During my trip to Cuba two weeks ago, one sister gave me a poem. Here are a few translated lines to give you an idea of the flavor:
Long live my Venezuela
That was saved from the empire.
Long live Hugo Chávez
And the countries of Alba.*
My dear Venezuela
That is today the light of the world
Along with my beloved Cuba
and our beloved Jesus.
When she gave it to me, I glanced over it and expected the worst. After all, I’m from “the empire.” I was ready for her to chastise me for things that the United States has done in Latin America.
However, she merely wanted to give me this poem (given to her by the Holy Spirit, she said) so that I could share it with others. It was so obvious to her that any Christian would agree with the ideas she was expressing that she never stopped to think that I might see things differently.
Nationalism and Christianity don’t mix. Not in Cuba. Not in the United States. It’s no more wrong for her to write what she did as a Christian poem than it is for people to salute the American flag during a church service. But neither one is right either.
Nationalism and Christianity don’t mix. I was told that this sister has some issues mentally. What excuses do we give?
Nationalism and Christianity don’t mix.
*Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América — Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America. “Alba” in Spanish means dawn. This alliance is meant as an alternative to the U.S.-sponsored Free Trade Area of the Americas.
Photo by Victor Soares
We tend to think “our” country (or section of the country) is best just because we were born in it, don’t we!
Tim,
I love the can of worms you opened! There is too much to say in too little time, but my point would be, we (as Christians) so often see our country as the land in which we live. I agree with Barbara in that, we always see”our” country as the best, even as Christians.
However, current physical thinking leads us here. We should be looking to the “country” ahead, after all, isn’t that where our fellowship resides. Pauls says so.
Thanks for being an inspiration my friend!
God bless!
This should remind us, in case we are tempted to forget, that nationalism is not just a problem for Christians living in America. Nor are American politicians the only one who would have the Christians believe their cause is sanctioned and blessed by God.
Grace and peace,
Rex
I think I’ll go fishing, as Chris said, “now that you’ve opened this can of worms”. :)
To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. Ps 18:25-26
“Teach me to feel another’s woe;
To hide the fault I see:
The mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.” -Quote
It is a good reminder that the syncretism of nationalism and Christianity is not limited to the United States. It was also a reminder to me of just how distasteful it is to Christians from other places. To be honest, this lady’s poem didn’t bother me as much as some of what I see here in the States, partly because she is a fairly new Christian who seems to have some emotional issues. When I see Christians who should be mature by now behaving the same way, that really gets me.
Tim, thanks for sharing the poem from the sister in Cuba, and for sharing your excellent thoughts about the dangers of attempting to syncretize the kingdom of heaven with the kingdoms of this world, regardless of the nation.
I also read your post about the Tulsa Workshop; I was able to spend some time there on Thursday, but it was cut short by an illness in my family. I regret that I missed an opportunity to meet you in person! Maybe next year!
God bless!
Well, the government to some degree feeds, supplies housing, pays thru government assisted programs. You can see how people can love a country when the country supplies all the needs of certain individuals.
I also believe very deeply that the separation of church and state must be maintained. For all individuals are equal, whether, Jew, Muslim, Christian or Atheist. The rights of individuals are protected by our government and must be. This allows us to worship as we want.
Tim I am sorry but I just totally miss your conclusion.
Now if your speaking of “worshiping” one’s Government then I could
agree with your conclusion.
I see no conflict with me loving the Lord my God and my neighbor as myself and me respecting our authorities. What do you see as so sinful for saluting the flag whether in the “sanctuary” or saluting the flag at a ball game, prompted by perhaps even one’s own 18 yr old son believing he died for the ideals of the Constitution?
Grace and peace Clay
Clay,
There is a great difference between respecting authority and rendering homage to that authority.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
So saluting the flag represents homage and not respect?
I’m not even sure, what is your definition of homage?
Also how would you respond to Romans 13
Submission to the Authorities
1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Grace and peace, Clay
Impeccable timing on the Romans 13 question. I was literally just studying the passage. I’m going to need to do several posts on that passage. Suffice it to say that WAY too many arguments have been hung on that one passage that has many possible interpretations.
As to homage, according to Merriam Webster, it refers back to an act done to show oneself as a vassal of a lord. It is a public show of respect. Basically I would say that anything you would do to show respect to ANY government or flag is mere respect. Anything done to only one certain country goes beyond that.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Clay,
Do you see anything wrong with our sister’s poem? Would you have a problem with reading it in your home congregation?
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Personally I am not in favor of voicing politics, country, government
or even having a flag in the meeting room. No I wouldn’t read the
sisters poem.
Not so much because I believe that any of that is wrong necessarily but in order not to cause a brother to stumble, or even “grumble” for that matter LOL
Grace and peace Clay
Well done, Tim. Challenging thoughts.
If Romans 13:1-2 are universal, so is 13:3. Since that’s demonstrably NOT a universal statement, perhaps there’s some room for qualification or limitation of the whole passage.
We should get one thing clear about politics and Christianity…any Christian that understands the New Testament within its Second-Temple Judaism/Greco-Roman rule knows that there is no such thing as a gospel that does not address politics. The question of the gospel is what politics…the politics of the gospel/Jesus Christ or the politics of the nations?
As for Romans 13…I find it interesting how many conservative/evangelical Christians want to hang their hats on Romans 13 in justification of participating in national politics but seem to forget this passage when praising the efforts of those who led a “Revolutionary War” against the governing authorities – especially when we consider that Paul wrote this passage to Christians who remained under the injust oppression of Roman rule and he told them to “submitt”.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Finally – someone who agrees with me! :)