In their new book, Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives
, Steve Wilkens and Mark Sanford examine cultural scripts that work against the gospel work in the Church. Our theme today: nationalism.The motto: My Nation, Under God.
Honest question: If Jesus were alive and living in the USA today would he be a patriotic American? Who has learned his or her lesson about the seductiveness of nationalism? How did you learn it?
Now Wilkens and Sanford are examining religious nationalism: the belief that the USA (any nation) is uniquely favored by God and an integral part of God's plan.
Big one, I admit. Esp for a Friday. Still, we need to converse about this in a civil manner. The authors believe that patriotism -- love of one's country -- is a good thing. Patriotism that loses perspective is an evil thing, so they say. Patriotism that loses perspective becomes nationalism.
Where to begin?
Nations are artificial boundaries and are not eternal. Nations come into existence through power: economic, military and stability. Nations that become focused on these powers become nationalistic.
You may be a nationalist if...
1. You think God's plan for the world would be severely hampered without the USA.
2. You think it unthinkable for a citizen to refuse to pledge allegiance or sing the anthem for religious reasons.
3. You think our Declaration of Independence or Constitution are eternal principles and never to be changed.
4. You think our nation would be better if we got back to the way things were.
Wow, but there are some good in national thinking: we are less individualists, less tribalists, nations help with the common good, and our national identity helps us understand ourselves.
But... we need to realize that our national measure has to be compared to the divine standard, not just against itself; the "other" is not a challenger to us but our neighbor; nationalism overreaches loyalty into idolatry; nationalism forgets the transnational nature of God's church.
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Good post and comments.
I like the idea of a whole bunch of flags of nations, or none at all.
This sin of nationalism can creep in unwittingly to those of us who reject the typical approach. When we are so taken up with anything in regard to this nation, really right, left or center, so that it nearly consumes us, we may be placing our trust in something other than God.
Sure, the bottome may drop out of the economy, but to hear the debate go on, it all depends on what goes on in Washington, as if that's the sovereign hub of existence on this planet, or at least in our world. But if our focus is on the New Jerusalem, surely we can have some constructive criticism along the way, and we should, but we won't be placing our faith in the United States or our political party or ideal of it. And this ought to be plain to all as part of our witness in this world.
My church also had a time in the worship service for veterans to stand and everyone clap for them. They then posted the colors and had everyone say the pledge of allegiance.
I think it is appropriate to thank the veterans. After all, it is because of them that we have the freedom to gather together for worship. They have all put a lot on the line for us, and I think it is appropriate to express gratitude, even in a worship service. So I clapped.
However, I was EXTREMELY uncomfortable when it came time to say the pledge. It just didn't feel right to pledge allegiance to the flag in a worship service. I felt like we should be pledging allegiance to Jesus.
Now, I personally don't feel that the two need to be mutually exclusive, but one is definitely superior to the other, and if a worship service (i.e. a gathering of the Body of Christ) isn't an appropriate time to make that distinction, then what is? If anything, the distinction should be emphasized.
Try this question:
Are you a Christian who is a ? or
Are you a who is a Christian?
Also applies to to politics, work, sports etc. It is a statement about identity. I believe we should be Christians first and foremost, with nationality, political beliefs, career etc all taking a very secondary place.
Try this question:
Are you a Christian who is a (insert nation name)? or
Are you a (insert nation name) who is a Christian?
Also applies to to politics, work, sports etc. It is a statement about identity. I believe we should be Christians first and foremost, with nationality, political beliefs, career etc all taking a very secondary place.
(My first attempt to post this didn't appear correctly because I used left and right chevrons! Who knew?)
I really appreciate this paragraph: "But... we need to realize that our national measure has to be compared to the divine standard, not just against itself; the "other" is not a challenger to us but our neighbor; nationalism overreaches loyalty into idolatry; nationalism forgets the transnational nature of God's church." Especially the gift of the "other", and the transnational nature of the church. But how often the "divine standard" has been understood as the white, Christian, male, mid to upper class ideal. :-(
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