Thank you for this post. I struggle with the concept of ‘Christian nationalism’. I was born smack-dab in the middle of the 20th century. I was brought up Lutheran(LCMS), in the middle of Nebraska. HS & college challenged my faith, but I became more American evangelical. I was involved with the Navigators in college, and attended an e-free church. Post college, still peripherally involved with the Navigators, I joined a mainline presbyterian church that was very evangelical and slightly charismatic, where I met my wife. We eventually went with a church plant that was non-denom., but the pastor was a Dallas grad(dispensational). We moved, and joined a ‘mega’ church (~4000 members) that was trying to model Willow Creek. About 20 years ago, through listening to The White Horse Inn and R.C. Sproul, we left the large church and joined a small (~100-120 people) PCA church. The pastor is a WSC grad. In the last decade I have listened to a number of podcasts from the Pres./Ref. world, the main ones being Reformed Forum & presbycast. I said all of this to give some idea where my thoughts and ideas on Christian nationalism have come from.
All that is a preface to my question: Given that all of our leaders are to be holy, righteous, and good, what is to be response if they are not part of our church/denomination? Other than the ballot box, how can we hold them accountable?
I am struggling with this too. When I look at the American political landscape I see many politicians from both major parties who violate this standard. In short, I have great difficulty justifying voting for either Trump or Biden because both are deeply immoral men and/or have promulgated deeply immoral laws and regulations. But if I can support neither what do I do? Is it justifiable to vote for the lesser of two evils? And how do I even begin to analyze which of the two evils are “lesser?” It is tempting to simply refrain from voting but is that a responsible act? How are we to hold leaders, especially politicians, accountable when the rot is present in all candidates for an office? As the NT reminds us, we had better pray for our leaders, that they may repent of their evil ways, in the hopes that God may send us better leaders and remove the wayward politicians we have now, that we may live quiet and peaceable lives before God.
Thank you for this post. I struggle with the concept of ‘Christian nationalism’. I was born smack-dab in the middle of the 20th century. I was brought up Lutheran(LCMS), in the middle of Nebraska. HS & college challenged my faith, but I became more American evangelical. I was involved with the Navigators in college, and attended an e-free church. Post college, still peripherally involved with the Navigators, I joined a mainline presbyterian church that was very evangelical and slightly charismatic, where I met my wife. We eventually went with a church plant that was non-denom., but the pastor was a Dallas grad(dispensational). We moved, and joined a ‘mega’ church (~4000 members) that was trying to model Willow Creek. About 20 years ago, through listening to The White Horse Inn and R.C. Sproul, we left the large church and joined a small (~100-120 people) PCA church. The pastor is a WSC grad. In the last decade I have listened to a number of podcasts from the Pres./Ref. world, the main ones being Reformed Forum & presbycast. I said all of this to give some idea where my thoughts and ideas on Christian nationalism have come from.
All that is a preface to my question: Given that all of our leaders are to be holy, righteous, and good, what is to be response if they are not part of our church/denomination? Other than the ballot box, how can we hold them accountable?
John
I am struggling with this too. When I look at the American political landscape I see many politicians from both major parties who violate this standard. In short, I have great difficulty justifying voting for either Trump or Biden because both are deeply immoral men and/or have promulgated deeply immoral laws and regulations. But if I can support neither what do I do? Is it justifiable to vote for the lesser of two evils? And how do I even begin to analyze which of the two evils are “lesser?” It is tempting to simply refrain from voting but is that a responsible act? How are we to hold leaders, especially politicians, accountable when the rot is present in all candidates for an office? As the NT reminds us, we had better pray for our leaders, that they may repent of their evil ways, in the hopes that God may send us better leaders and remove the wayward politicians we have now, that we may live quiet and peaceable lives before God.