Civil Religion In The Church?

It happens every year. Come May 31st, July 4th or November 11th, and suddenly on the closest Sunday we have a strange sight confronting us as we reverently prepare to worship- the state?
As I study sociology, a new name emerges for a phenomenon I have long noticed and wondered at: the practice of bringing civil religion into our churches on state or national holidays.
Our church is suddenly full of fervor for the nation as the flag is brought forward, songs sung about America and even the alter decorated with red, white and blue flowers to further bring the civic religion to mind as we replace our weekly Christian resurrection celebrations with a sentimental and worshipful service for our nation.

According to my textbook, a civil religion is a quasi-religious loyalty binding individuals in a secular state. Citizen's loyalties are to the state rather than to a specific religion.

Then I checked the infamous Wikipedia to see what others have to say about civil religion.
And I quote:

 This assertive civil religion of the United States is an occasional cause of political friction between the U.S. and its allies in Europe, where (the literally religious form of) civil religion is less extreme. In the United States, civil religion is often invoked under the name of "Judeo-Christian tradition", a phrase originally intended to be maximally inclusive of the several monotheisms practiced in the United States, assuming that these faiths all worship the same God and share the same values. This assumption tends to dilute the essence of both Judaism and Christianity; recognition of this fact, and the increasing religious diversity of the United States, make this phrase less heard now than it once was, though it is far from extinct. Some scholars have argued that the American flag can be seen as a main totem of a national cult. Arguing against mob violence and lynching, Abraham Lincoln declared in his 1838 Lyceum speech that the Constitution and the laws of the United States ought to become the ‘political religion’ of each American.

From the encyclopedia of Religion and Society:

The concept refers to a "transcendent universal religion of the nation".

When I read that I confess that I immediately thought back to all the years of saluting the flag in church, to singing the national anthem and other patriotic songs, to taking time to memorialize those who had served our country, to generally waving our national flag and taking pride in America. All things that are well and good....but the thing that causes question is the fact that all this takes the place of our regular worship toward God. And now is being termed a separate religious activity.

I recall one patriotic holiday in particular. We were visiting a small church out in a remote area. This particular holiday they had set up a separate "altar" almost, complete with pictures, medals, flags, and other American memorabilia and symbols. Instead of singing hymns, all the patriotic songs were sung. When it was time for the message, the Scripture was skimmed over and plenty of time spent discussing America and how wonderful the nation is. Somehow, I did not feel like I had come in contact with the Most High God. The time spent at church was not spent thinking about our Christian walk or our relationship with Christ. And this was disturbing.

I've heard the stories of people in other countries who are hiding in order to have church. Bibles are confiscated, and lives endangered just by gathering together. I do not think they are wasting time being patriotic or indulging in civil religion. They found something so important that they are risking their lives to continue to worship God. There are no red, white and blue carnations here.

Yet many Americans are outraged if we choose to worship in the usual manner on patriotic holidays, or relegate it all to a small mention at the beginning of service. Their family members were not mentioned, their flowers not noticed, their favorite song not sung. America was not held up as the shining epitome of freedom and happiness.

And I am left wondering if all this is really pleasing, or really worthwhile. I choose to think Christ is the epitome of freedom and happiness.

And then the thought crosses my mind, "What would Jesus think of all this?"

Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Mark 12:16-18

Jesus came to earth to reunite us with God. He was sacrificed for our sins when he stretched his arms on the hard wood of the cross. His was the ultimate symbol of love, of freedom, of yes, even happiness. Not for just Americans. We take away from this sacrifice and the Holiness of Christ when we push Him out of the way to the strains of God Bless America and when civil religion replaces our Christianity.

Only this: Be vigilant in keeping the Commandment and The Revelation that Moses the servant of God laid on you: Love God, your God, walk in all his ways, do what he's commanded, embrace him, serve him with everything you are and have." Joshua 22:5

The Adventure of Life Is Today

The past months I've been working to change my thinking and renew my mind about how I live my life. Part of that journey included reading A Million Miles In A Thousand Years and thinking about the story I live and what kind of story it should be. I decided I didn't want a story that ended on the couch with potato chips. I wanted a good story, a story that was always leading up to the most beautiful ending of Jesus. Once I decided that, I had to figure out what that looked like on a daily basis.

And what I am finding is that the adventure of life is

Today.

Just today. Not tomorrow. Not next month, or next year. Not when I have more money. Not when I have a diploma.

Not yesterday. Not last year. Not when I was younger.

Today.

So for the past couple of months I've been consciously focusing on just that. But it takes constant reminders as I retrain my thinking. I have to refocus frequently.

I am really good at worrying about what is going to happen next. I'm really good at trying to plan or figure out in my head what the next bit is going to look like or be like or include. Tomorrow sounds like a really good thing to worry about. I worry about whether I will get the job I want, whether my dreams will be realized on my time frame, whether things will work out, what will happen next and on and on ad nauseam.

But I can't worry about tomorrow. What I shall eat, what I shall wear, what will happen next.

One of the things I've been pondering is the change and flow of life and how you're going along and suddenly a curve is up ahead and everything changes in a moment, changing things forever. One moment I think I am following what I am called to do, then it changes and I am searching for the answer all over again.
My calling is to fulfill what is before me...today.

Every day I make myself take time to think through what I am called to do that day, with the knowledge that things could change at any moment. But it helps me think about today, not tomorrow. I think, today, I am called to do my best at work. To show Christ's love to those I meet. To study and do well in school. To find the service I am to do in the community I find myself in today. All I have to worry about is today. All I have to think about is today.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:33-34

Keeping Up With The Joneses

I recently had the chance to watch the movie, The Joneses. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this movie, but I've thought about it enough to comment on it...especially after I found our recent newsletter issue from Compassion and noted an advertisement playing off the movie. To find out more, you can go here: http://whoarethejoneses.org/

The movie is about a "family" of salesmen who are sent to a suburb to sell the newest, biggest, and best. In order to do this they set up housekeeping and then entice all their "friends" into buying or at least wanting what they've got. In the midst of this they find that love is worth more than stuff.

It really is kind of a shocking way of looking at how commercialism is such a huge thing in America. And how consumer we are.

At the risk of harping on what I learned in Bolivia, I'm going to throw it out there yet again...they live so joyously on so little. And then I feel like I need to complain because of no closet space? Ouch.

Kinda makes you think sometimes.

Kinda makes me think sometimes.

And We Have Falafel

Today I made falafel for lunch. It brought back a flood of memories from Israel. Here's how I made it:

Falafel
2 1/2 cups washed chickpeas
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds
1 Tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (optional)
3 crushed garlic cloves
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup flour
oil for frying

Soak chickpeas overnight in 10 cups hot water and baking soda. In the morning drain and boil in fresh water for about an hour.
Drain the chickpeas. Grind in a blender or food processor until fine. Add spices and flour. If mixture is too dry, add a few drops of water. Refrigerate until chilled. Make small balls about 1 1/4" in diameter. Deep fry a few balls at a time for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel. Keep balls warm.
To serve: Stuff 6 balls in a fresh pita bread together with hummus, tehina, fresh vegetable salad and hot pepper sauce. Eat warm.

So Long, Status Quo!

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now it's where I've been

'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the strings

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...

Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I'm gone

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
I wanna be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

Brave. Song and lyrics by Nichole Nordeman.

Gender Role and Identity

During the month of January I have been preparing to take the CLEP examination Introduction to Educational Psychology. I have been continually amazed during my reading and studying at the hypocrisy and stupidity of liberal scientists who insist that people's gender role is imposed upon them by society and that genders are equal and interchangeable.

To quote:

"Gender role identity refers to the set of beliefs a person holds about a specific characteristics associated with either feminine or masculine traits. It is part of a person's self-concept and most people tend to view themselves as ranking high or low in either trait. Although it is difficult to specify precisely how a person's gender role identity develops, the identity present during early childhood is probably affected by physiological and hormonal activities that influence how aggressive or passive the child is as well as how physically active or restrained he or she may be."

And from another source:

"Gender identity is the gender(s), or lack thereof, a person self-identifies as; it is not necessarily based on biological sex, either real or perceived, nor is it always based on sexual orientation. There are two main genders:masculine (male), or feminine (female), although in some cultures there are more genders. "Androgyny" has been proposed as a third gender. Some ancient tribes have more than five human genders, and some non-Western societies have three human genders –man, woman and third gender. Gender roles refer to the set of attitudes and behaviors socially expected from the members of a particular gender identity. Gender roles are socially constructed which are often politicized and manipulated, which then result in the oppression of people."

The test itself then proceeds to quote scientific research that shows that “It appears that both boys and girls have higher self-esteem when engaged in "gender-appropriate" activities, when gender difference is less of a distraction.”

Um, can you repeat that please?

If gender role is interchangeable, and if this oppressive gender role is imposed upon us at birth (or even before!) by our culture, then I have just a few questions.

1. Why do baby girls and baby boys naturally tend to play according to their gender? Baby boys make everything into weapons. Baby girls are interested in baby dolls. Oh. We have already indoctrinated them? Even if we never have allowed the baby boy to view or play with guns before? Even if the baby girl only has a big brother to emulate?
2. Why do 4-5 year olds when asked what they want to be when they grow up naturally answer according to their gender role? Girls will say a mommy or a nurse or a ballerina. Boys will answer policeman or fireman or farmer.
3. Why do boys, as they grow up naturally become interested in active, competitive sports or play as girls are increasingly more interested in caring roles such as playing mother, nurse, etc?
4. Why are boys built and made to be more muscular, and interested in projecting a protecting, providing role as girls are built to be a caregiver and naturally begin to project their mothering, helping role?

It occurs to me that most societies, even the oldest (and therefore most primitive according to evolutionist thinking) had gender roles which reflect the idea that males would be the protector/provider and the females caregiver/helper.

Not to even mention the Biblical idea of men being the prophet, priest and king, the protector and provider as the women were made to be the helpmeet, the caregiver.

I don't understand why people can't just follow the natural course of events. Just accept your gift and talent and move on with life.

I went on a mission trip several years ago as chaperone. We were randomly divided into teams and sent to different projects. Our project was to roof a house. Toward the end of the week, we were scrambling to finish the job and had a second team join us. Our team was mostly big hulking boys. The second team was mostly girls. The girls proceeded to be the ones moving the wheelbarrows full of shingles and heaving it up into the dumpster. The boys were picking shingles up and putting them into wheelbarrows. Finally I managed to get the boys to do the hard lifting (which they were thrilled to do so they could show off their muscles!) The girls were not so happy when they had to do the picking up and there was much discussion on how they were able to do the wheelbarrows. Sure, they could do the wheelbarrows. I wasn't about to argue with that. It's just that the boys were able to do it so much easier and without straining. And the girls were able to pick up the shingles so much easier and better. So why not just go with it? We got the job done in record time after the adjustment was made. It's not discrimination. It's common sense. It's being aware of what you're made to do and then doing it to the best of your ability.

What's wrong with letting girls be girls? Why must they try to be boys? Girls are not inferior by being girls. 

What's wrong with letting boys be boys? Why must they try to be girls? Boys are not inferior by being boys.

I think it's a beautiful thing. Two different genders with two different roles that blend together, helping each other. You can't have one without the other. Each has different qualities and attributes. Strengths that make them what they are. No need to confuse them. Instead celebrate the differences and enjoy them.

Oh How He Loves Us

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realize just how beautiful you are,

And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh

Oh how He loves us,

How He loves us all.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,

If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.

And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

I don't have time to maintain these regrets,

When I think about the way

That He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

Oh how He loves.