But through this interview and all the other crap on religious radio ran the theme that God really prefers Americans and has through our history. This day of prayer is not about others, but about us. Replete were references to God Bless America and calls to pray for the President "no matter what your political beliefs are." Not once in this admittedly small sample did I ever hear a voice of concern for our putative enemies or even the less fortunate around the world. Not once. Oh, they love the passages from the OT where God does some smiting, but when some radical starts talking about peace and enemies, the Bible "needs to be read in context."
From Matthew: "'You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"
God Bless America? No. May God bless us all.
4 comments:
Well, sure, pray for your President to be impeached.
Again with the "Christian" radio? Why do you do that to yourself?
Eh. What can I say?
Colbert had a really funny part on the National Day of Prayer.
And it is good blogging material. The question is, how many christians either listen to this stuff or reflect those views on prayer?
Streak
Good post. I had a thought when reading your post- these passages are always read assuming the reader, in this case "America", are the "just". Humility should cause us to read it as the possibility that, despite our prosperity, we could be the "unjust" in the passage and are for some reason being extended grace. The old testament that the fundies love to look to for nation-state theology is full of examples of nations that were allowed to prosper for extended times but were not the "chosen" nations. Likewise, in the parable of wheat and tares we always read it as if we are the wheat and someone else is the tares. If a country was established peacefully, all citizens were given full rights, and if the country had little natural resources and weaponry but was somehow able to maintain a viable, caring society in the face of aggressive neighbors and the pressures of world economics, THEN maybe we'd be able to say that they MUST be favored by God- how else could they be where they are. Anyway, the theology that says "I'm prospering so I'm favored by God" is just not biblical and can be very dangerous if adopted by a nation with the biggest guns.
Later
BB
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