One Nation Under God. But Which God?

one nation under god – a human nation under a “god”

Let’s turn to the human version of this issue. An issue that we generally spell somewhat differently. We tend to capitalize “god” and make it God. As you likely know, being a Christian, I cannot do that across the board. To me, there is one capital-G God – the God of the Bible. Of course, that includes Yahweh, from the Old Testament. However, it does not include Allah, from the Qur’an. Please read What religion was Abraham? for more on that. Nor does it include any other god from any other religion.

Given that, let’s look at some excerpts from Letters to the Editor related to an Op-Ed that was written about Michael Flynn and the concept of One Nation Under God.

“If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion,” Flynn declared at a right-wing rally last weekend at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. “One nation under God and one religion under God.”

Flynn, the disgraced former national security adviser in the Trump administration, has found a new calling as darling of the religious right and, apparently, as a self-anointed historian. “I mean if you really study the 1500s, the 1600s, the 1700s, and how we were created as a Judeo-Christian country with the you know beautiful, beautiful set of values and principles that we have,” he said. “But now we’ve lost sight of that.”

Well, no. The United States was not “created as a Judeo-Christian country.” First, the term “Judeo-Christian” was not even invented until the 1890s. More to the point, the founders — many of whom were deists, not orthodox Christians — were highly suspicious of any attempts to favor one religion over another. That sentiment led to the 1st Amendment, which reads in part, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Isn’t that the apparent aim of many Republicans, especially those of the religious right? One Nation Under God. And yet, who gets to define that “god”? Is it God Himself? Or is it whoever the Republican leaders happen to be? And maybe we’ll get a makeover of that “one god” every four (or eight) years when there’s a new President?

We’ve had squirrels in our backyard for the 15+ years that we’ve lived here. So far, the “acorn god” reigns supreme for them. In fact, as the oak tree grows, so does the number of squirrels. Could it be that squirrels are more stable than people? Or is something else going on?

Later in the Op-Ed piece, we read:

The great irony in Flynn’s statement and in the arguments for Christian nationalism is that religion has flourished in America as nowhere else precisely because faith is uncoerced. The 1st Amendment guarantees that.

Of course, the great irony in that statement is something Jesus said.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve – Mark

6:7-11 pp — Mt 10:1, 9-14; Lk 9:1, 3-5

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
Mk 6:8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”
Mk 6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”

Christian faith shouldn’t depend on the first amendment! Not for anything. And maybe especially for it to not be coerced. God Himself, in the person of Jesus, told us what to do if people don’t want to hear His message. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”

Notice a few things here. Don’t coerce – just leave. It’s not our message – it’s Jesus’ message. God’s message. And given that, any attempt by any government to negotiate and define God’s religion for Him isn’t, by definition, God’s message! And finally, no true Christian would even accept, let alone follow or try to evangelize, any message from any government that claimed to be God’s message.

Hos does that stack up against our One Nation Under God scenario? Not well at all, I’m afraid. In fact, it clearly rules it out! How can the government force its chosen version of Christianity (talk about an oxymoron) when Jesus, the namesake of Christianity, told His followers not to force anyone to believe in Him at all? It can’t happen. In fact, I can make the argument that anyone who even tries to force someone to follow Christianity isn’t even Christian themselves. Therefore, it follows that whatever flavor of so-called Christianity that’s being forced on people isn’t Christian either!

To be sure you got that, let me repeat it:

How can the government force its chosen version of Christianity (talk about an oxymoron) when Jesus, the namesake of Christianity, told His followers not to force anyone to believe in Him at all? It can’t happen. In fact, I can make the argument that anyone who even tries to force someone to follow Christianity isn’t Christian themselves. Therefore, it follows that whatever flavor of so-called Christianity that’s being forced on people isn’t Christian either!

That should put the One Nation Under God supposedly meaning forced Christianity as the “religion” of the land makes no sense from a Christian point of view.

However, I’m sure it won’t for some people. So, let’s keep going.

Letter to the editor response to Michael Flynn’s One Nation Under God Op-Ed

Here’s one response in the letter to the editor concerning Flynn’s piece.

Former national security advisor Michael Flynn’s proposal to have America be “one nation under God and one religion under God” is dangerous, delusional, divisive and a distortion of history.

Besides, just what would that one religion be? Obviously, in Flynn’s view, it would be neither Islam nor any of the myriad religions thought of as being “Eastern.” And, regardless of when the term “Judeo-Christian” was coined, it does not describe one religion, but rather a supposed shared ethical belief system.

So, does Flynn mean Catholicism or Judaism? My guess is no. That leaves Protestantism. But even that comprises many separate faiths whose adherents vehemently disagree about minor and major tenets of their beliefs.

Note – I don’t agree with everything in that response, especially the part about Judeo-Christian being rather a supposed shared ethical belief system. It’s much tighter than that. They do actually believe in the same God. The single major difference is the question of whether or not Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. Jews do believe in the promised Messiah. They just don’t believe it’s Jesus.

But regardless of that, the final point is correct. Even Protestants, and non-denominational Christians, don’t agree on various points of religious doctrine. And in our time today, there’s huge disagreement on various social issues and on how people should be treated. To me, that often seems like forgiveness and grace have gone by the wayside.

Therefore, One Nation Under God will be some flavor of so-called Christianity, by whoever happens to have the political power to “make it happen”.

But even that it for a time. As I’ve pointed out in other articles, what happens when the majority is no longer even some variation of Christianity? Just pick your favorite religion to hate, and imagine they’ve become the ruling party and they choose their “god” as the one for the country.

Oh, and while you’re at it, try to remember what Jesus said about hate.

Love for Enemies – Matthew

Mt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Oops.

Does the Bible have errors?

Something else we probably should consider here is whether or not the Bible contains errors. Christians should believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God. No errors. Why would there be errors if it’s from a perfect God?

But here’s the catch. It’s the original Bible text that has no errors. You know – the Hebrew, Greek, and some Aramaic writings? Just how many of them have you read? I try to go through and understand the original words, put them in the context and culture from which they came, but I also know all of that’s colored by the men and women who wrote various translations of the Bible and the commentaries I use. Nothing says those don’t have errors.

So who is it that’s so sure of their thoughts on what the Bible actually says is perfect? We certainly can’t get there from reading an English Bible. We can get closer by doing the studies to try to understand the language and the culture. But, as I said, biases creep in during that process. Bot the biases of the authors of the resources being used, and the person reading them. In my case – that’s me, introducing things based on my life, my background, my limited understanding. But also by my knowing I’m not God and not perfect.

So, even staying within Christianity, who’s got the nerve to stand up and say, “I’m right” and this is exactly what God said!”? It’s an important question, because that’s exactly what’s happening when someone implements this One Nation Under God thing.

Conclusion – One Nation Under God. But Which God?

Let me close with one final excerpt from the letters to the editor. Not the whole comment, because I don’t agree with all of it. Just the few words that should be expected from what you just read.

May I just say that if his brand of “religion” is the one he’s promulgating, count me out.

Yes, count me out. Not just from Michael Flynn’s choice of one “god” and one religion. Count me out for any forced “god” and any forced religion. God wants us to choose to love Him. And if God Himself won’t force us, who thinks they have the right to force us to love their “god”.

Remember John 3:16? It’s pretty straightforward. and it gives us the choice.

John 3:16

Jn 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

The truth includes knowing what God said, and doing our best to live it out. Allowing people to choose to not love God, or to not follow God, that’s part of what we need to do. Yes, we can and should go out and do the Great Commission. But we should also follow the example above where, when we go out and someone doesn’t want to hear God’s message, we just shake the dust off our feet and walk away. We should not be passing laws to force people to be any flavor of any religion.

What do the squirrels know that we don’t?

I promised I’d get back to this. BTW, I don’t claim this as Biblical truth. And yet, it is food for thought. Pun intended, given the acorn god.

Do Not Worry – Matthew

6:25-33 pp — Lk 12:22-31

Mt 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Mt 6:28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 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.”

Notice the birds. God takes care of them. Just as He will take care of us.

Now, check this out. Yes, it’s long. But I want to set the context. Give you an idea of what’s happening here. And of what’s coming next. It’s important, because it points out a difference between us and the squirrels. And other animals. Notice especially verse 13 – underlined.

The Scroll and the Lamb

Rev 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Rev 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Rev 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”

Rev 5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

Rev 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Yes – every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea. Even my squirrels that we thought worshipped the acorn god. Crying out, praising The Father and the Son.

Meanwhile, here’s what people will be doing after the scrolls are opened. Again, it’s long. But once more, it’s also important. Check out the various underlined passages to let us know what our fellow humans are doing while the world as we know it is coming to an end. The last chance for us to praise God or go to the place made for Satan and his fallen angels. Hell.

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

Rev 16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”
Rev 16:2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.
Rev 16:3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.
Rev 16:4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments,
you who are and who were, the Holy One,
because you have so judged;
Rev 16:6 for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” 7 And I heard the altar respond:
“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true and just are your judgments.”
Rev 16:8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
Rev 16:10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
Rev 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.
Rev 16:15 “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Rev 16:16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
Rev 16:17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

It’s not like the people didn’t know what was happening. And it’s not like they didn’t believe God existed. Further, they actually knew God was doing this, and that it was a call for them to repent! But they refused!!

So, what’s the deal here with us and the squirrel? God cared for the animals. But they didn’t rebel. God also takes care of us, if we let Him. But we do rebel. We walk away from God, run away from God, curse God. And then we wonder why things aren’t perfect. But of course, the world isn’t perfect, because of the fall. But we do have a promise of a perfect life, after this one. And yet we still rebel against the One who promised us that perfect life.

As I said – I’m not going to stand up and say this is the message of the verses I chose. And yet, doesn’t it make you wonder? Isn’t it food for thought?

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Image by Bank J from Pixabay

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