause harm to our witness to the rest of the world. Because the Church has become so tied to the American political system, anything unpopular political choice in the United States is associated with the American Church. The moral state of our nation—the place we call “a Christian nation”—has become such that followers of false religions are appalled by our lack of morality. And who is blamed? Right, the “Christians.” Because the “church” in the United States has chosen the route of political association and earthly change, we cannot effectively share the message of the Kingdom of God without political issues becoming a hindrance; either for the speaker or the receiver. The world seeks true Christianity, not what they see as American political “Christianity.” Sadly, we brought this on ourselves by sacrificing much for some temporal political influence.
What can we do? It is important for us, the Christians in America, to repent from trying to serve two masters (earthly kingdom and heavenly kingdom). We should be ambassadors to this world; not ambassadors from one earthly nation to another, but rather ambassadors from a heavenly kingdom. We should not go into the world to promote an earthly nation over another, but to do what we can to make visible the invisible, but nevertheless real Kingdom. And we should not pledge our allegiance to anything but God and that which is perfect and unchanging—that which cannot be taken away or be corrupted. Otherwise we enter into duplicity and risk the snare of idolatry.
And finally, do support your nation. Pray for your leaders and authorities as is commanded (1 Timothy 2:2), and remember that God is in control of all (Proverbs 21:1). Vote for those who would be most likely to lead the country in the right direction, regardless of which party they hail from; do your duty to “Caesar”. But do not lose sight of your true citizenship. God has not called us as “Americans” but rather as His bride. Our loyalty and worship is directed to Him, not to our temporary home. Our home country or political affiliation does not elevate or degrade our position in His kingdom.
Referenced Scriptures
All Scripture is quoted from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
John 18:33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Philippians 3:17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Ephesians 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
1Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
