Bad Romans

"Sometimes, being a good Christian meant being a bad Roman.  So before you accuse people of being unpatriotic, ask yourself which empire they're actually serving."

Stephen Mattson

I know I discuss the bad marriage of Christianity and politics perhaps more often than I should.  But  I think it is vitally important to see it as problematic and to understand why it is such a bad idea.  Why Christianity and nationalism, why Christianity and patriotism often don't mix - even in the United States of America.

The quote above gets to the heart of the conflict.  There are times when we are called to be bad Romans.  Bad Americans.  Because our calling is to be a good Christian first and foremost.  Above all else, we are citizens of Heaven, not citizens of America.

Sadly, in America today, there are too many that conflate the two.  Who view being a good American a prerequisite to being a good Christian.  Who view being a very specific type of patriot synonymous with being a true Christian.

We have pastors like Robert Jeffress who feel that only red-blooded American Republicans who support Trump are true Christians.  Or Franklin Graham warning how progressives are anti-Christian.  Even more astonishing, earlier this year white evangelical support for Trump remained at 69% percent.  Despite him representing the anti-thesis of everything they stand for and believe in.

Jesus requires the distinction that Mattson is indicating.  In fact, he outlines it in his answer to the pharisees when confronted over taxes.

"Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said.  So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.  Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?'  But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, 'Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?  Show me the coin used for the tax.' And they brought him a denarius.  Then he said to them, 'Whose head is this, and whose title?'  They answered, 'The emperor’s.' Then he said to them, 'Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'  When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away."

Matthew 22:15-22

Jesus isn't requiring blind allegiance to country.  He is not requiring that we obey every single rule and law that our country puts forth, regardless of the character of the law.  He is pointing out the division of church and state, the line between the Way and the government.

He is flatly pointed out that he is unconcerned with the matters of the government.  "Give the government what they made.  Give me what I made."

It matters now more than ever.

Those same high profile pastors like Robert Jeffress and Franklin Graham are now suggesting civil war if this corrupt president is impeached.

Our president is asserting absolute power.

As the President of the United States, I have an absolute right, perhaps even a duty, to investigate, or have investigated, CORRUPTION, and that would include asking, or suggesting, other Countries to help us out!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2019

As President I have an obligation to end CORRUPTION, even if that means requesting the help of a foreign country or countries. It is done all the time. This has NOTHING to do with politics or a political campaign against the Bidens. This does have to do with their corruption!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2019

We have voice after voice after voice trying to tell us our Christian duty is to be "good Americans" as they define it.  To just go along with it.  To go along with the one party because they believe the right things.  To turn our eyes to the corruption, to the abuses of power, to the criminality.   To swallow it hook, line, and sinker.

Maybe right now, the most Christian thing we can do is be bad Romans.

Words Matter

"You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means."

Indigo Montoya

I've written before on the political phenomenon of controlling the meaning of words.  Of claiming specific words and phrases regarding how to describe ones positions.  How opposition to abortion can be both "pro-life" and "anti-women" depending on your political affiliation.

Right-wing political commentator Candace Owens has found herself in trouble from trying to reclaim "nationalism" as a positive attribute at a Turning Point UK meeting December 11, 2018.

"I actually don't have any problems with the word 'nationalism.'  I think that the definition gets poisoned by elitists that actually want globalism.  Globalism is what I don't want... Whenever we say nationalism, the first thing people think about, at least in America, is Hitler.

He was a nationalist socialist, but if Hitler wanted to make Germany great and have things run well, OK, fine.

The problem is that he wanted, he had dreams outside of Germany.  He wanted to globalise.  He wanted everybody to be German, everybody to be speaking German.  Everybody to look a different way.  To me, that's not nationalism.  In thinking about how we could go bad down the line, I don't really have an issue with nationalism.  I really don't."

There are so many things wrong with this statement that it is hard to keep track.  First, the definition doesn't get poisoned by elites.  It actually has a dictionary definition that defines nationalism as "loyalty and devotion to a nation, especially a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing the primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups."  "Identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations."  Nationalism is inherently defined as more extreme that patriotism.  A stronger interest and ideology.

Second, it's possible to be patriotic, to be anti-globalism, and to not be nationalistic.

Third, Hitler is used as an example of a nationalist because he is the text-book definition.  German nationalism was the tool that Hitler used to rise in power.  The concept of Aryanism is rooted in Nationalism.

Finally, the problem with Hitler's rise and the reach of his power was that it explicitly came at the exclusion and extermination of between 10 and 17 million undesirables.  Of those who did not fit the definition of what made German great.

Owens did take to Periscope to state that Hitler was a "homicidal, psychotic, maniac who was bent on world domination outside the confines of Germany" and she did not think he was a true nationalist, but that she stood by her statements.

We're in the last generations that may have a personal connection to the Holocaust.  Who may have had a grandparent or great-grandparent that they have interaction with that was personally affected.  And sadly, in the overview of history that most students get, the Holocaust is a blip.  A brief component of the other decades worth of events that must be covered.

Two-thirds of millennials cannot identify Auschwitz.  Twenty-two percent have not heard of the Holocaust or are not sure if they've heard of it. There is a desire for Holocaust education, with 93% responding that they believe all students should learn about it.

Perhaps because 58% believe something like it could happen again.  Especially if we have people like Owens who are determined to misrepresent it for their own personal political benefit.

On Nationalism and the NFL

Nationalism - loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.  An extreme form of patriotism

Patriotism - love for or devotion to one's country

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So the NFL has decided to fine any team that has players that do not stand for the National Anthem.

Great, they caved.  The growing nationalist sentiment in our country "won."  And the country loses as a whole.

Let's not mince words, nationalism is not a good thing.  To quote a very insightful post I saw yesterday, a nationalist supports their country no matter what (to expand, even when their country does something that is not worth supporting).  A patriot makes their country worth supporting.  And sometimes that means fighting back against the country, even when it's not popular.  Even when your motives are not understood.  Even when it draws undue attention to yourself.

You cannot force patriotism.  Even by "requiring" players to stand, they will not be making them patriots or will not be doing the patriotic thing.  In fact, it could be argued the greater patriots will be the ones who continue to protest.  Like the New York Jets who have already indicated they will pay whatever fine is levied their way.

And let's cut out a disingenuous line of thinking right now - neither the flag nor the National Anthem represent the members of the armed services.  And refusing to stand for a National Anthem, to take part in the recitation of the pledge, or the like, is not in any way denigrating or dishonoring their sacrifices.  The flag, the National Anthem, and the pledge represent our country as a whole.  They represent the United States of America, for good and bad.  And you will find many, many veterans who support and recognize that they fought for a citizen's right to protest that flag, the National Anthem, and the pledge.  They believe that is what their sacrifice was for.

Because, if we do not have the right to protest, especially peacefully, if we do not have the right to "criticize the King," who are we as a country?

I know some of you take issue with what they are protesting.  Some of you take issue with their form of protest.  But here's the thing, at some point, when someone tells you that you have hurt them, you have to believe them.  If we as a country continue to have a race of people telling us they are still receiving unfair treatment, at some point, we have to believe them.  And that requires action to make it better.

I started this with the difference in patriotism and nationalism.  And here is what the issue really boils down to for me.

The patriotic response to this issue would be to say "I recognize that you have identified an issue that needs to be addressed.  Let's work together so that we can make this a country you have no problem standing for.  And I'll stand by you until you can."

The nationalist says, "just get in line."

What will happen when it's our turn to kneel in protest?  Given especially how some Christians paint the state of our nation and the "degradation" of Christian's rights in this country, that could be a lot sooner than anyone would think.  How will we respond when it's our turn?  And what will we expect from those around us?

Let's do better.

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Update - 7:06 am, 5/24/18 - I did not expect to add to this so soon, but now apparently our President thinks you "have to stand proudly for the national anthem.  Or you shouldn't be playing, you shouldn't be there, maybe you shouldn't be in the country."

No.  Just no.  There are many reasons why people do not stand.  And there have been long recognized reasons for not doing so.  There are religious freedom reasons why people do not stand, including for particular groups within the Christian religion (groups who will not swear allegiance to or exalt anything beyond God alone). 

To make such a statement goes against the very core of the foundation of our country. 

How have we come this far?