Christian Citizenship (Biblical Reasons Why I Want to Be a Christian in a Multi-Faith Nation) Part 4

 

 

This post is part 4 of a series on Christian citizenship, and why I believe mixing Christian identity with American identity is bad for both. My intent in sharing these short Biblical reflections is not to "prooftext", or just compile a list of unrelated Bible verses to support my argument. Rather, I hope to give you little bite-sized thoughts, which I believe represent themes you'll find throughout the Bible and historic Christian teachings.

I hope they make you think.


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

Psalm 33:12 says, “Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,” and people often use that verse to prop up the idea of America “turning to God” and becoming more of a “Christian nation.” But in context, the verse continues, “the people whom he has chosen as his heritage,” meaning Israel, God’s chosen people. The previous verse in that psalm says “the Lord brings the counsels of the nations [meaning Gentiles] to nothing.” This psalm refers only to the historic people of Israel. At the time that it was written, it would never have occurred to any Israelite poet that any nation other than Israel would have Israel’s God as its god. It’s just not what the verse means.


You could do many lengthy Bible studies on the logic of the Hebrew Bible lifting up Israel (not the modern state, but the historic descendants of Jacob) as "chosen as his heritage." It's not always an easy job. Israel's biblical role is to be "a light to the nations," and show them God's faithfulness. But this much is clear: it is a status that belongs to Israel alone. It is non-transferable. Nowhere in either the Hebrew Bible or New Testament does any writer suggest that any nation other than Israel can be "chosen as God's heritage." That any nation could be "chosen" in Israel's place, or that any would even want to be, is utterly foreign to scripture.


For a look at Martin Luther's thoughts on Christian Nationalism, check out Tuesday's post.

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