Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Is Patriotism Idolatry?
Isaiah Poole at Tom Payne thinks so. He makes a compeling case, though I think it'd have been helpful had he thrown in some Biblical quotations in there.
Some excerpts from the article:
"Back in Sunday school, we were regaled with Bible stories about idol worship. You see, one sure way to make the Creator of the Universe mad was to imbue something with powers that actually resided in the Creator alone. The Old Testament is filled with stories of wrath directed at people who substituted fealty to a transcendent God with worship of their own creations."
"The Fourth of July is an excellent day to ponder the distinction between symbols and idols. Many residents will hang an American flag outside their home on this day to show their love and respect for America. But many of us who revere the symbol will recall our disgust that what the symbol represents is being debased at an accelerated pace. Meanwhile, many conservative lawmakers this summer and fall would have us idolizing what is, once the reality behind the symbol is lost, just a piece of fabric."
And the closing paragraph:
"The idols in the Bible were presented as objects of scorn because they were often used by immoral leaders to magnify their power at the expense of the people. I will honor the flag this week, but only because I honor this nation’s core principles of liberty and justice even more. Idols, on the other hand, are to be tossed in the fire."
Me: I remember a professor friend of mine pointing out to me that when the symbol that is the Starts and Stripes is put next to the Cross of Christ that, in itself, is an act of Idolatry. And you know what? it's tough to argue against that. As Christians, we're citizens of a Higher Kingdom; our alliagence is not to a system (American style of democracy), but to a King, His Kingdom and His Church. That's another reason why I dont understand how is it that American Christians seem to care so little over the plight of Palestinians Christians, to the point where they are willing to support a group of people/nation over their own bethren in Christ.
Some excerpts from the article:
"Back in Sunday school, we were regaled with Bible stories about idol worship. You see, one sure way to make the Creator of the Universe mad was to imbue something with powers that actually resided in the Creator alone. The Old Testament is filled with stories of wrath directed at people who substituted fealty to a transcendent God with worship of their own creations."
"The Fourth of July is an excellent day to ponder the distinction between symbols and idols. Many residents will hang an American flag outside their home on this day to show their love and respect for America. But many of us who revere the symbol will recall our disgust that what the symbol represents is being debased at an accelerated pace. Meanwhile, many conservative lawmakers this summer and fall would have us idolizing what is, once the reality behind the symbol is lost, just a piece of fabric."
And the closing paragraph:
"The idols in the Bible were presented as objects of scorn because they were often used by immoral leaders to magnify their power at the expense of the people. I will honor the flag this week, but only because I honor this nation’s core principles of liberty and justice even more. Idols, on the other hand, are to be tossed in the fire."
Me: I remember a professor friend of mine pointing out to me that when the symbol that is the Starts and Stripes is put next to the Cross of Christ that, in itself, is an act of Idolatry. And you know what? it's tough to argue against that. As Christians, we're citizens of a Higher Kingdom; our alliagence is not to a system (American style of democracy), but to a King, His Kingdom and His Church. That's another reason why I dont understand how is it that American Christians seem to care so little over the plight of Palestinians Christians, to the point where they are willing to support a group of people/nation over their own bethren in Christ.
# posted by Raf C. @ 4:37 PM 
