How do we think about faith and country? How can the practice of religion and the freedom of religion (or non-religion) happen in the same space? What are the dangers to the state and to the church when religion and nationalism become intertwined and convoluted? Is the American ideal one that fosters Christianity or pluralism? How is Christianity distorted and diminished when it becomes co-opted by partisanship and manipulated by national leaders? Should Christians be political? Is it possible to be truly Christian and have allegiance to any government? Is a god-and-country-flag-waving sort of Christianity antithetical to following Jesus? Has Americanism become a religion unto itself--a heretical perversion of Christianity that attempts to nationalize Christian faith?
There is much to think about.
Here is my first "Christians, Civics, and Politics" book suggestion.
by Greg Boyd
The church was established to serve the world with Christ-like love, not to rule the world. It is called to look like a corporate Jesus, dying on the cross for those who crucified him, not a religious version of Caesar. It is called to manifest the kingdom of the cross in contrast to the kingdom of the sword. Whenever the church has succeeded in gaining what most American evangelicals are now trying to get -- political power -- it has been disastrous both for the church and the culture. Whenever the church picks up the sword, it lays down the cross. The present activity of the religious right is destroying the heart and soul of the evangelical church and destroying its unique witness to the world. The church is to have a political voice, but we are to have it the way Jesus had it: by manifesting an alternative to the political, 'power over,' way of doing life. We are to transform the world by being willing to suffer for others -- exercising 'power under,' not by getting our way in society -- exercising 'power over.'
- Book Description from Amazon.
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