You’ve gotta love Tony Campolo and his inciteful rhetoric:
“To be a Christian in today’s world is to be opposed to America,” he says. “Why? America believes in capital punishment, and Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.’ America says, ‘Blessed are the rich.’ Jesus said, ‘Woe unto you who are rich, blessed are the poor.’ America says, ‘Blessed are the powerful.’ Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.'”
Well, I love it anyway. I still remember when he swore at Bethel and we all gasped.
It’s interesting that he sees America that way. I don’t see it that way at all. Sure, there are lots of people who think that way who live here. And there are lots of people who think the opposite way who live here. And there are lots of people who think some other 3rd or 4th or 5th way who live here.
The real deal is that you can’t pigeon-hole America. America is everything, all at once.
Obviously everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but I think it’s interesting that you see America the way that you do, Josh. I think what Campolo is referring to is the dominant culture in America — white, conservative, Christian, Republican. We control the White House. We control the Congress. Before that the Moral Majority claimed this footing in the culture, and while I see the dichotomy (and the hypocrisy, if you will) that exists, the truth remains: There is a dominant culture in America, and it is pro-rich, pro-power, etc. — everything Campolo is holding up against the Gospel of Jesus, the Gospel the Supertones recently sang about so beautifully, “the Kingdom in reverse.”
So what’s Tony’s solution? (I couldn’t find one in the article) Yes, Christians ought to have a different value system than our secular government. Yes, Christians ought to speak up when our government screws up (regardless of who’s in power, they’re gonna screw up). Yes, Christians ought to help the poor, oppressed, and disenfranchised (though making them wealthy, powerful, and controlling seems counterproductive to the Gospel message).
But what does that have to do with America that it doesn’t have to do with anywhere from Argentina to Zaire? The problems of America are the problems of “the world,” of sin, of our fallenness.
Is a theocracy the solution? Some say we’ve got one now (but I don’t believe it). I don’t think that’s what Tony’s saying. I hope that’s not what he’s saying.
Does Tony think that because a Christian is not disgusted to be an American, he or she is an American first and a Christian second? Yes there are those who will be upset if you move the flag — there will be those who’ll be upset if you change the drapes in the foyer or put single-ply in the restrooms. (Some are rabid flag-lovers, sure; others appreciate the freedom of religion represented by the flag; others get bent out of shape when anything changes; still others get bent out of shape when someone says “don’t worship the flag” and they hadn’t been to begin with.)
‘Cuz where else are ya gonna live?
I think Christians ought to WITHSTAND America (or wherever they are — Belize, Chad, Denmark, etc.). But opposition without a clear “standing for” something seems exciting rhetoric for The Progressive, but of little help to anyone else.
–Chris
I’d agree with what Chris said, and also throw in a few other thoughts. God doesn’t propose us to be anarchists or anything, in Romans 13 we’re even told to “submit” to the governments we are under. I’d like to do a little greek study to see what the term submit exactly means, but I’d guess it’s the same as when Paul says wives should submit to their husbands: in all events trying to make it work (though obviously there are times when this is not the case: I don’t think Paul would state we should deny our faith because of the government. Howerver, he DID work within the Roman system throughout his ministry).
I’d say Paul’s case really should speak to us in America, considering there are quite a few similarities. Obviously, Christians should be in step with God and the Bible, not their government, but we should also work with it to make a better world.
Lastly, America isn’t perfect, no. But it ain’t all that bad, either. Remembering who we are as Christians is still possible while working with the government of the US… and we have it a lot easier than most, I’d say.