A Christian Nation – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We are not a Christian nation.  It is time we decided that thinking we are hinders and does not advance the Gospel.  What then is our relationship to government to be as Christ followers?  Paul made this very clear:

Rom 13:1-10 Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn't been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God.  Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves.  People who do what is right don't have to be afraid of the government. But people who do what is wrong should be afraid of it. Would you like to live without being afraid of the government? Do what is right, and it will praise you. The government is God's servant working for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid. The government has the right to carry out the death sentence. It is God's servant, an avenger to execute God's anger on anyone who does what is wrong. Therefore, it is necessary for you to obey, not only because you're afraid of God's anger but also because of your own conscience.   That is also why you pay your taxes. People in the government are God's servants while they do the work he has given them.  

     Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone honor, honor that person.  Pay your debts as they come due. However, one debt you can never finish paying is the debt of love that you owe each other. The one who loves another person has fulfilled Moses' Teachings.  The commandments, "Never commit adultery; never murder; never steal; never have wrong desires," and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."  Love never does anything that is harmful to a neighbor. Therefore, love fulfills Moses' Teachings.

There are some very important things to note here:

• Paul is speaking of Rome under Nero when he insists that we obey the government.
• It is clear that God gives us the government we have and we are to work within it.
• He is clear that resisting the government is opposing God.
• No matter how evil a government may seem to us, God is using it to work out ultimate good.
• Whether they acknowledge him or not people in the government are God’s servants working out his plan.
• If we accept this as truth we need not fear the government if we are doing right.

So why do we spend so much energy on politics and so little on showing the love of Christ to our neighbors?  Should we not work as a church to feed the hungry no matter what the government does?  What would be the impact if we led the fight against aids instead of condemning homosexuality?  I am not weighing in on the rightness or wrongness of homosexuality.  I am simply weary of Christ followers not being know by their love for people with whom they disagree.  Why do we expend so many resources on the political side of abortion when we could make choosing to keep an “unwanted” child a profitable, loving, safe, and healthy alternative for the expectant mother?  Why do we allow the abuse and neglect of those who come here seeking refuge when we are commanded to welcome them and care for them? 

If we act as Christ commanded us to act there will be an impact that we cannot imagine.  This nation was born out of a rebellion against another government.  No matter how we characterize that now, we had other choices.  I cannot shoot my enemy and claim to love him.  I cannot rebel against the government over me and claim to be obeying God.  I love the nation I live in but I am also concerned that Christ followers want all of the privileges without any of the responsibility.

This is not a Christian nation.  No amount of rhetoric will make it one.  We could, however, choose to make Christ followers known as those who lead in love and care for others.  We could demand social justice for everyone.  We could shelter the stranger in our land and love them as a neighbor.  We could make this a nation where Christ followers are known by their love and not their politics.  I know this is what I must be.  How about you, Dear Reader?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."