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If you
haven’t noticed by now, we are in a major political season. Even
if you tried, you couldn’t avoid the primary coverage on TV, the
work-place debates about the various candidates, and the upcoming
pleas for your vote in a general election.
One of the
things that bothers me during seasons such as this one is when
someone speaks of America as a "Christian nation." Is
it? Was it? Should it be? On all counts, the answer is no.
Although
even those people who say they want it otherwise would admit that
the United States is not a Christian nation, they sometimes claim
it once was and that it was founded to be such. Many of our
country's founding fathers were, at best, Deists. They certainly
did not envision a culture where religion would have privilege of
place in public life. It would be permitted and protected as a
personal right among free people. It would not, however, be
"established" or otherwise promoted, defined, or made
compulsory by the government.
It seems to
me that a Christian view of history and life in society would
argue against the idea of a state in which the unique features of
Christian theology, lifestyle, and worship were written into law.
In the several instances where that has happened, it has not had a
happy result. Spreading and impressing religion through force
quickly becomes fanaticism and persecution.
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Besides,
wouldn’t it be a violation of the Golden Rule to create a culture in which
persons who did not share Christian faith and values were required either to
observe them or to show deference to them? If the shoe were on the other foot,
would you want to live in a Muslim, Buddhist, or atheistic culture and be
required to observe or show deference to their ideologies? Of course not.
The point
of this is not to say that as Christians we should be disinterested in or
uninvolved with politics. It is to say that we should be involved in the system
as "salt" and "light" persons. We should serve the public
good and protect the rights of others. We should be particularly sensitive to
the weak, marginalized, and minorities. America is not a Christian nation, but Christians should always be among
the best citizens in any nation where they may happen to live.
Whatever
your political leanings, be wary of anyone in this political season who seeks to
manipulate you with religion. Look suspiciously at any candidate who begins to
use religion as a "political football." And turn a deaf ear to the
fanatical souls from whatever quarter who say or imply their views are God's
mandates.
"Pray
especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly
about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way
our Savior God wants us to live" (1
Timothy 2.2-3 MSG)
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