I blame church leadership

There are lots of people who could be blamed for the fiasco at the capital on January 6, 2021.

I blame church leadership.

To be fair, there were people ransacking the capital that weren't Christians. However, there were many people participating in the sinful act who professed to be. Not only that, many probably thought it to be their Christian duty to do what they did. I also believe everyone is responsible for his or her actions. People can't just pass the blame along to someone else, which does seem to be part of the human sin problem. Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the devil... It has been our way since the fall. I am in no way standing up for the atrocities or people who committed them. I simply want to address an issue I see in churches, large and small, throughout our country.

There have been plenty of scholarly works describing American Christian nationalism, so this post will not delve into the details. Rather, this will be from the heart of a pastor and my personal thoughts and feelings.

1) Churches should stop teaching that God is an American. To be sure, there are some pastors who teach a version of this, or a version that states America is the new Israel and people of God, however, I think most pastors inadvertently teach this.

Pastor, teach the Bible...

The Bible teaches that the Kingdom of God transcends any earthly kingdom. By way of reminder, John wrote this: "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands" (Rev. 7:9).

I encourage you to read the Levitical Law and see how God told his people to treat the alien and foreigner among them.

As an aside, if God isn't an American, He isn't a Republican or a Democrat either.

2) Churches should stop teaching that the church needs a democratic republic in order to thrive.

Pastor, teach the Bible...

The Bible teaches that no governmental system can stop the church. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches that NOTHING can stop the church from fulfilling its mission. Jesus said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Throughout history, the church has grown in countries represented by republics, monarchies, oligarchies, dictatorships, communists, fascists, the Caliphate, Buddhism, Hinduism, and whatever other kind political or religiously political climate that has existed over the past 2000 years.

When immature Christians are taught that the church needs anything outside of God to grow and flourish, they can be manipulated into carrying out violent acts on behalf of the church and Jesus. For some reason, the events this past Wednesday reminded me of the Anabaptist uprising in Münster during the 16th century. If you're not sure what that is, here is a very brief article I found.

I also want to encourage anyone in church leadership to get a copy of The City of God by Augustine (written in the 400s) and give it a read. Here's a link to a copy on Amazon.

3) Stop teaching that Christians should use violence to stand up for their 'rights.'

Pastor, teach the Bible...

Here are some of Jesus' own words.

"But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also (Mat 5:39).

"And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" (Mat 5:41).

Many of you will know that the tyrannical Roman government could require someone to go a mile. That was the law. Jesus says to go two... As a follower of Jesus, that is your 'right.' No violence. No complaining. Just serving a person, which is your Christian duty.

*sidenote: I am not a pacifist and I love my country and I'm so glad to be able to minister in a country where I am free to do so in the public. Our church has military veterans who have fought for my country. They are to be honored. I am so thankful for their service.

Okay, let's keep talking.

Romans 13 is just as true for Americans as it is for any other country. Just keep in mind, while you are reading Romans 13, Paul was writing to Christians who would be killed in Rome for their faith...

I'm also not suggesting that Christians shouldn't vote. Paul used his Roman citizenship to his advantage. Christians in America should use theirs, which means the right to vote, but Jesus is pretty clear what your 'rights' are. You are a sojourner in this broken world. Place your hope is Jesus and his Kingdom, not an early political scheme or party.

4) Take down the American flag from your platform.

Yes, this may be the most debate-able thing on this list. But here is why I am so adamant about it. When we gather to worship, we should be reminded of the real and eternal kingdom to which we belong, a kingdom made up of all nations, tribes and languages, a kingdom which is made up of all those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This doesn't mean I'm anti-American. I think Christians in America should be the most productive Americans. I just believe we shouldn't tether the kingdom of God to any earthly nation, however good that nation is.

The Kingdom of God transcends America and all other nations. The Kingdom of God is eternal.

When the church gathers, it should gather around the good news of what God has done for the world through Jesus. Symbols and powerful and the symbols in a church gathering should point people to the good news of the gospel and nothing else. I believe that symbols are so powerful, many Christians look to the American flag as something more than their earthly country, but as an extension of God's Kingdom. I'm a good baptist, so I believe the true extension of God's Kingdom is the church itself, not a country.

I believe the best place for people to get a tangible taste of the Kingdom of God is through the local church. That tangible taste is made bitter by the sins of people, so let us teach the Bible, repent when we err, and point people to Jesus and nothing less.

I also believe that the most patriotic thing we can do for this country is to seek the face of God on our country's behalf. We should love people, all people, well. We should seek to grow God's Kingdom on earth through the local church and we should not settle for anything less.

Cheers,

Zac