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May 6, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
A Christian Nation?, by Rubel Shelly
We are in a major political season. Even if you were to try, you could
not avoid the primary coverage on TV, the water-cooler debates about
the various candidates, and the upcoming appeals for your vote in a
general election.
One of the things that unsettle me a bit during seasons such as this
one is when someone speaks of America as a "Christian nation." Is it?
Was it? Should it be? On all counts, the answer is no.
Although even those people who say they want it otherwise would admit
that the United States is not a Christian nation, they sometimes claim
it once was and that it was founded to be such. Our country's founding
fathers were, at best, Deists. They certainly did not envision a
culture where religion would have privilege of place in public life. It
would be permitted and protected as a personal right among free people.
It would not, however, be "established" or otherwise promoted, defined,
or made compulsory by the government.
It seems to me that a Christian view of history and life in society
would protest the idea of a state in which the unique features of
Christian theology, lifestyle, and worship were written into law. In
the several instances where that happened, it has not had a happy
result. Spreading and impressing religion through force quickly becomes
fanaticism and persecution.
Would it not be a violation of the Golden Rule, in fact, to create a
culture in which persons who did not share Christian faith and values
were required either to observe them or to show deference to them? If
the shoe were on the other foot, would you want to live in a Muslim,
Buddhist, or atheistic culture and be required to observe or show
deference to their ideologies? Of course not!
The point of this is not to say that Christians should be disinterested
in or uninvolved with politics. It is to say that we should be involved
in the system as "salt" and "light" persons. We should serve the public
good and protect the rights of others. We should be particularly
sensitive to the weak, marginalized, and minorities. America is not a
Christian nation, but Christians should always be among the best
citizens in any nation where they may happen to live.
Whatever your political leanings, be wary of anyone in this political
season who seeks to manipulate you with religion. Look askance at any
candidate who begins to use religion as a "political football." And
turn a deaf ear to the fanatical souls from whatever quarter who say or
imply their views are God's mandates.
"Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so
we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble
contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live" (1
Timothy 2:2-3 MSG).
---------
(c) 2008 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's "FAX of Life"
printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for previous issues of
the "FAX of Life."
RELATED LINKS:
* HEARTLIGHT Articles
http://www.heartlight.org/articles
* RubelShelly.com
http://www.rubelshelly.com/
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200805/20080506_christiannation.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
SIMPLY CHRISTIAN: WHY CHRISTIANITY MAKES SENSE, by N. T. Wright
Destined to become a classic alongside Lewis's Mere Christianity - a
fascinating and accessible apologetic for modern seekers.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?255
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