Christian Citizenship (Biblical Reasons Why I Want to Be a Christian in a Multi-Faith Nation) Part 8

 

This post is part 8 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 reason why I want to live as a Christian in a multi-faith nation: 

Daniel 3 is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego surviving the fiery furnace. They are thrown in there by King Nebuchadnezzar, a Babylonian ruler who set up a golden statue and ordered all Babylonian citizens to bow to it. When the three men don’t kneel, into the fire they go…and God preserves their lives. These three young men show us how to live faithfully as a minority religion in a nation that follows other gods.

There are some parts of the Bible that talk about how to practice faith as one cohesive community that all basically has the same beliefs. But the most powerful and inspiring stories are about God's people surrounded by those who do not share their faith, or even put pressure on them to follow a different faith. 

Being surrounded by a predominantly non-Christian culture or nation can actually clarify our values and strengthen our religious self-identity. Our Jewish neighbors can attest to that. But first, we have to accept that, if we ever did live in a "Christian nation," we don't now.   

For a New Testament example of how Christians reacted when their surrounding culture directly opposed God, check out tomorrow's post.

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