Hey nationalistic idolaters, there's now a Bible just for you. Excerpt from a critical Christianity Today review:
Yet, the selective retelling of American history found in the Patriot's Bible is not what concerns me the most. What disturbs me more is the way the commentators attempt to give their idealized version of American history divine authority by weaving it into the biblical narrative.The central assumption that undergirds the Patriot's Bible is that America is, in a unique sense, a nation established, governed, blessed and protected by God. Throughout the Patriot's Bible, but especially in the Old Testament, an explicit parallel is drawn between Israel and America.
For example, George Washington is exalted as the "American Moses," about whom the commentators wonder "[h]ow...is it possible for so much greatness to be embodied in one man?" Similarly, as God brought the Israelites out of oppression and led them into the promised land, so God led the brave pioneers of America out of their oppression and brought them to their promised land. As God fought on the side of the Israelites to ensure victory over their foes, so God's providential hand was at work in all of America's military victories. And just as God used the children of Abraham to bless the whole world, so God has used, and wants to continue to use, America to bless the entire world by bringing it freedom.
Get thee behind me, Satan. I am serious. This corruption of Holy Scripture for nationalist ends is deeply offensive, and even dangerous. I never want to have to choose between my country and my Lord, but if that day comes, I hope I have the courage to choose Christ. To the extent that this Bible's publishers conflate serving Christ with patriotism, thereby implying that a Christian might never have to make that choice, they are corrupt, and corrupters.
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"There are strong reasons to back Israel that have nothing to do with being Jewish or a Christian dispensationalist."
There may well be. But for many of the Protestant evangelicals who will find the Christian nationalist message appealing, dispensationalism is part and parcel of the program.
Well, I support Israel's right to exist, but I don't believe in dispensationalism. There are strong reasons to back Israel that have nothing to do with being Jewish or a Christian dispensationalist.
I think the difference is that mainstream Israel supporters (including most Israelis themselves) would prefer some kind of peace with their neighbors, so long as they felt their survival and interests were secure. This is a very non-radical, rational view. The "only" problem is how to meet the perceived needs of both sides -- so far, a very difficult proposition. I presume you are in this camp, Rod.
Dispensationalists, on the other hand are actually *opposed* to peace between Israel and Palestine because the streets must run with blood and sacrifices must resume on the Temple Mount (or some such nonsense) in order to usher in the Kingdom of God. (Again, this is my general understanding -- the fundie church I grew up in did not believe in this version of the end times, so I'm not well versed.) In their view, the sooner things come to a violent head, the better. Yet another reason why religious fanaticism -- be it Muslim, Christian or whatever -- is indeed dangerous in the real world.
Rod,
The review of the American Patriot's Bible was not published by Christianity Today, but by Out of Ur, a blog for pastors sponsored by Leadership journal. The confusion is understandable because both magazines are published by the same parent company and thus share the same root url. But let's give credit where credit is due.
Great post, and wonderful discussion - I hope to come back to it later today and post something myself.
The Patriot's Bible sounds like a gimmick to sell Bibles.
I see much similitude between America and Israel, as in The Northern Kingdom however. As Michael Medved's history of America makes clear, there were many miraculous events. It's clear to me that America was intended by G-d to be a continental power, and make the difference that it has in the making of the modern world.
As for us Christian Zionists, and other fundamentalists bringing about the bloody events of the End Times, what part of it's prophetically ordained, don't you understand?
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