A thought-provoking perspective from South African pastor and bishop Peter Storey, that I found in Common Prayer a few days ago:
American preachers have a task more difficult, perhaps, than those faced by us under South Africa’s apartheid, or Christians under Communism. We had obvious evils to engage; you have to unwrap your culture from years of red, white and blue myth. You have to expose, and confront, the great disconnection between the kindness, compassion and caring of most American people, and the ruthless way American power is experienced, directly and indirectly, by the poor of the earth. You have to help good people see how they have let their institutions do their sinning for them. This is not easy among people who really believe that their country does nothing but good, but it is necessary, not only for their future, but for us all.
The Kindle version of Common Prayer is only $2.99 right now.
Institutions that sin for us? http://bit.ly/q5Bf7e
James, you and I know that while there is some truth in his perspective, he misses the major point. Proud as I am about being an American, I must point out my alarm, comparing historically our work ethnic readiness prior to our entry into WW II. Since then we have become both financially and morally soft and inept. There is still only one way to fellowship with God, and that is Christ Jesus. We no longer have true representation by those we elect. There is a growing flood of entitlements and a shrinking work ethnic. We strive to become both the world’s biggest ‘sugar daddy’ and warrior king, and in the process fallen into a greased bottomless pit of debt. We hock our major assets for the billions we borrow from the major countries, in which we strain to pay the accrued interest alone. Financially we are in the Greece and Spain dilemma, just on a higher hill top. But thankfully, God is still in control – perhaps now ushering in His return for His children. But until then I will pray and work toward His blessing. Especially since Paul in referring to His return said, ‘we don’t grieve as the world’ – Jesus is our Hope in the midst of the storm.
This is a very good but frightening post. I hate to think of all that my country has done under the guise of patriotism, but as a Christian, I have to think of it. My husband is serving overseas right now – deployed – and we both have to think hard and long about whether or not this has become an unjust war. I mean….how exactly do you fight terrorism….an institution that will not die even once we do leave?? We cannot ever win. And our war is connected to the contractors that the US hires to do its work over there. It’s quite depressing….but as people of faith, we have to take a real think about it all. Thanks for this post. I need to go pray now…. cj for FNCC