In God we trust?
Yesterday was a day of incredible historical proportion in the history of the United States. As one of my Canadian friends put it "you Americans were busy with your coronation." I am glad that our country came to the point where we could elect a president who is African-American. I am hopeful that our new president can bring about some positive change. He is proving to be quite the uniter.
However, I am worried about the strange language that we speak in political realms. I have been reading "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne. Shane rightly points out that we as Americans tend to put our trust in our state more than we do our God.
President George W. Bush spoke in his 2003 State of the Union address that "There is power, wonder-working power" in the American Ideal. Our current president stated on a late night talk show that "America is the last best hope of the world."
We have on our money, "In God We Trust." It is interesting that the Romans had that on their money as well. Although the God they talked about was their emperor.
If you listen to the rhetoric of the political types the best hope of the world, is this ideal of democracy or the American dream. Don't get me wrong. I love living in America. It is a land of comfort for most of us. I do see that dream dying on a regular basis for many in my community though. Maybe they trusted what our politicians have told us to trust. They have asked us to trust a system, a dream or an ideal.
One of my favorite verses in scripture is Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the LORD our God." In other words, we can trust in our 450 billion dollar defense budget (which by the way is more than the next 19 countries in the world combined). We can trust in a system, or as Christians we can put our trust where it belongs.
Often I believe we have set our god up and it is our country. Patriotic fervor is often greater than our evangelical fervor. We too often have wrapped our faith in a flag and see our system of life as a religion.
Maybe I am over-reacting. But I wonder what we really trust.
As with all my posts I wonder;
What do you think?
However, I am worried about the strange language that we speak in political realms. I have been reading "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne. Shane rightly points out that we as Americans tend to put our trust in our state more than we do our God.
President George W. Bush spoke in his 2003 State of the Union address that "There is power, wonder-working power" in the American Ideal. Our current president stated on a late night talk show that "America is the last best hope of the world."
We have on our money, "In God We Trust." It is interesting that the Romans had that on their money as well. Although the God they talked about was their emperor.
If you listen to the rhetoric of the political types the best hope of the world, is this ideal of democracy or the American dream. Don't get me wrong. I love living in America. It is a land of comfort for most of us. I do see that dream dying on a regular basis for many in my community though. Maybe they trusted what our politicians have told us to trust. They have asked us to trust a system, a dream or an ideal.
One of my favorite verses in scripture is Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the LORD our God." In other words, we can trust in our 450 billion dollar defense budget (which by the way is more than the next 19 countries in the world combined). We can trust in a system, or as Christians we can put our trust where it belongs.
Often I believe we have set our god up and it is our country. Patriotic fervor is often greater than our evangelical fervor. We too often have wrapped our faith in a flag and see our system of life as a religion.
Maybe I am over-reacting. But I wonder what we really trust.
As with all my posts I wonder;
What do you think?
posted by Larry at 8:36 PM
2 Comments:
Larry,
You've voiced concerns that I also have. It is as though we have a Messiah complex in the US - not only with the incoming President, but also with our impact upon the world at large. Could it be possible that this economic crisis is only but the beginning of the humbling of America?
Hey Major,
Thanks for the reminder to trust in the Lord. I love to ponder about trust. It is so wonderful to have a firm foundation in whom to place hope. No matter what, nothing can interfere with Christ' passion for me - us.
Humbling America...
This seems very refreshing. That is, looking ahead to potential results from (humbling) trials. (James 1:12)
On the contrary, a humbling of America may be more like a constant wind at freezing temperatures upon one's wet head. Brain freeze! Those without faith in God have an inescapable discomfort or restlessness when circumstances are looking down. I cannot fathom living without the solid hope of Christ.
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