We Christians can’t help being a people of our culture. Though we are not of the world, we are in the world (John 17:14-15), and to some extent, the world shapes our perspective. The Christian who sits in the pew a few hours a week is doing well, but is still being bombarded constantly with the corrupt sermons of culture.
If I agree that your favorite burger joint serves the world’s best burgers, will you agree that a decent steak restaurant is still better than that? I am a believer in American exceptionalism, the assertion that the Founding Fathers deliberated to produce a republic which is, despite its many faults, history’s greatest nation. But, that still cannot compare to the kingdom of God, led by the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), forever safe from destruction (Daniel 2:44-45)!
It’s easy to confuse American ideals with the truths of Scripture. Now, we certainly should honor and obey the leaders and laws of our nation (Luke 20:25, Romans 13:1-7, Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-17). But the “I stand for the flag and kneel for the cross” bumper stickers, and similar sentiments sometimes labeled “Christian Nationalism,” are a misguided effluvium of politics into the faith. Despite my thankfulness for her, America is not a Christian nation; never has been, never will be. Her days are numbered. The one and only Christian nation is the church (Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 11:6, 13:14, 1 Peter 1:4-5). Our duties do not change regardless of who occupies the Oval Office.
Principles articulated in national treasures like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence have so far provided a secure and united nation. But these same principles—Equal Rights, Freedom, Individualism, and Opportunity—deserve scrutiny in light of God’s values. I plan to cover one of these per week in the July bulletins.
Equal Rights
The Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” The Bible also declares the equality of all human beings, as children valuable in God’s sight. Acts 10:34 says that “God is no respecter of persons.” In Colossians 3:11-15, He declares that in Christ “there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all and in all.” Racism is wrong.
However, equal rights often appear as litigious inflexibility. Equal rights are expressed as the conviction that I don’t have to take nothin’ from nobody. I’ve got my rights, and if you cramp my style, I am going to take you to court or shoot you!
In contrast to this, the Bible says that as a Christian, I must not insist on my God-given equality in this way. Rather, I must treat others as more important than myself. This is the example of Jesus, who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Paul declared, “Have this [selfless] attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself” (Philippians 2:3-8).
There is a time to insist on our liberties; Paul did (Acts 16:37, 22:25-29, 25:11) though a deeper look might show he did this more to protect the fledgling church and further the gospel than to save his own skin. Mostly though, we should stamp our feet less when “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” come under threat, and choose to willingly subordinate our rights for the good of our neighbors and the salvation of the lost. “Do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:39-41). “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone… If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge” (Romans 12:17-19.