During this election season, missional pastors will spend much time debating in their own minds how to address the issue of faithfulness to Christ in a time that every third evangelical is doing all but endorsing a straight Republican ticket. Missional pastors, striving to look beyond John McCain or Barack Obama to larger kingdom issues, face potential hostility from members of the congregation who need to be affirmed in their conviction that the voting is always a clear cut issue, that there is always a candidate that more reflects righteousness–righteousness which is determined by a voter guide.
In addition, missional pastors face the challenge of what some have termed “the American civil religion.” Historian Henry Steele centers the bulls-eye with his definition:
A secular faith in American herself, in democracy, equality and freedom which were equated with America in the American mission and the American destiny.
The obfuscation of this civil religion with a thoroughly biblical faith has created a dangerous syncretism in which the “blessing of God on America” is often sought more than the blessing of God on His churches.
Erwin Lutzer, a transplanted Canadian who pastors the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, has released a new book called, Is God on America’s Side? Under a sub-section entitled “The Church’s Diminished Influence,” he makes these observations [underline is original emphasis, bold mine]
I think there is reason to believe that we as members of the evangelical church are experiencing judgment. One sign of this is that the church has increased visibility but diminishing influence. The so-called Religious Right had great plans to reverse the moral trends of our nation. We are told that we have helped elect presidents and have impacted public policy and even the selection of judges. But by identifying these gains as those won by the “Religious Right,” namely, Christians who are in cahoots with a particular party, we have made this nation believe that the church is a political base rather than the dispenser of the gospel…We have cheapened Christ before a watching world.
[…]
The scenario of various religious leaders endorsing one political candidate or another is truly deserving of tears. Some Christian leaders have formed coalitions to “take America back.” The want to “put God back” into our political, legal, and educational institutions. If they have enough numbers and voting power, they think that the hands of the clock can be reversed…In identifying ourselves with a political party and battling for civil religion, we have lost our identification with Jesus Christ.
[…]
An example of civil religion is the recent so-called Christmas wars. If we insist that store clerks must say “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holiday,” what have we really gained? Are the people who are asked to acknowledge the Christmas holiday any closer to faith in Christ or are they simply irritated that they have to conform to our beliefs? And and if we win legislation mandating that the Ten Commandments be displayed in courthouses and classrooms, are we thereby bringing our culture closer to faith in Christ, or antagonizing everyone around us?
Certainly I believe we should keep the phrase “Under God” in the pledge of allegiance, but if it were removed, would the church be weaker? Christ and Caesar have always been in conflict, but I think it is time to affirm that Christ can do well with or without Caesar’s cooperation.
[…]
We want a civil religion because we fear that we might lose our creature comforts if our nation is in decline. I fear that one reason why we are so anxious that the economy remain strong is not so much because we want to use our funds to support the spread of the gospel, but because we all enjoy the American way of life. And we believe that a strong America always translates into a strong church. Perhaps yes, but then again, perhaps no.
[…]
To put this clearly: For some Christians, lower taxes, a strong national defense, and lobbying to “keep Christ in Christmas” are more pressing issues than whether their neighbors and friends will spent eternity with God or be lost forever…I’m convinced that many Christians who are angry today would be pacified if only we could return this country to the 1950’s when there were no drugs, pornography was sold on the black market, and movies, for the most part, portrayed family values. They would be satisfied with this change even if no one were converted to Christ in the process! They would be content if Christ were accepted as lawgiver to restore order to society, even if he were not accepted as Savior to rescue society.
Luter is right on the mark! We have won in the ‘kingdom of this world” while losing in the “kingdom of God.” I am encouraged that more and more evangelicals in the pew and in leadership are recognizing and speaking out about this. We must move beyond Dobson, Falwell and Kennedy.
Comment by Doug — October 15, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
Dude, that last emphasized, bold section hits many right on the mark. We’re never going to be what we used to be. We’re never going back to Egypt. God called me to be His man right now, not His man to tell people about the good ole days. I’m called to shout the Gospel to the world, right now, no matter who it votes for, what it wears, what it’s skin color is, or what it’s political leaning is. We’re in the search and rescue unit. Our time is now. Let the dead bury their dead.
Comment by Rob Westbrook — October 16, 2008 @ 12:47 am
Marty,
Solid post. I am thinking of suggesting a ballot option for 2012, “None of the above.” Or, maybe, “Can’t we do better?”
Comment by Todd — October 16, 2008 @ 8:24 am
Thanks for this post. Lutzer makes excellent points.
Comment by Kari — October 16, 2008 @ 9:35 am
Let,s just go on and get the dance card filled for Monday.
LIFE RULES:
1. Always place God above all.
2. Always place your wife above yourself and all other people including your children.
3. Always consider your children as gifts from God and care for them as such.
4. Always treat other people with proper respect unless they bother your wife or children.
5. Always keep your Bible read, your guns cleaned and loaded and your edged weapons sharp.
6. Always keep all three of them close at hand for immediate use.
SURVIVAL RULES:
1. Never trust anyone.
2. Never be in any situation you cannot walk away from in fifteen minutes or less.
3. Never show your hold card.
4. Always negotiate from the strong position.
5. If you find yourself in trouble, go back to rule number one. Chances are you have broken it.
TRUE WISDOM:
A lifetime membership in the NRA is a good investment and a good insurance if the economy totally fails. You will need your guns. That is a fact.
ABSOLUTES:
1. God, Guts and Guns made America great.
2. Without God America will fall.
3. Without Guts and Guns America will fall faster.
OPINION: (the only true opinion to have)
1. Obama is the most dangerous man in America.
2. McCain is less dangerous.
3. Therefore, vote McCain-Palin.
4.
Lastly, THE SABANATION IS 6&0
cb
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
Just an observation CB, not an argument per say but the Roman Empire lasted over 400 years without ever even trying to be a Christian nation. Lots of other nations have been around longer- empires even- and they are not ‘Christian’. Guns might make us last longer- if we all had them we would not need God at all right?
Comment by Strider — October 17, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Strider,
Wrong.
The Romans always had the guns.
Their apathy, along with their persistent plunge into creature worship brought their inability to use them properly.
Also, God used the Roman Empire as long as He needed it, just as he did the Babylonian and Persian Empires as long as he needed them for His purpose.
America is not an Empire. We lost that possibility between 1812 and 1834.
We have been a “God blessed” nation far more than a Christian nation from our “conception.” It is my opinion that God has blessed us because our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles which gave all people (after we finally dealt with slavery) of this nation freedom of various degrees in all arenas of life. The gospel had freedom here and people responded to it.
Our world has greatly changed. We have abused our freedoms and we have forsaken God. The demise of a nation that does so is at the mercy and longsuffering of God as to how long it lasts.
Would you not rather our nation come to its demise while still free and the gospel still being taught and preached from any soapbox that a free Christian would chose to proclaim it from rather than what is presently happening in this nation wherein both Christian and pagan alike are loosing precious freedoms that God’s blessings and American blood was shed to give them?
cb
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
Strider,
The last virtue a godless and dying nation is absolute tolerance.
cb
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Strider,
Would you agree that America in its birthing was in actuality a Church Relocation effort by the Separatists?
cb
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
CB-
It is arguable that the free market system has had more to do with making America “great” than either guts or guns; without it we would never have had the advances in armaments that we have had. Guts and guns may have made American powerful, but that is not the same as great.
re: guns being so important-Why don’t you ask the Cherokee and the Sioux what they think? I am a gun owner and am glad we still have the second amendment, but, all things considered, I’d rather be known as a peace maker (like Jesus said) than a gun owner (like Heston said). I’m pretty sure that when Peter drew out his sharp edged weapon that he got a strong rebuke for it.
Actually, America, while not an empire in the strictest sense of the word, has empire like qualities, actually qualities of an empire in decline: we spend more than we make, we keep a military presence in every far flung corner of the world that exists and we, like the Romans, believe that our form of government is worth exporting to countries whether they want it or not.
I don’t understand what your comment at #8 means. If it is a godless and dying nation, how does it have any virtue at all? Are you saying that absolute tolerance is a virtue?
Comment by Marty Duren — October 17, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
Marty,
Prior to the takeover by tyrants of any nation is the taking away of the people’s weapons to defend themselves. (1 Samuel 13:19-22) Marty, we are at such a moral decay in this nation that even men of faith would think it a good idea to disarm the public. Would you be one of those? I believe you not to be one.
Regarding the Sioux and Cherokee and all other original inhabitants of this nation. They used their weapons to defend their lands (and to conquer others) from one another long before we (all who came to this land for whatever purpose) arrived with guns. As they gained access to guns they used them. Had they had greater access to guns we may be a different nation today.
Peter got a rebuke and that is for sure. Yet, we must remember the context of that rebuke. Jesus was not in the process at that moment of making peace between men. He was in the process of making atonement between man and God. And not death, hell, the grave, Satan, twelve legions of angels or Peter would be allowed to detain Him or to stop the purpose of God. Peter used his sword out of immaturity and ignorance of the purpose and will of God. There is a time for the use of the sword (gun) else why would Jesus have used the illustration of the strong man in Matthew 12:29?
Therefore, I contend that men and women who used guns and had the guts to do so properly have, in fact, been used of God to make America great.
Back to the Cherokee for a moment to illustrate to improper use of guns by America;
Andrew Jackson was one of our greatest and bravest presidents (wish he were here now). Yet, the darkest and most lowly act of rude behavior in his life was the Trail of Tears perpetrated upon the Cherokee during his administration. Marty, men are sinful, both great and small. Therefore, an armed public is necessary to protect ourselves when even great men go bad. Had all the Cherokee been properly armed, history might record a different story than the shameful one it does declare.
Rule number one comes into play here. “Trust no one.” Only God can be trusted. We may have confidence in other men. And we are to love all men but we must remember all men are prone to sin and can perpetrate evil and horror upon his fellow man.
To say that the last virtue of a godless and dying nation is absolute tolerance means that when a nation abandons godly virtue it replaces it with its own virtue. That virtue is to tolerant anything a person deems right in his or her own mind and declare it good. (consider Judges 21:25 and Romans 1) Does that clear up what I mean by absolute tolerance being the last virtue of a godless nation. We are rapidly becoming a godless nation.
cb
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
CB-
Who in the heck said anything about disarming the public? Read what I say. What I’m saying is exactly what the New Testament says.
Here’s a question for you: at what point do you take up arms? When an election is suspended by the president? When freedom of the press is suspended? When freedom of religion is outlawed?
re: the last virtue. Using the word “virtue” threw me. I think of virtue only from a biblical sense, not from man’s interpretive experience. Regardless, we are not a “godless” nation. Like Athens, we have plenty of gods–college football for instance.
Comment by Marty Duren — October 17, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
Marty,
We take up arms to defend ourselves when domestic hoodlums come to our door. We take up arms when foreign hoodlums attack our borders or that of the weak and defenseless. (even (especially) those who have no oil)
We take up arms when our government falls apart and men begin to do what they thing right in their own hearts.
Freedom of the press being suspended, or even religion being outlawed is not what I am talking about in the least.
By the term “godless” I am in reference to the way the Scripture uses the term in reference to not recognizing God and not idols such as the Georgia Bulldogs who lost to the SABANATION.
cb
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
Marty,
We are rapidly become a godless nation.
There are godly people in this nation. Therefore we are not totally godless.
There are godless people in this nation. Therefore we are not a Christian nation.
We are a nation of which was founded upon Judeo-Christian ethics and principles. We, as a nation are rapidly moving away from that ethic and those principles. Therefore we are becoming a godless nation.
Perfect example of the reality of our abandoning our Judeo-Christian heritage is in the fact that a socialist is running as the nominated Democrat candidate for president of this nation at this moment.
cb
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 6:37 pm
Marty,
I did read what you said and I answered you.
cb
Haven’t posted comments so much in four months.;-)
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
Marty,
Another thing; I have never been against the US being an empire. We had a chance. We blew it. Mexico, Canada, Cuba, and many points south suffer because we did not take advantage of the opportunity we had.
cb
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
Marty,
It is a shame of our history that Vice President Palin has to sit on her front porch and see the Russian Bear.
If we had taken the opportunity we had to become an empire she might have been able to come out on the porch and simply see a neighboring state within our empire.
cb
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
I’m pretty sure the Canadians are quite happy the way they are.
Comment by Beth — October 17, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
Beth,
You are probably right. And the reason they are happy as they are is because they simply don’t know any better.
if they actually knew what they were missing they would declare war on us and demand we start an empire and they become our first conquest.
cb
I haven’t conversed with you in a long time. How’s married life treating you?
Comment by cb scott — October 17, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
Quite well, thank you. Hubby just got back from a 2 week mission trip to Brazil and left me all alone to cook and clean for myself. But now he’s back so I’m doing much better.
Comment by Beth — October 17, 2008 @ 9:33 pm
Marty,
You could get crucified for writing a post like this. Well…maybe you couldn’t, but I could, so I’m glad you wrote it and not me. But I’m glad that I read it. Civil religion is as dangerous to the American church today as the plague was to Europe in the Middle Ages.
Oh, and for the record, I don’t trust any of you here (per Survival Rule #1). Well…I trust Todd the most, but the rest of you are on your own.
Comment by Paul — October 20, 2008 @ 10:46 am
Ah, yes the 1950s must have been grand. The problem is it’s almost 2009 and we have to stop trying to go back in history when we can’t. To be cynical, throw our hands up and say that this world is going to hell and give up is a waste. We can’t give up on the generations to come or ignor them for Christ’s sake and we should care about this culture and society like Jesus did. Why not realize what a blessing we have been given to live in these days and make a difference. The sad fact is there will be some who will want to live in the traditions of 2009 when it will be 2059 and it won’t be relevant to a totally different culture then either. I wonder what the United States of America will look like if we don’t wake up and realize that we have to live for the kingdom of God now and learn to love these we seemingly hate.
Nail on the head MD.
Comment by Eric — October 20, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
The 1950s were good because we behaved more as Christians. 2009 sucks because we behave as heathens. We aren’t looking to go backwards but to improve our lives by being more Christian.
You ignorant liberal.
Comment by IDNeon — January 6, 2009 @ 3:41 am
ID-
Can you please specify exactly who is the ignorant liberal? I don’t want the wrong persons to be offended unnecessarily.
Comment by Marty Duren — January 8, 2009 @ 12:03 pm