Christian Citizenship (Biblical Reasons Why I Want to Be a Christian in a Multi-Faith Nation) Part 23

 

Father John McGovern of Boston, MA, June 7, 1944

This post is part 23 of a series on Christian citizenship, and why I believe mixing Christian identity with American identity is bad for both. I hope to give you little bite-sized thoughts, which represent themes you'll find throughout the Bible and historic Christian teachings.

I hope they make you think.

Today's reason why I want to live as a Christian in a multi-faith nation:

Today, June 6, marks 80 years since the beginning of the Allied invasion at Normandy, France. This annual observance should always give us pause as we remember the soldiers from many nations, and of many faiths, who gave their lives to liberate Europe from the Axis powers. It should be remembered that there were also chaplains of many faiths, unarmed, offering pastoral care and last rites to the frontline soldiers. 

This commemoration marks twenty years since Gerhard Schröder became the first German Chancellor invited to attend the commemoration, a milestone for peace. Unfortunately, this year also marks the third year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which brought war back to the continent of Europe for the first time in many years. 

The prophet Isaiah declares that one day, 

[God] shall judge between the nations

and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation;

neither shall they learn war anymore.  

-Isaiah 2:4

Looking forward in hope to that day, we must also look backward in repentance for the many days when nations have taken up weapons against one another.

As a Lutheran Christian, I can't let this day pass without observing that it was Christian Nationalism in Germany--the "German Christian" movement, which proclaimed that supporting Hitler and the Nazi party was a sacred Christian duty--which created the need for D Day, and all the precious, irreplaceable children of God who gave their lives there. It was in "Lutheran" churches across Germany, where families were taught that their faith and their national identity were one and the same. 

In the name of peace--the Shalom of God's Reign, proclaimed by Jesus of Nazareth, who lived, died and rose again as a Jew, among Jews--I mourn the toxic spirituality that brought the world to war, and millions of Jews and other minority populations in Europe to annihilation.

In the name of Christ, I pray that the grief of hundreds of thousands of families of many nations and faiths on that day in 1944, will never be repeated. May God make it so. Amen.

For more background information read this statement from the ELCA's presiding bishop, or learn about Christians Against Christian Nationalism.