29 July 2009

America and Christians Part Two: Military

Disclaimer: This are only my opinions, presented to generate discussion on the issue. It is completely fine if you disagree. I respect the fact you may have another opinion and ask you respect mine. Comment on any part of this, whether you agree or disagree. Again this is presented to generate discussion.


Should a Christian be apart of the military? Some would say yes and use Old Testament examples of how military force was and is necessary and therefore a Christian can be in the military. But is this view congruent with the whole of the Bible?

The Old Testament is full of war and God commanding war, so is it alright for us as Americans to participate in the military. I think we have a better standard to look at than the Old Testament and that would be (the stock answer of) Jesus. Jesus seems to turn around the view of war. If your enemy strikes you on your right cheek then turn and give him your left (Matt 5:39). Also the earliest Christians were antiwar and pacifists. It is not until Constantine really that this began to change. Now that the emperor is a Christian and part of his job is to protect the empire he and theologians had to needed to did make war okay. If you notice, there is a connection between patriotism and military force being justified. Unfortunately 11 September 2009 seems to have affected our beliefs and engrained in our beliefs that military response is right and responsible. Again going back to Jesus, they struck our right cheek so should we not offer them our right? (I am not sure how that would work, I do not believe we should provoke them into attacking again.) America as a nation obviously had to respond but to see evangelicals to have also responded in such a way is disheartening to me. We should have been seeking a peaceful way to have this taken care of (this does not mean for Afghanistan to just kill the Taliban). We should be pushing for world peace (though it is not likely to occur). The just war theory, while endorsed by the Catholic church, U.S., and more, it is not a correct theory according to Jesus. The crusades were wrong1 and together we (Christians) should apologize as a whole for them. Most of the crusades were failures and only strengthened the hate between Christians and Muslims. We should be working to repair the relations, this would then increase our chances in the evangelization process. If they hate us why would they listen (especially if we continue to blame them, which we are finally lessening) but if we can build a dialogue relationship with them, it would create opportunities for us to witness to them.

So getting back to the main topic, should we as Christians be in the military, no. We should be attempting to make peace and be willing to be martyrs for the cause of Christ. It is our job to love and respect (love your enemies [Matt 5:44; Luke 6:27,35]). If that endangers our lives then we must trust that God has an ultimate plan. Take for instance Jim Elliot and Nate Saint. They were both killed attempting to witness to the Huaorani tribe. However in the long run many of the tribe have become Christians including two members that were in the party that killed Jim Elliot and Nate Saint. I am not promoting a martyr complex for we are to try to attempt to broker peace without violence. The military does not fall into line with this idea. Sorry Augustine but the only Just War is no war according to Jesus. Does this mean we should not support the troops, no. We should not support the military or the wars. People, yes; actions, no. He who lives by the sword dies by the sword (Matt 26:52). Does the sound like a promising statement?


1. See Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller for an interesting take on this.


Come back next Wednesday for the next part Politics.

27 July 2009

Self Righteousness Part Zero: Teaser 1

Right now I have a four part series on Self Righteousness planned covering these four topics: pride, attitude, hatred, and tolerance. This series will begin after part five of America and Christians (or a conclusion post, depending on if I feel I have finished that series). These are based on an article I am working on. Which after writing these I will probably re-combine into the article. Originally this was on Hypocrisy but after reading a few articles and hearing a sermon (by Michael Criner) I changed the subject to Self Righteousness, funny how God can place things in your way to help clarify your thoughts. It may turn out that this series is only part one in a much longer Hypocrisy series.

22 July 2009

America and Christians Part One: Christian Nation?

Disclaimer: This are only my opinions, presented to generate discussion on the issue. It is completely fine if you disagree. I respect the fact you may have another opinion and ask you respect mine. Comment on any part of this, whether you agree or disagree. Again this is presented to generate discussion.


In southern circles, at the least, you hear how America is a Christian nation. This country was founded on Judeo-Christian values they say and this fact alone makes us a Christian nation. I would like to explore this idea, first was it ever and second should Christians want to claim this?

First was this country ever a Christian nation? I believe the answer to be no. If you read about the founding fathers (of America) you find many of them were not Christians, they may have known Christian values but did not practice them. Benjamin Franklin was not a Christian even though he loved to go hear George Whitfield speak. Thomas Jefferson practically invented the Unitarian church (basically a hodgepodge of whatever religion you like). So at best you can call the founding fathers Deists (belief that there is a god). But what about after that? Well, if the constitution is not strictly a Christian constitution that makes it hard for the nation to be consider a Christian nation without changing the constitution. Also America is setup as a majority rule nation with allowances and understandings for minority groups. What happens if an influx of other religions occurs and one of them takes the majority? (Please note this is a very brief and probably unsatisfying look at this part, however many books and articles have been written on the subject and I do not pretend to know enough.1)

Now more importantly, should Christians want to claim America as a Christian nation. I believe not. Why you might say should we not want to claim America as a Christian nation. There are several reasons and I will attempt to touch on them (some in this blog and then “larger” subjects in the rest of this series). One, as a Christian we can only serve one master (Matt 6:24), if we choose to claim America are we not really making America our master. Also if we take a look at our Old Testament, we find that being a nation with a leader did not work out well for Israel. While Judges was a bad time for the Israelites, God provided for them, once they asked for a King, they were quickly separated (after three kings the nation splits) and then five-sixths of the nation’s tribes were lost by conquer. While America does not have a king, we do have a central government that in a sense has the same power as a king. If we look to them are we not like Israel demanding to be like everyone else. I realize the nation of America could not function without our government, this is no reason for us as Christians to embrace it as our own, though. This leads into the next point of America being a capitalist nation. If you can find me a passage that clearly shows Jesus teaching this idea then you are better than me or deluding yourself. While communism does not work as a government form, it is the type of idea Jesus teaches in the New Testament. I honestly like communism on paper, but then I remember we live in a world with non-perfect people who corrupt the system. So then should Christians move away and start their own communities where they do live communally. I do not have answer, because we are to be a city shining on a hill (Matt 5:14) but also to be in the world (but not of it) (loosely John 17:16). America is hyped up on buy this, get this house, drive this car, dress in these clothes, etc. This is not what Jesus teaches us, while he does teach to make sure we are taken care of, we do not need all the cool new gadgets.

Capitalism is only one major problem, as noted above what would happen if Muslims became the majority group in America? Would this become a Muslim nation? They like wise could point to many traits in the constitution that are similar to their belief system and could make the same claims we do, except that the founding fathers were muslim (though as I previously pointed a group of them (if not most) were not Christians). How many laws have been passed that are counter to Christian beliefs? America is founded on the idea that majority rules but also cannot discriminate against the minority. So for instance prayer in school, we cannot (and should not) have public prayer in school (private prayer, most definitely). How would you determine who gives the public prayer in school, majority faith (in school, city, county, state, country). Not looking good is it. Or I could point to Roe vs. Wade, this is currently a legally sound judgment according to our constitution, the only way it will change is a law being passed defining when life begins. (On a side note in the Christian ethics issue mentioned earlier, end-noted, there is an interesting article on ensoulment vs life.) Still liking “your” nation and want to claim it as Christian. Theocracy does not work, our kingdom is in Heaven not on Earth. While we should want a nation full of Christians, we should not desire a Christian nation. There are other implications to this that I will discuss more fully in later parts of this blog.

{Part Two is: Military, Part Three is: Politics, Part Four is: Bible, and Part Five is: Schools. (Notice I have come up with a fifth part and watch for more to come, and comment on topics you would like to be written.)}


1. see Christian Ethics Today. Vol 15 no 3 iss 75. Fall 2009. For further research in this area. Also you may consider Gregory Boyd’s book Myth of a Christian Nation, I have yet to read it so I cannot fully comment on its take.

19 July 2009

America and Christians Part Zero: Introduction

I am going to start a series that deals with Christians and the United States of America. I would have liked to have called it: Christians and America, but the way I currently see Christians setting their priorities as America first, Christian second, thus the Title being set in the particular order. If you do not see the correlation then wait and see the the post in the series. I plan to release a blog in this series once a week starting this week. I currently have four parts planned and maybe more to come. So for the next four weeks prepare to see one blog on this subject starting with: America and Christians Part One: Christian Nation? If you have issues you want me to blog on then please post a comment and I will see if it already fits in or try to incorporate it.

16 July 2009

traffic etiquette

I hate when people do not know traffic etiquette and rules. The yellow lights (the option just before headlights) is not for driving around with, they are parking lights, are you driving and parked at the same time I do not think so. Turn signal, suppose to be engaged prior to braking not immediately before turning. If you know your your exit is coming up within the next mile or two then go ahead and move over or if the lane you are end becomes a turn only lane in the next mile or so and you are not turning then do not stay in that lane. By simply driving like you know how will increase your happiness and the others around as well. (watch for updates as I remember additional mistakes)

Marriage: State vs Church

I honestly think the church needs to take back marriage from the state. This harmonizing of two is what has now got the country up in a stir about gay "marriage". If the church were to take back marriage that would leave the state with civil union. So under this proposal a Christian couple would have to go through two stages, one with the state (civil union: legal in state, probably just some paper work) and the second in the church (the actual marriage). This would solve the gay "marriage" issue because then the church's ceremony would not be legally binding in the state only in the eyes of God which I believe is the way it was meant to be leaving the gay couple to be legally civilly united(?) in the state. Just to be clear to be legally "married" now would be called civilly united, you would have to go to the court house and fill out paperwork and have the justice declare you civilly united and then to be married in the eyes of God you would still have the church ceremony. The major problem I see with this is having to change terminology. Non Christian couples would no longer be called married but civilly united (or something to that effect) no matter their genders whereas Christians married in the church would maintain the married label. (please comment, but keep them civil this is for discussion purposes, if you disagree be civil about it, I will reply if need be)

The Purpose of This Blog

The purpose of this blog is to discuss Christian issues in today's society from my perspective. Many of the ideas will not be original to me or do I believe they must come about, however do believe these need to be discussed more openly and civilly. I am fine if you disagree with me, as again these are my opinions and I realize not all of us are the same nor any of us perfect. Please do comment with your opinion, keeping it civil. I hope that I along with many others can bring out some of our churches' short comings to improve upon it through the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, and God our Father. The church is much too fractured and I think this generation can help turn around that trend, we just need to be open and honest, recognizing our similarities, and discussing and accepting our differences.