(Anti)American?
I have been asked on occasion if I am Anti-American. One time I was flatly accused of “not being Patriotic.” The questions, criticism and occasional accusation are fair but inaccurate. It’s not that I am Anti-American. It’s that I do not hold the popular belief that the United States is in some way an earthly representation of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the past I have been a part of church worship services where the flag is flown, military images are displayed, and songs of praise are sung about America. In countless church buildings around this country the stars and stripes is proudly displayed next to the cross.
From a distance one begins to wonder who the people are actually worshipping: a crucified and risen Jesus or the United States.
The reality is that the Kingdom of Heaven cannot and should never be wed to any nation or empire on this earth. Jesus himself said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” (John 18.36).
Ignoring his words, some believe that God and Country go together like peas and carrots. While nothing could be further from the truth; some contend the Bible supports this way of thinking.
They point to the place in the New Testament where the people of God are told to respect, to honor, and to live in submission to the powers of this world. This is taken this to be an endorsement of governments, and means that God himself has given his stamp of approval.
However, we must remember that when those verses were written Rome was in power. Rome believed that Caesar was “Lord of Lords and King of Kings.” Roman coins pictured the head of Caesar with and inscription ascribing deity to him. It was this empire that brutally tortured and executed Christians because they said that Jesus was King, not Caesar.
None of this came as a shock to the early church. Even though God allowed these governments to exist, all the power and influence of them had been given over the evil one. These were the kinds of authorities that Paul and Peter instructed the church to respect and honor.
In the minds of Jesus, the biblical writers, and the early church the Kingdom of Heaven was separate and distinct from all other Kingdoms. It demands full and exclusive allegiance, which means that there is nothing left for other governments.
This is why Dorothy Day said, “If we render to God what is Gods there would be nothing left for Caesar.” She understood that our mind, heart, soul and strength were to be given over fully to the unusual Kingdom of Jesus. It just can’t coincide with any earthly nation.
It is our exclusive commitment to this Kingdom that will then influence the way we live our lives in whatever country we are in. As we live according to the Kingdom of heaven in imitation of Jesus we will be a tangible sign of God’s hope, love, and peace that our world so desperately needs. This can only happen when we learn that the “primary social structure through which the gospel works to change other structures is that of the Christian community” (J. Yoder, The Politics of Jesus).
Of course, some just think this is complete nonsense. They see the world is getting worse not better. Our earth is more polluted, violence appears to be escalating, and our country is increasingly post-Christian. But, is it possible that our world is like this because so many Christians have, for so long, given their loyalty over to the nations of this earth rather than devoting themselves to the Kingdom of Heaven?
Our heavenly dreams and schemes and hopes have been ill placed in halls of government. We have been seduced by the empire’s way of thinking that might and power will bring the solutions we so desperately need. It’s time that we put down the flag and pick up the cross. It's not Anti-American ... it's Pro-Kingdom.