I’ve been reading articles again. What surprises me about the things I come across is not that people are using religious language to promote their agendas. That’s been going on for years. What surprises me is when a political agenda is presented in place of the Gospel, and Christians angrily go to bat for the false presentation! Years ago this happened with communism, now it’s happening with American Nationalism. Do any of us actually read the words of Jesus any more? This is one of the reasons I’m preaching on Revelation at the moment, it’s message is so needed nowadays and it’s been hijacked for far too long.
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is Nationalism a greater sin than Socialism?
are they one in the same at times?
Its not a question of which if the two is greater or if they are “one and the same” at times – both are mentioned as examples of ideas that inserted themselves in PLACE of the Gospel. I could have easily put Christian music in one slot and long-time church membership in the other, but it wouldn’t have hit the political theme I was going for.
i get the sense that you might be inadvertantly making a political statement and a covert endorsement. You’ve identified Communism and Nationalism as modern culprits. i personally see little functional difference between today’s political parties in light of your “bent” frustration.
Both want to become provider, protector, prince of peace, et al. We are expected to invest our hope, trust and faith in these human institutions. It would seem that whatever message seeks to steal position and glory from God is a counterfeit.
While it’s difficult for some to accept Romans 13, it’s equally difficult for others to temper it.
Garret, I get the feeling, since I don’t sound like you, you are assuming that I must play “for the other team.” I find none of the fear-mongering “we are the only one’s who can project you from them” narratives to be appealing in the slightest. I find find the political machines that act like used car salespeople (“what can I do to put you in a vote for me today?”) to be insulting.
I wasn’t inadvertently making a inadvertent political statement, I was intentionally making a political statement – which is what I said in my first reply to you. As for “covert endorsement,” I honestly hope that was simply a poor choice of words. In fact, in the last two political seasons I’ve actually been asked by Christians running under both party’s banners to offer covert endorsements for their campaigns – my reply is always the same, “No.”
i suppose i should have asked you to expand on your use of Nationalism. It wasn’t my intention to imply that you were purposefully making a “covert” endorsement. In saying “now it’s happening with American Nationalism” it sounds like you’re alluding to a particular ideology which would leave others untouched by your appropriate indictment of hijackers. Leaving out an active false presentation can be misconstrued as tacit approval.
i wish i could hear your sermon. Undoubtedly a paragraph and a cartoon cannot do it justice.
We are speaking the same language though we don’t often sound alike. The Gospel is never to be misrepresented. These are perilous times, these last days, in which the message of Jesus can easily be over-shadowed if we let it.
Preach it.