Evangelical Politics: Red Flag #1
Yesterday I posted a very brief summary of my thoughts on Evangelical politicians. In the coming weeks I hope to post more extensively on the topic of Evangelical politics, but for the time being I will simply enumerate what I think are some of the major problems theologically and historically with Evangelical politics. These posts (two, maybe three all together) will serve as a brief introduction.
Perhaps the element of Evangelical politics that should most quickly raise a red flag in your mind is the use of Old Testament language about Israel in reference to America. Evangelical politicians and politically minded preachers often claim that America has broken covenant with God just as Israel broke covenant with God in the Old Testament. These same individuals claim that events such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 or the recent school shootings at Virginia Tech are God’s judgment upon the United States as a result of the nation’s rejection of the “God of our fathers” just as Israel rejected the God of their fathers.
What is implicit, and at times explicit, in this talk about America’s relationship to God is the idea that America is God’s nation. That is, America is not just a nation under God’s sovereign control, but rather it has a special (covenant) relationship with God just as Israel enjoyed a special (covenant) relationship with God prior to the coming of Christ. This relationship qualifies America as “God’s people”. Thus the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is as true for America as it was for Israel. Furthermore, just as the covenant between God and Israel included blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience America can expect blessing when it walks in God’s ways and cursing when it is unfaithful.
There is a major theological problem with this position and as I wrote earlier I hope to examine it in more detail in the coming weeks. As a preview of the next post in this series let me say that the claim that America is God’s nation or God’s covenant people is not just theological in nature, but also involves a certain understanding of America’s past. In other words it is both a theological and historical claim.
Tags: America, Evangelicals, Evangelical politics
Very interesting…I hadn’t ever thought about the way we as a nation are described by not only evangelical politicians but also popular evangelical leaders. But now that you mention it, I have heard language like this used. I look forward to your upcoming thoughts on the matter.
Good observations. I am increasingly uncomfortable with how many equate good citizenship with good religion. Along with what you posted is many’s belief that America’s support or lack of support for Israel determines her fate. I almost see in some the notion that Israel can do no wrong (like America) in its foreign or domestic actions.