Although I was not an academic overachiever growing up, I have always respected the intelligentsia. I have a high regard for people who are able to use their mental capacity to produce great things. Things like books for instance. As I approach the end of my seminary career I also approach the zillion pages read mark. But it’s not so bad. I enjoy reading. I don’t always enjoy missing out on time with my family in order to be reading, but I enjoy reading.
As my love for reading has grown, so my love for writing. I love to word smith. It’s so much fun; not throwing the perfect spiral 30 yards into the receiver’s waiting cradled arms as he keeps stride right into the end zone fun, but fun none the less. So, for a while now, my secret desire has been to author a book. The desire’s roots have not dug deep enough to sprout a concept, but the desire is certainly there. I would just like a bunch of people I don’t know read my thoughts and wrestle with them somehow.
Well, well, well, it has happened. But certainly not in the way I would’ve liked. Here’s the skinny.
The other day I received an email from my mom. She attached a couple remarks to a forward she had received. I know, I know, it’s a forward leave it alone. But I couldn’t. Exhibit A:
“I don't usually forward much but this man scares me and I believe he is pulling so many uninformed people into his cause. Please put this on your prayer list.
----- Original Message -----
Dear Friends,
As I was listening to a news program last night, I watched in horror as Barack Obama made the statement with pride, 'we are no longer a Christian nation; we are now a nation of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists'.
As with so many other statements I've heard him (and his wife) make, I never thought I'd see the day that I'd hear something like that from a presidential candidate in this nation. To think our forefathers fought and died for the right for our nation to be a Christian nation--and to have this man say with pride that we are no longer that. How far this nation has come from what our founding fathers intended it to be.
I hope that each of you will do what I'm doing now--send your concerns, written simply and sincerely, to the Christians on your email list. With God's help, and He is still in control of this nation and all else, we can show this man and the world in November that we are, indeed, still a Christian nation!
Please pray for our nation!”
I was one of 7 or 8 people my mom forwarded this to; most of which I knew. I couldn’t let this one slide so I replied to everyone. Basically my intent was to share my agreement with the statement because America is not a Christian nation. We have Christians living here, but I would not categorize America as the shining example of Christianity. Exhibit B:
“That's a tough pill to swallow. I like to think America is still a Christian Nation.
However -at the risk of being excommunicated from the family- I agree with Barack on what is quoted here. I don't know the context from which it came, but my definition of a Christian nation is certainly NOT what America is now. Please. Let's consider the movies that Hollywood is pumping out; the television shows that we adjust our schedules to watch; the addictions to alcohol and prescription drugs; and the porn industry that holds public conventions. These are billion dollar industries. Not to mention the decline in church attendance; the romped crime and corruption; the disregard of the two "greatest commandments"; and I'm sure you can complete this list better than I can...
As Christians, Barack's statement should come as no surprise. In fact, we should have been the ones telling this to him, and anyone else running for political office. We live in a post-Christian America. A lot of people confess to being Christians because their parents are Christians or they live in America, "the Christian Nation", but studies show (just about anything George Barna puts out, various Christianity Today articles) that people are 'grandfathered' in to Christianity. These people do not give God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit any consideration as they go about their daily lives. These people are not out in ‘liberal’ California, or ‘manic’ NYC. They're in Snellville, Loganville, Wilmore, and everywhere else from sea to shining sea. These people are our neighbors, family members, and -there was a time- the one typing this email. I'm not dare going to point fingers. Nor am I writing this with a hostile or cynical tone. I'm simply saying that Christians should no longer assume we have home field advantage. Therefore this is no longer a Christian nation.
Things have changed. A little over 200 years ago people lost their lives to protect the sanctity of the Christian morals of this great nation. I hate that the generations following the advent of our Nation's Independence have watered down our Founding Fathers' zeal and have ignored their passion to die for their patriotic and Christian beliefs -all for the sake of freedom. But it's true. I also hate that the following generations have forgotten and watered down the passion and zeal of Someone 2000 years ago that fought Spiritual battles and died in a temporal one -all for the sake of freedom.
This is not a political plea. It doesn't matter which candidate made that statement. What matters is that he's right. But what are we going to do about it? Are we mad enough to tell our friends not to vote for one or the other candidates, should we send email banter to everyone in our distribution lists, or maybe open our Bibles and find some Scripture to back up our argument? Or, do we prove him wrong? Do we show him what James considered pure/faultless religion: looking after orphans and widows, and keeping ourselves from being polluted by the world? (Js 1.27) Or do we take care of the naked, imprisoned, hungry, thirsty, sick, and alienated? (Mt 25. 31-46)
Friends, never in history has the government successfully exemplified Christianity. That duty lies with the people.
-Kevin”
Here’s the rub. This response, that was only intended to go to my friends and family in Snellville, GA and outlying areas, is now being forwarded by a bunch of people I don’t know. Those people I don’t know are adding their own interpretations. One guy enthusiastically uses my email to warn his friends about “the apostasy in the Church of the Living God” and “the time of the anti-Christ’s new world order.”
Huh? Wait a minute. That's not what I'm talking about.
His interpretation has led me to go back, reread, and second guess what I wrote. Wait minute, I'm not supposed to be the one wrestling; it' s the other people that are supposed to be doing the wrestling. You know, the people I don't know...
Hmm. Who knew sharing our thoughts with a bunch of people we don't know would involve the element of frustration of missinterpretation? The New Testament authors are nudging each other right now. Maybe I'll just stick to reading and throwing spirals.
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2 comments:
funny that you have been wanting to write a book. I have been thinking this past year that if I wrote a book it would be about the subject of this blog. I agreed with your thoughts about America and Christianity. It seems that to be an American is to be Christian. Much like an Iranian is a Muslim. Your perspective is helpful for the Kingdom. I think it will help to show that it means something to be a Christian. We are not born into it. Hope things are well in KY!
hi kevin...i just found your blog, and i have to say, this email reply you wrote sounds similar to a reply i wrote responding to an email i recieved from my grandfather...his forward was something along the lines of how Hispanics are taking over our country and they are the reason we have horrible crimes happening every day...my ministry is Hispanics, and he doesn't like that, so when i made a reply standing up for these people, and tried to point out that just as many whites are responsible, he now doesn't speak to me anymore...it's quite sad that someone like him, who calls himself a "conservative Christian" could have so much hate for people from another country...ahhh, just something else we can give our lovely "Christian American nation" credit for, eh? anyways, i'm a student at Asbury also, but not in Wilmore this second...although i will be back in January. again, thanks for speaking the truth, and if i get that Obama email, i may use your email in reply :) take care and God bless!
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