Worship as Higher Politics

Christianity Today ^ | July 2005

[sonrise57]

Worship as Higher Politics
Political priorities for citizens of the kingdom.
A Christianity Today editorial | posted 06/23/2005 09:00 a.m.

George W. Bush is not Lord. The Declaration of Independence is not an infallible guide to Christian faith and practice. Nor is the U.S. Constitution, nor the U.N. Universal Declaration on Human Rights. "Original intent" of America's founders is not the hermeneutical key that will guarantee national righteousness. The American flag is not the Cross. The Pledge of Allegiance is not the Creed. "God Bless America" is not the Doxology.

Sometimes one needs to state the obvious—especially at times when it's less and less obvious.

Say What?
Understandably, megachurch pastor Rod Parsley (World Harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio) has had enough of America's moral confusion. But in his newly published Silent No More: Bringing Moral Clarity to America … While Freedom Still Rings (Charisma House, 2005), he writes (not so understandably), "I can be silent no more. Not until the land of our fathers' dream arises. Not until we become the truly kind and noble society we were fashioned to be. Not until the commitment of our fathers truly does become the calling of our times."

And here we thought the Ten Commandments and Sermon on the Mount held the key to a "truly kind and noble society."

[sonrise57]

Help me debunk this article: Worship as Higher Politics

A budy of mine who is concerned about the confusion of Americanism with Christianity posted this article on his blog. As I was reading this article I felt like the author was setting up straw men. I want to offer an intelligent response that uphold the rightness of believers honoring their country, praising God for and praying for the USA, even in church and appropriately expressing their partriotism as an outgrowth of their Christian faith.

[My2Cents]

As a side note, the left's religion IS politics, and the state is their god.

[Logophile]

George W. Bush is not Lord. The Declaration of Independence is not an infallible guide to Christian faith and practice. Nor is the U.S. Constitution, nor the U.N. Universal Declaration on Human Rights. "Original intent" of America's founders is not the hermeneutical key that will guarantee national righteousness. The American flag is not the Cross. The Pledge of Allegiance is not the Creed. "God Bless America" is not the Doxology.

I have never heard George W. Bush described as the Lord (although some have called him the Devil). I have never heard the Declaration of Independence called "an infallible guide to Christian faith and practice." The author seems to be marshaling an entire squad of strawmen.

That said, I do believe that God created the conditions under which the Declaration of Independence and Constitution could be created. I also believe that the men who wrote those documents were inspired of God.

[Conservative til I die]

I have never heard George W. Bush described as the Lord (although some have called him the Devil). I have never heard the Declaration of Independence called "an infallible guide to Christian faith and practice." The author seems to be marshaling an entire squad of strawmen.

Whether these are strawmen or not, there is an issue of at least Catholics who forget that their loyalty is to 1) God and by proxy The Church, 2) Then the US, and then 3) to their chosen political party.

[k2blader]

Why do you want to debunk it?

[k2blader]

Where do their families fit in?

My priorities are these:
1. Jesus Christ,
2. Family,
3. *Country, if the cause is just.

*Note: "Country" does not equal "political party".