Sep 27, 2024 |
WLSU, Christian American
| The Rev. Philip DeVaulWLSU, Christian American
Last week I insisted that, as a Christian who is American, I must understand myself as Christian first – that my Christian identity supersedes my Americanness. There are, of course, problems with this assertion.
The first problem might just be that it makes me sound like a radical. We are currently in a time when a sizable portion of American leaders are working to remake American culture in a way that devalues and endangers women, minorities, LGBTQ+ persons, and immigrants – and they’re doing it in Jesus’ name. Many of these leaders argue that this is a Christian nation, that it was founded on Christian ideals, and by Christian men. None of those things are actually true, but they have been repeated so regularly that they seem to have seeped into our collective consciousness as being self-evident.
Nevertheless, in Jesus’ name, many Americans are seeking to force their understanding of Christian living on others. I believe this actively goes against who Jesus is and what he teaches. Every time Jesus gets angry in the stories we have of him, it’s because he’s witnessing leaders misuse their religious authority to harm others. Jesus is not a theocrat.
Some people believe that commandment about taking the Lord’s name in vain means you shouldn’t say “Oh my God” or exclaim “Jesus Christ.” But the real blasphemy is harming others in Jesus’ name, using God as the buttress upon which you reinforce your own political power and social standing.