The following is written in response to Glenn Kaiser blog
http://www.glennkaiser.com/
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
THE U.S. A CHRISTIAN NATION?
Here’s my response…
I like what you said about biblical –principles permeating early U.S. thought. It’s these types of principals that will distinguish the early United States as it’s looked back on hundreds of years from now. This permeation of biblical principals is part of what allowed the US to referred to as a “Christian” nation. Well that train has long since left the station, n’ disappeared into the ether of history. It’s been a long time since this nation or any nation has been permeated with biblical principles. Currently there are large segments of our society where there is no longer any shadow of those principals, let alone people wrestling with them in their daily lives.
Personally I have a problem with the word “Christian” being used as an adjective, as in ‘Christian’ music, ‘Christian’ restaurant, ‘Christian’ candle stick maker, etc… Now there are Christians that play music, run restaurants, and make candles. However, let us not pollute, water down, or distort the term “Christian” by tying it to other terms by using ‘Christian’ as an adjective. For instance if you ask me what I am, and if I say I’m a guitarist, then the next day I find myself unable to play guitar, I’ve lost my identity. But if I say I’m a Christian and I play guitar, and the next day I lose my ability to play guitar, I have not lost my identity. If I say I am a Christian guitarist, and later lose my ability to play guitar, I have lost part of my identity because I am no longer a Christian guitarist.
This country is a nation of individuals and as a society we used to be permeated with biblical principles, thus many referred to the US as a Christian nation. Because so many have bought into the idea of the US as a ‘Christian’ nation, now that the US is no longer permeated with biblical principles, the nation has lost part of its identity. We are a nation with an identity problem. How does a society become permeated with Christian principles? I’m not sure but I agree with you…… it begins with me.
http://www.glennkaiser.com/
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
THE U.S. A CHRISTIAN NATION?
Here’s my response…
I like what you said about biblical –principles permeating early U.S. thought. It’s these types of principals that will distinguish the early United States as it’s looked back on hundreds of years from now. This permeation of biblical principals is part of what allowed the US to referred to as a “Christian” nation. Well that train has long since left the station, n’ disappeared into the ether of history. It’s been a long time since this nation or any nation has been permeated with biblical principles. Currently there are large segments of our society where there is no longer any shadow of those principals, let alone people wrestling with them in their daily lives.
Personally I have a problem with the word “Christian” being used as an adjective, as in ‘Christian’ music, ‘Christian’ restaurant, ‘Christian’ candle stick maker, etc… Now there are Christians that play music, run restaurants, and make candles. However, let us not pollute, water down, or distort the term “Christian” by tying it to other terms by using ‘Christian’ as an adjective. For instance if you ask me what I am, and if I say I’m a guitarist, then the next day I find myself unable to play guitar, I’ve lost my identity. But if I say I’m a Christian and I play guitar, and the next day I lose my ability to play guitar, I have not lost my identity. If I say I am a Christian guitarist, and later lose my ability to play guitar, I have lost part of my identity because I am no longer a Christian guitarist.
This country is a nation of individuals and as a society we used to be permeated with biblical principles, thus many referred to the US as a Christian nation. Because so many have bought into the idea of the US as a ‘Christian’ nation, now that the US is no longer permeated with biblical principles, the nation has lost part of its identity. We are a nation with an identity problem. How does a society become permeated with Christian principles? I’m not sure but I agree with you…… it begins with me.
