Tag Archives: nationalism

Can we support those with whom we don’t agree?

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Beheading of Anabaptist Martyrs (Rembrandt)

Goshen College has been in the news a lot this year. This small school in Indiana was founded by believers steeped in the Anabaptist tradition, specifically Amish and Mennonites.

In keeping with their beliefs in peacemaking, Goshen College did not play the national anthem at school activities. In 2010, school officials decided that as a gesture of hospitality toward visiting athletic teams, they would begin to play the anthem at sporting events.

Their was a strong outcry among their alumni, leading the administration to return to the policy their school had practiced for over 100 years. That’s when the national media jumped in, especially Fox News. Reports came out that the school had “banned” the national anthem, and patriots everywhere denounced this act. [Anabaptists have been persecuted for centuries because of their views. As someone said on Facebook, “during the Reformation, the one thing that Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists could all agree on is that Anabaptists ought to die.”]

I’m not surprised that groups like Fox News would jump on Goshen. What’s been sad to me is to see the Christians that have done the same. Even if we don’t agree with them, shouldn’t we support a school that makes an unpopular decision based on Christian principles? Someone who stands up for their convictions despite the ridicule of non-Christians?

[A sports writer in Oklahoma had an interesting take yesterday, not as a Christian, but as a citizen of the U.S. He wrote:

The decision brought home the true dichotomy in the debate of freedom of religious expression and paying homage to the nation that enables such freedoms.

Clearly, the school has the right to play or not play any song it wants and it would run counter to everything our many valiant, brave citizens and soldiers have given in the fight for freedom.

It would be ironic if a school were forced to play a song that celebrates the birth of a nation born out of the desire for freedom.

You can read his whole article here.]

Maybe I’m only saying that because I’m sympathetic to their position. (There’s a well-written explanation of one alumnus’ views in this article title “Why I Don’t Sing The Star-Spangled Banner“) So I’ll look for input from you. Should we support those who stand up for their convictions even when we don’t agree with them?

Let me point out, as the discussion begins, that Goshen only changed what the school does as an official organism. They did not ban the anthem, as has been wrongly reported in the press. They do not forbid other schools playing the anthem when Goshen is the visiting team. They don’t burn flags nor beat up soldiers. I feel that their stand is different from that of some who try to impose their views on others or flaunt their views in the face of others. Goshen’s decision affected what they did on their own campus.

Is this a time for Christians to stand united or are their bigger principles in play here?

Evangelism and nationalism

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There are some things that would seem to be so obviously wrong that I hate to give them any credibility by addressing them. At the same time, there’s always a danger that the uncontested falsehood will be taken for truth.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that someone had commented on a post I wrote a while back on bilingual ministry. This person expressed concern about the existence of a plot to latinize the United States. (Some extremists call it “La Reconquista”—the reconquest). The implication was that by offering worship in Spanish, we are making it easier for those who scheme to transform this nation.

First off, I know that there are such extremists. I’ve seen them on television. I also know there are white supremacists, anarchists, separationists, etc. The person who wrote urged me to search the Internet; I know that the lunatic fringe is well represented on the Internet. That doesn’t keep them from being the fringe.

Secondly, I have yet to meet anyone in the church with such views. I’m not saying that there aren’t any people like that; the body of Christ is made up of human beings, and you can find just about anything you are looking for. But the typical Hispanic in the United States has no more interest in “latinizing” the U.S. than the average person here has in seeing the United States expand its territory. There are nationalists and tribalists among all groups.

Thirdly, if the people we are reaching out to have such nefarious goals, won’t converting them to Christ help? Especially if we can teach them what so many here in the U.S. seem to miss, the fact that our primary allegiance is to the Kingdom of Heaven and not a nation of this earth. Once they get a grasp on what it means to be a citizen of heaven, any dreams of political coercion of others will fall by the wayside.

All of that fails to mention the biggest and most obvious point: the outreach of the Kingdom of God should never be limited by the interests of a kingdom of this world, neither those of the United States nor any other country.

Of Thee I Sing

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In the comments section yesterday, Rex Butts shared a link to a blog post that contained the following excerpt from a church bulletin:

“That morning’s worship service features: (Our) Color Guard’s flag presentation and the Pledge of Allegiance, patriotic music. patriotic hymn sing, no sermon but a Reading of the Declaration of Independence, and we will join in prayers for our nation. We ask that all our Community First Responders and active and veteran Military please dress in uniform for this service so we can acknowledge all that you have done and do for us. Additionally , everyone is invited to bring a flag to church (mind the size). You will be asked to wave it during singing, the ushers will give out small flags to those present. So invite all your friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to” (church’s name) Celebrates the Flag on The 4th of July.”

Here’s hoping everyone is uncomfortable with this! “Forget that dry sermon and boring hymns. Let’s sing patriotic songs and read the Declaration of Independence.”

Sigh…

Why understanding our citizenship matters

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I shouldn’t be surprised any more at what people write in the comments section on my blog. It’s probably because I don’t get a lot of comments that the few I receive get noticed. I’ve got a few older posts that attract comments now and then, like the ones on bilingual ministry. (A Google search for “bilingual ministry” puts some of my posts near the top, so when people go looking for that, they often arrive on my blog)

One comment yesterday on one of those old posts left me with my mouth open. All of the things I’ve written about the dangers of nationalism were personified in this one person’s writings. (I’m still not sure that it wasn’t just somebody “yanking my chain,” as they say.)

The opening sentence to the comment gives you a clue as to the point of view: “I don’t understand why Americans living in America should assist immigrants to America in NOT assimilating to U.S. culture.” That’s right… four references to this country in the first 19 words of the comment. The gist of the comment was: there is an intentional plan by Hispanics to take over this country; allowing people to worship in Spanish is contributing to the downfall of the United States.

Do you get it now? Do you see why I insist that we need to help our people understand where our true loyalties lie? This person doesn’t necessarily representative of any large group of people. But the danger is real. The Pew Center research showing that Christians in the U.S. tend to identify themselves as Americans first and Christians second reflects a problem in our churches.

I wrote a short reply to this person:

____,

Well spoken as a promoter of the Kingdom of America. I promote the Kingdom of Heaven, so your view is totally foreign to me.

I can only serve one Master.

Grace and peace,
Tim Archer

One commenter has complained that I spend too much time talking about the subject of nationalism and being citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Comments like that one yesterday convince me that none of us talk about it enough.

Day of Prayer

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This has been quite the week for special days. Tuesday was Star Wars day. May the Fourth. Like “May the Fourth be with you.” Did I make that up? Why no, no I didn’t.

Wednesday was Cinco de Mayo, that traditional U.S. holiday. “U.S. holiday?” you ask. Yep. It’s a regional holiday in Mexico, not particularly celebrated outside of Puebla. In the 1860s, people in California started celebrating this day, and it eventually became a sign of Mexican pride here in the U.S.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. It’s also National Crepe Suzette day and National Nurses Day. Hard to know which one to celebrate, right?

Sorry, I know that it’s cool to complain about this day not getting enough observance. I just don’t see the plus to it. I believe in prayer. I believe firmly in the power of prayer. Just look at the discussion last week in the comments.

But I don’t believe in prayer by decree. I don’t believe in somehow trying to get people who wouldn’t otherwise pray to join us in prayer.

Christians should pray without ceasing… not needing a special day.
Christians should pray for leaders of all nations, not wait for leaders to pray for them.
Christians should pray without making a show of it.
Christians should pray in secret.

None of this is accomplished by a National Day of Prayer.

Today should be a day of prayer.
So should tomorrow.

{photo by Jesper Noer}