Something To Think About Patriotism, 7/4

Most of us will just enjoy the hot-dogs, parades and fireworks.  If you are one of those folk, then maybe I should just wish a Happy Fourth and say good-bye. For some, though, the place of patriotism in the life of a Christian is one that creates considerable tension.  Trevin Wax recently blogged about this.  Since he is probably taking the day off, and might not get around to reviewing my comment, you can find ithere. You would profit from reading Wax's thoughts, but here are his "Moving Forward" thoughts, with some additions, in italics, from me: American believers should give thanks to God for the blessings of our temporary earthly citizenship, as long as we emphasize blessings of belonging to the eternal, multinational family of God. When people in our culture are celebrating the benefits of earthly citizenship, American believers should seize the opportunity to communicate solid, biblical teaching on the distinction between earthly and heavenly citizenship.  We should use the privileges we have as earthly citizens to further the Kingdom of God. As American believers express gratitude for this nation, we should be careful not to diminish the value and worth of other nations.  Even in a small congregation like Covington Bible Church there are representatives of other nations. Pastors and church leaders should make it clear that American believers have more in common with Arab believers in Iraq and Syria than they do with their unbelieving next-door neighbors. This is true not only across national borders, but concerning the various sub-cultures within our own nation. There is something beautiful about a congregation that shows respect and gratitude to people who have served their neighbors well. When we recognize veterans or law enforcement officers, we are lifting up ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things for the good of their communities.  I have been profoundly moved in this regard, as I have visited  places that US forces liberated from tyranny, Dachau, Normandy, Gettysburg.  We can, and should be thankful, for those who served our nation, and accomplished much good.  We should not allow wars that didn't turn out so well, to cause us to lose all respect for those serve, and have served. As I write on this Fourth of July morning, my American flag is hanging on my front porch.  I hope with the proper understanding, I'll wave. It's STTA:

Lash me to the Mast--spell that B-I-B-L-E

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT 9/11 .    Are there any two other numbers that bring up such memories?   This year the anniversary of the horrendous attack on our nation intersects with a presidential campaign.  I'm thankful that both major candidates have declared a moratorium on negative campaign ads for the day.  Both candidates and their staffs are working hard to look suitably somber.  They want to make the point that their election is the "key" to the salvation of our nation, yet they must do so without appearing to "use" this sad remembrance.  It is an  interesting dance to watch.   Let me try a dance of my own.  (A strange image for an old Fundamentalist.)  On the one had I want to speak to some of my friends who have succumbed to a cynicism that spreads like early morning fog.  After two or three or twenty election cycles it is easy to say, "It doesn't matter."  Vote for Tweedledee or Tweedledum.  It really makes no difference.  Broken campaign promises become the fodder of the next opposition ads.  The syndrome creates jokes like the one that begins, "Consider liars and politics."  and then continues with, "Oh, I'm sorry.  I've repeated myself."   That kind of cynicism doesn't help.  It leads to decent people surrendering the process to the scoundrels.  I'm grateful for decent, honest, in some cases, even Godly people who wade into the political swamp and try to make it better. On the other hand, especially, those of us who claim to speak for God need to resist the siren call that becomes all but deafening every four years.  Odysseushad himself tied to the mast of his ship so that he would not abandon his course and crash on the rocks.  The mythic tale warns of a very real danger. As preachers of the Word of God, we need to be lashed to the Book.  We are not a-political.  We aresupra-political.  One of the images of the Bible is that it is a fire.  We ought to preach the Word in such a way that we hold the feet of those who listen to that fire.  The Bible ought to inform and shape all of our lives.  That has to include the great responsibility that we Americans have to vote for our leaders, and responsibly participate in our representative form of government.   Without the least bit of arrogance--in fact with a great deal of humility--I say that there are those of us who need to stay so tightly tied to the Word of God that we can be a guide through these dangerous waters.    It's STTA.     The heart of that message to which I am committed is found below:   http://covingtonbiblechurch.com/lifesmostimportant.html    Here is a good word from another preacher who is tied to the Word.

Rendition: To Caesar & to God

Jesus said to "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's."  I hope you have done your rendering.  I got mine done very early, about 1:30 this afternoon.  Actually I could have E-filed my return ridiculously early--I pretty well finished at 1:00 this morning.  I'll get back to that.  In that statement I referenced, found in Matthew 22:21, Jesus also said ". . . and unto God the things that are God's.

I haven't read the book by Ross Douthat,

Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics, but I did read an interesting interview with him here.  I find much with which to agree in the interview.  Much of my agreement has to do with that confusion of Caesar and God, which Jesus condemned.  I'll let you read the interview, or the book for yourself, but apparently Douthat is zeroing in on a principle that has been articulated in various forms throughout church history.  The monastics, and groups that radically separate from the world like the Amish, some Mennonites, and to a large degree the Fundamentalists of sixty years ago made the point one way.  "We believe," they said, "that what is supremely important has nothing to do with the world's power bases.  The concept is clear in the confrontational ministries of leaders like Billy Graham (after he learned some early lessons) Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John the Baptist, the Old Testament prophets, Thomas More, Desmond Tutu, Chuck Colson, the host of martyrs in the early church, and many of the reformers.  These spokesmen for the Lord--though I don't necessarily agree with the positions all of them took--stood apart from the state and confronted it, sometimes facing not only a corrupt civil authority, but also a "church" in an unhealthy alliance with the state.  As the post World War I German church, learned too late, and as what is popularly called Evangelicalism* needs to learn, we are in greatest danger when we find something within Caesar's realm with which we agree.   We ought to rejoice in sound, righteous government.
"Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)  But, but, but, we have to realize--and history is full of examples--if you get into bed with Caesar, you wake up with Caesar's fleas.  Or to use an even less flattering analogy, it is hard to speak truth to power when our mouths are full of junk-food the brokers of power have poured into the trough from which we feed.

Oh, about my 1:00am tax-form completion:  I was glad about my way early "Caesaric rendition," so happy that I retired in bliss, such contentment that I forgot to set my alarm.  I slept the slumber of one whose conscience is clear of any unmet obligation to the toga-wearing class, and awoke at 7:30, the beatific aura of my fulfilled obligation still hanging on my patriotic, ethical, much poorer person.  The glow lasted until I realized that 7:30 is an hour-and-a-half past the time I was supposed to be at a Bible study with some guys.

Render to Caesar, but let's not let it keep us from giving God the supreme place in our lives that He deserves.    

 It's STTA

Displaying the Ten Commandments:

I just saw that the Giles County 10 Commandment case is back in the headlines.  It will likely surprise no one to hear that the case is being driven as a result of a suit brought by well less than a handful, maybe one student and a parent ( here).

The Giles County display includes a number of historic documents

I am thoroughly convinced that our schools and other public institutions would be far better places if the there was a greater awareness of and adherence to the Decalogue.  Yet as I think of the horrendous persecution inflicted on Christians in some lands dominated by Islam, I certainly want my nation to respect the faith of nonChristians.  The rights of minorities--even minorities of two--need to be respected.  

I'm not saying the display at Narrows High School--a school, by the way, my pastoral associate attended--constitutes discrimination, or coercion.  I'm not sure that any of our founding documents guarantees the right to never see anything that makes one uncomfortable.  Since the two complainants in this case have remained anonymous, I don't know, but if they are like others who have similarly complained in other cases, their problem is "I am an atheist.  Seeing this display makes me feel that I am not a welcome part of this public--as in, "paid for by my tax money."--institution."  Do atheists demand the right to practice atheism, or the right to not practice theism?  (Here is one atheist's viewpoint on the dispute in Giles.)  Either way they have that right, and I endorse it.  I'm open to being convinced, but I don't see that this display violates either right.

I won't be filing an amicus curiae in this case.  Instead I'm advocating for a far more effective and, as far as I know, totally legal, display.  I'm advocating that we live out the principles of the Ten Commandments in our everyday life.  Start with #1.  Live in such a way that it clearly shows that there is one God and that He is my Lord.

Stay tuned.

 

It's STTA.

Ultimately the law shows out profound need.  When you see that look here to see the soul-u-tion.