As We Approach the 4th

zen Sutherland via Compfight

This is the time of year when we start hearing loud bangs at night and you have to ask yourself the following multiple choice question:

Was that bang:

1. a car backfiring?
2. firecrackers?
3. a gunshot? (OK, maybe most of you never think of that, but some of us do.)

It’s also the time of year when we bump up against the idolatry of nationalism. Churches all over the country will be holding services to honor our country and say the pledge of allegiance in a place that should only have one true allegiance. How should Christ-followers deal with this?

David D. Flowers wrote this reflection on his own experience with nationalism as it collided with his faith. It’s challenging and thought-provoking and well worth your time to read in full.

There’s nothing wrong with having a picnic and watching fireworks. We’re not complete fuddy-duddies around here. But don’t ever confuse your allegiance. It belongs to Jesus alone.

From David’s blog:

What had I been teaching that their students would want to put aside their former pursuits to go into missions, love all people regardless of nationality, and not waste their life on worldly gain?

They were discovering a radical discipleship. And I was becoming an Anabaptist and just didn’t know it.

The truth is that these students and adults were drawing conclusions based on a simple reading of the Gospels. And we had all come to realize that this was unacceptable for this Baptist church in rural America.

Saying no to flag worship dethrones the American Jesus and it exposes our cultural Christianity.