Christian Citizenship (Biblical Reasons Why I Want to Be a Christian in a Multi-Faith Nation) Part 30

This post is part 30 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.

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

Two words. King David. 

This summer, our church has followed the semi-continuous lectionary, which means some our Bible readings have been telling the story of the first few kings of Israel.

We've heard the story of Saul, the first king, who is anointed with oil as a sign of God's blessing, then loses that blessing almost immediately, then tries anything and everything--including murder and black magic--to try to get the blessing back. 

And we've heard the story of King David, who, with God's anointing, defeats the giant Goliath in combat, unites all twelve tribes of Israel, and establishes Jerusalem as a capital--only to turn around and commit adultery with Bathsheba and have her husband murdered. When Nathan, the prophet, tells a parable about a rich man, with many lambs of his own, who stole the lamb of his neighbor just because he could, David is enraged and says the man should be punished. Nathan replies, "you are the man!"

Both Saul and David are anointed kings of Israel. The Hebrew word for "anointed ruler" is usually translated in English as "Messiah" or "Christ." Christians believe that the last and definitive "anointed king" is Jesus, who still reigns in heaven. 

What does this have to do with our own country today? It means Christians enter into civic life knowing that rulers are imperfect. Saul, David, and a long, tragic line of other faithless kings showed us we need to trust in God alone. Christians in modern times don't anoint kings. We don't have Messiahs or Christs, except for Jesus. No human being should ever have our religious devotion. No political figure, no matter how much we agree with or like them, should ever be lifted up as "God's choice" or the "only choice" for people of faith. Jesus, our one and only king, has sent us the Holy Spirit, to guide us in making decisions for ourselves about how to care for one another in our public life. Let's leave the anointing for our baptism--through which we are ALL marked with the cross of our true Christ.  

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