The Bible Should Not Be Wrapped in an American Flag
The idea that the United States was founded distinctly as, and should definitively be, a “Christian nation” is strongly held by those who comprise what is known as the evangelical right. This ideological agenda is what fuels their electoral passion and drives their unique version of political activism.
“God and Country” is a frame of reference from which flows an agenda aimed at incorporating a particular interpretation of the Bible (usually a somewhat narrow interpretation) into legislation, executive order and judicial action. Also within this framework, American patriotism is treated as though it were a biblical virtue. Further, democracy, capitalism, and their corollaries are subtly (or in some cases not so subtly) held as Christian values.
The ideological framework of the evangelical right seems to wrap the Bible in an American flag and the Constitution in a Bible cover. A reasonable analysis of history and a proper understanding of God’s purpose for the church within society would lead to a different place though.
The United States was not established to be an expressly and/or exclusively Christian nation. Far from seeking to form a definitively Christian nation, the Founders sought rather to form a religiously tolerant nation.
No doubt many of the Founders were religious men—most of those were Christians in the very broad sense of the term. But it must be understood that many of these Christian Founders were not by any stretch evangelical as they are commonly assumed to be by many on the Christian Right. Thomas Jefferson, for example, was a naturalist who would not accept anything in the Bible that even hinted of the miraculous. While the Founders confessed of a
Creator from whom we are endowed with certain unalienable rights, many of them were deists who denied that God was personal or involved in the world.
Even had the Founders all been evangelicals who sought to construct a government and culture that was definitively Christian/evangelical, does that mean we should continue that legacy? The purpose of the Church and the role of Christ-followers in this world, as I understand Scripture, is to be living out an alternative way–the way of Jesus–within the larger society and culture. I don’t see any biblical support for Constantinian-like efforts to Christianize a society through edict. The gospel and its overflowing implications upon those who believe it and live in light of it is not real if it is forced upon people and not permitted to be freely accepted or rejected.
One thing in which many of the Founders did believe that we would do well to follow is the separation of Church and state. All of history shows that whenever the two get bound together (as in “God and Country” and ”Christian nation”) the result is always the perversion of the Church. Its purposes get co-opted by the state.
The state needs to be the state. And the Church needs to be the Church. This doesn’t mean leaving our faith at the door when entering the public square, but it also doesn’t mean forcing our faith upon the rest of society by way of the government.
bill frome
11:03 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
85% of Americans are Christians so what are we then???? So we can label every other country a certain type of nation but America should not have a label. Get the heck out of here the USA is a Christion nation by majority just like Afghanistan is a Muslim Nation.
Lani
5:22 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Until the First Amendment to the United States Constitution is changed to eliminate the freedom of religion, the United States should continue to be known for the principals upon which it was founded. Including freedom of religion. Officially calling it a "Christian Nation" would contradict that sentiment.
Liberalism is a mental disorder
11:31 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
Bingo.
Tony
7:07 am on Monday, June 11, 2012
"The state needs to be the state. And the Church needs to be the Church. This doesn’t mean leaving our faith at the door when entering the public square, but it also doesn’t mean forcing our faith upon the rest of society by way of the government." ........well said. other's ideology should not be forced onto others
voice of reason
9:09 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Churches should be taxed
Andrew Wilt
9:39 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Organized religion continues to be the single greatest cause of strife and mayhem on the planet.
moderate Republican
9:53 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Andrew, let's abolish organized religion, then.
(Of course not.)
My idea is this: let's separate church and state (oh, yeah -- somebody already thought of that one!)
And it's the best idea ever!
Andrew Wilt
10:21 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
moderate Republican - It's a great concept to have no "organized" religion! We can individually, on a personal basis, at home, in private, deal with our deities as we ourselves see fit. And extremists on any end of any spectrum won't be so likely to make everyone believe that "their" way is the only way, thus causing so many problems.
Tony
10:11 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
The good news is Romney said he will govern as his faith as a backbone That is great news!!! Cant wait for Joseph Smith and the clan to come back from Kolob (the planet that he resides on in outer space) Yippy!!!! Smith will bring joy and happiness to all!
Liberalism is a mental disorder
11:30 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
Or we could just have the President who attended the white haters church, and has written that if he ever has to choose a side, he'll side with the Muslims... you know, the Muslims... the faith behind 99.7% of terrorists today.
Andrew Wilt
11:53 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
Incredibly Wise - Although I am certainly no fan of Obama or any president since JFK, you might want to check this out: http://www.factcheck.org/2008/06/obamas-dreams-of-my-father/
Tony
12:10 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
incredibly wise...you would have to define terrorism and show facts that muslims are responsible for 99.7% of it. there were many acts of terrorism by christians catholics etc. the crusades. burning people in town square if they didn't believe, etc. Even house republican Boehner said Obama was a Christian. I was just posting FACT that Joseph Smith is living on Kolob and that him and his gang will come back to the United States to save US since according to Morminism Jesus walked around in North America rather than middle east. But hey Fox News says its a Christian religion even though basically everything about it is opposite of what is taught in their bible. So back to my point, Romney says he is going to govern off of those beliefs!!! YEAH!!!!!
Liberalism is a mental disorder
1:48 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
WERE acts. WERE acts. I am not going to compare the Muslims of today, living in the 21st century with Crusaders of the 11th century. What a STUPID analysis.
Why don't you post me three reports of Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddist or any other religion engaging in terrorism in the last year. BET YA CAN'T.
It's tripe like you post that is politically correct to a fault. Muslims are responsible for 99.7% of the teorrorism in the world NOW. If my figure is wrong, it's because it is more likely 100%. Why can't you deal with this FACT. And if it isn't a fact, post me some news stories.
Liberalism is a mental disorder
1:51 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
What church does Obama attend now? None. If he can't go to white hater Rev. Wright, he has no interest in going to church. If being Christian mean you can hate a race, and attend a church with a race hating minister, then Obama is Christian. But if he was a real Christian, he would go to church.... so...... I think he will just take religious services off till he can attend another white hater church.
Tony
3:10 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
Norway terrorist was a christian terrorist. he didnt kill thousands but served same goal. so not so much as a stupid analysis. now obviously there is more terrorism within the muslim like religion but they are going through a period in time where christians once did the same exact, but without these types of weapons etc.
http://news.yahoo.com/christian-terrorist-norway-case-strikes-debate-181559379.html
and to answer your other comment.....there are christian hating churches as well, as seen as fact in the videos posted where making fun and hating of gay people is accepted, just as Jesus would have done...yeaaaaaahhhh okay. gay bashers is what they are. What about Romney's church again, it was illegal and seen as a SIN to have interracial marriage. Fact: black people were seen as a curse and "devil" like. Romney's bible used to have the N word in it, until they changed the scriptures to say negroes. This was all changed of course a long long time ago back in 1978! haha what a joke. oh and this of course is all fact. where is your fact that Obama hating a race. That of course would mean if hating a race, he would act like the Norway Christian did. But then again all the loopy republicans must be loopy if they all agree that he is a Christian that attends church. Then again, why would Obama just attend a Bush award ceremony if he hates his race. makes ALOT of sense.
Liberalism is a mental disorder
7:45 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
I can't even read this... it looks like the work of a 4th grader with a head injury.
Limeport Resident
5:42 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Liberals are losers has a problem with understanding anything that is over four letter words. Obama goes to church regularly. The church Rev Wright preaches in does not hate whites. If Liberals Are Losers goes to church, I would not a priori say the church hates blacks. The USA a Christian nation attacked a country killing thousands without justification. Priests terrorizing kids, Sandusky a Christian terrorizing kids. Some Christians are evil! Timothy McVey was a Muslim?
Liberalism is a mental disorder
7:47 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Well, it is a challenge understanding your writing. Ever hear of punctuation? Just check out some or Wright's sermons, and you'll know he's a preacher who hates just about everybody... except blacks. What country did we attack without justification?
Martha Cox Popichak
11:48 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Hmm - shall we look back at what happened to Native Americans? How about slavery in this country? Yes, some "Christians" had slaves. Our belief systems go through changes. Name calling and nasty disparaging comments do not belong in civil discussion, otherwise the writer is suspect.