NBC & “One nation under God”
Sometimes I just don’t get self-righteous Christian anger – disguised under the notion of “standing up” for God.
Why are so many Christians so piously angry that NBC cut “under God” from their US Open golf coverage? And, for another thing, why do so many Christians make such a big deal about insisting on pushing this phrase on so many unsuspecting Americans?
I have been leading my congregation through a reading of the Bible in 90 days – so the last 2 weeks have found me spending a considerable amount of time in the Old Testament. The Pentateuch is not a fun read – especially once you get into the Hebrews and their 40 years of wandering. God is not to be messed with – I think that is a fair summary of what I have gleaned from page after page after page (!) of laws, rituals, measurements, genealogies, promises of blessing, threats of judgment, etc.
Scripture (Proverbs 9:10) says that “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” So let me ask a simple question – how many Americans (how many Christians) actually fear God?
So often Christians settle for sounding shrill – rather than thinking theologically.
I believe that we SHOULD remove “under God” from our pledge of allegiance – along with getting God off our money, etc. After all, how many Americans really mean it?! One nation, under God . . . and how many children are going to bed hungry tonight? One nation, under God . . . that (according to the World Health Organization) leads the world in illegal drug use. One nation, under God . . . where (according to a 1996 Promise Keepers survey) 50% of Christian men are addicted to pornography.
If we as Christians believe that God’s name is holy, if we believe that making a rash vow in God’s name is binding – why, WHY, would we want to subject so many ignorant, foolish people to possible discipline from a holy and righteous God?
Maybe it’s really not about God – maybe it’s about us – the holiness of God takes a back-seat to our silly need to hear “God” – even when no one means it.
“You shall not take the name of your LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).
In my opinion, every time a group of Americans repeats the Pledge of Allegiance, we (as Christians) are guilty of standing idly by while watching a the name of our God being taken in vain. Put quite simply, most people don’t mean it, don’t live by it, don’t care about it. If you have time to whine about NBC cutting “under God” – you had better spend some time at a soup kitchen. Do something that matters for the Kingdom!
Pastor Rob
I for one want God in the Pledge and on the money. I know what most of our founding fathers stood for.. If the persons saying or looking at the coins and bills do not realize this, I feel sory for them and for us for not standing up to our responsebility to seeing that they do understand.
Listen to ME , when I have such a weak back bone that I can not stand up and say what I should say and renounce my membership in PCUSA, wish I could !!
Love it. Did you read the post from CCN Religion about taking responsibility for children? http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/16/my-take-on-adoption-christians-should-put-up-or-shut-up/
I love it that you have a blog open for comments. I see your point about using God’s name but being very blasé on how we act as Christians. However, I see NBC’s move as a direct poke in the eye to the entire religious community. This is one of many acts meant to nudge us in the direction of eliminating God in all aspects of our lives. It really didn’t hurt anyone that God was left out of the pledge; what harm did it do to you personally? It is like the ancient Pharos, chiseling out the previous one’s name on everything as if he didn’t exist at all. I was reading an article about the first inauguration of George Washington by David Barton on the Wall Builders site. Elected leaders used to be comfortable in their relationship with God, but now it seems they have eliminated God almost entirely. The elimination of God out of our country and daily lives did not happen overnight, this has been a gradual erosion. This inauguration was dripping with praise and thanks to God at a government function sanctioned by the founders of this nation. Now you can’t even invoke God’s name at a high school graduation. I think this NBC stunt is like chiseling out God’s name a little at a time, a gradual erosion.
…eventually they forgot about God, then the people did what they wanted.