A Mending Shift

a bird sings, not because if has an answer to give, but because it has a song to sing … this is my song

Jesus Wore Red, White, and Blue

two_crosses_one_flag3

At least that is what some theologies would have us believe.

It is as if Jesus walked the road to the cross draped in an American Flag, much like Apollo Creed in Rocky 4 entering the ring to James Brown’s, “Living in America”; as if Jesus died with America on the forefront of his mind.

When my family and I lived in the Bible Belt of Texas, Jesus-America and Christianity-Patriotism were the same, they went hand in hand, they were hyphenated words. For some, there was a God-and-Country theology that could not—would not—separate the two. Whatever America did was viewed as having God’s backing  and, worst yet at times, being God’s holy work. (This is not just a Texas thing, but is found in some churches throughout the Nation. I brought up Texas because this is where our story led us to see this theology taken to it’s climax).

America can do no wrong, this theology assumes; she and God are married and their wills are inseparably linked.

But what happens when the interests of America go against the interests of God?

For us to even begin to ask that question, much less answer it, we have to view America and God as separate entities whose interests sometimes (some would say, often times) collide and are anti-each-other. Some quick reminders might help us separate the two:

  • Jesus was not born in America.
  • Jesus was not a white Caucasian male.
  • God is not an American.
  • God did not found America.
  • God does not love Americans more than other people.
  • God does not show favoritism to America and her interests.
  • God desires to bless America as much as the next country.
  • America is both good and evil.
  • America participates both in the the Kingdom’s interest and in the interests of the Anti-Kingdom.
  • A person can be a follower of Jesus and be anti-America in as much as another person can be a follower of Jesus and be pro-America.
  • If America collapses God’s kingdom will continue here on earth.

Now please hear me that I am grateful for the freedoms and “perks” that come with being born in America. I love this country, but I recognize that she has beautiful and ugly sides. But as a follower of Jesus, HE is my country, my leader, my love. Anything else, even America, can quickly become an idol—as we have seen. It can become something that pulls my heart away from God and Their kingdom. As Jesus said, I cannot serve two masters.

So what happens when the interests of America go against the interests of God?. . .

. . . Sorry America, your flag comes down and Jesus gets lifted up.

Nothing personal, ol’ glory, it’s a Kingdom thing.

May God bless America everyone—Americans included.

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This entry was posted by on Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 at 5:00 am and is filed under blessing, Christianity, church, ethics, faith, freedom, God, Jesus, Kingdom of God, theology, truth. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

About The Author

Jeromy Johnson
I live in Folsom, CA, with my wife, Jennifer, and three kids. I am surrounded by and cared for deeply by some great friends. Their love for me is truly a moonlit reflection of Papa's love, and for that, I am deeply blessed and grateful.

Comments

  • http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/ Robert Martin

    Amen and preach it… I get sick and tired of the attitude, both explicit and implicit, that US Christians for some reason have a special connection to God. It's not just in Bible-Belt Baptist Texas. Amazingly enough, the sentiment is even in a very anti-political denomination like the Mennonite church (of which I'm a member). While in that particular segment of the Christian body it's definitely not an explicit thing nor an official thing (see http://www.mennolink.org/doc/cof/art.23.html), there is still in someways an underlying thought “Oh, we in the US have it right and the rest of the world has it wrong.”

    Puh-lease.

    Oh… where did that soap-box come from? Sorry 'bout that…

  • http://mulledvine.blogspot.com Mulled Vine

    On behalf of the rest of the world, thank you.

    Robert

  • http://blakehuggins.com Blake Huggins

    As one who also despises exceptionalism, especially in relation to theology, thanks for this reminder that for followers of Jesus, our first allegiance is not to any nation-state.

  • http://jeromyj.com/mendingshift Jeromy

    Robert ~ Interesting, definitely not something I thought the Mennonite branch struggled with…I learned something new today. Thanks for the soap-box.

    Mulled Vine ~ That's right, you're in the UK. You're welcome…I just wish this balanced attitude was more prevalent in our country. Sorry for what we've done…

    Blake ~ You're welcome, I need this reminder too.

  • http://alifeprofound.wordpress.com Cynthia

    Yes and Amen.

    Our children are educated at home and we attend a homeschool co-op each week. They have a “yearbook” and this years theme is God and country. They are requesting submissions for the first page and the cover. I have issued a challenge to my children to submit a page reflecting just what you wrote here. That God is not a patriotic God.

  • Mark Whitley

    I find it interesting that many churches that will not place a cross or image of Christ in their sanctuary (logic being that these are false idols) almost always have an American Flag and a Christian flag on their altar. If you want to see an interesting display of the imagery of the cross/Christ and the flag, google “christian” tatoos. You will find some extraordinary personal body art connecting the crucifix and the flag. One of the most disturbing to me was one I saw that had the American Flag as the loincloth Jesus wore on the cross.

    Thanks for your article. Remember, we are but ONE of the nations UNDER God.

  • http://jeromyj.com/mendingshift Jeromy

    Mark, you said, “the American Flag as the loincloth Jesus wore on the cross.”

    Wow. Very disturbing.

  • http://jeromyj.com/mendingshift Jeromy

    Cynthia…indeed. Thanks for sharing!

  • http://www.chadholtz.wordpress.com Chadholtz

    Amen, Jeromy.

    I think we who are pastors need to own some, if not all, of this. Walk into most churches on Sunday morning and many times you can tell from the pastoral prayer alone just how far the imaginations of the people are willing to venture. I need this constant reminder so that when I pray with and for the people I am giving voice to all the nations, not just my own.

    thanks for this.

  • http://mark-main.livejournal.com/ Mark

    Great post. Growing up in the evangelical church I never realized just how much this idea permeated everything we believed. I too am thankful for my country. I love it, but the idea that we are somehow more loved because we are America is arrogant.

  • http://www.doableevangelism.com Randy Siever

    God already blessed America. We have not been very good stewards of that blessing, however. There will be consequences, I think (and perhaps there already have been some). May my country, the United States of America, continually pass on the blessing it has received. Thanks for a great post, Jeromy.

  • http://jeromyj.com/mendingshift Jeromy

    Chad ~ You really bring a great pastoral/church perspective here into the conversation. I think we, as pastors, have intentionally (some) and unintentionally helped this mentality. You said you want to make sure “..I am giving voice to all the nations, not just my own.” That is key. When is the last time you heard someone say “God bless the world” or “God bless our enemies” or (to really bring it down) “May God bless Al-Qaeda”. We indeed need to stretch people's imaginations about God's grace…

    Mark ~ Neither did I. and very arrogant (and sinful) indeed.

    Randy ~ Your comment reminds me of God's mandate to Israel that God would bless them, not to become an empire or another “Egypt”, but to be a blessing to all nations.

  • Mark Whitley

    Yeah, I'm a United Methodist pastor (and friend of the most excellent Blake Huggins). These are issues that are very difficult to bring up in most churches. This is hill the WWII generation fought and died on and they will always fight to have the flag near the cross in our churches. Honoring their views and their sacrifices without sacrificing our honor of God often leaves little room for common ground.

    My wife and I were talking about your post at lunch today. I know there is “Bibliolatry” in some of our fundamentalist churches. She asked today, “Is there such a word a flagolatry?” I don't know if there is. If there isn't, there should be. Lovin' my country, but lovin' God more.

    Blessings to you and your ministry.

    Mark Whitley,
    Bixby, OK

  • Circuitrider

    Oh, and blessings from a fellow INFP who never “fit” in life until ministry happened a few years back.

  • http://jeromyj.com/mendingshift Jeromy

    Mark ~ Yea, I agree that it is hard for some in certain generations to separate the two; though as pastors I think it is our role to help them stretch their imaginations (thanks Chad).

    “Flagolatry” — there is now! I think there is such a thing as Blogolatry, which I am sometimes terribly guilty of. Blessings…. and thanks for the Facebook friendship.

  • http://www.chadholtz.wordpress.com Chad

    Someone call Stephen Colbert. I think there is some deep truthiness to flagolatry and blogolatry.

  • derek

    When did God bless America, except in our own songs?
    I think our understanding of God just keeps getting bigger. At first, He's the God of Abraham and his family. Then he was the God of a minor population of slaves in Egypt and the desert. ultimately the God of a nomadic band of outcasts, then of a tiny nation which never really got too big. But even Israel couldn't claim God as it's own and Gentiles and Jews alike were called into life in the only nation big enough for god, the Kingdom of God.

    I don't think god blessed the USA because the USA is simply too small for God. We don't have any special blessing that the Canadians, Russians, Indians, Kenyans or French don't also have. The only nation that matters to the Lord is the Kingdom of God and any man made nation is only as good as it is similar to His Kingdom.

    How many poor have you seen inherit this country lately?
    How often have the sick and lame sat at the table with the rich and powerful in this country? In any man made country?

  • ariahfine

    Amen. I couldn't agree more.

  • http://sacredbe.blogspot.com/ rain

    Thank you for your boldness, friend. For balancing grace and truth.

  • http://www.jeromyj.com/mendingshift Jeromy

    Thanks Rain.

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