The Gospel vs. The Constitution

The following is my response to Roger Misso's latest article in the Wayuga newspaper. Misso writes a column called "The New Prosperity."

In response to Mr. Misso’s piece “Among These,” I must argue that the United States is neither a “Christian nation” nor is it founded on “Christian principles.”

First, it must be asked, what is a “Christian nation?”

Is it a country that declares Christianity its national religion? A reading of our Constitution will indicate that Americans have no national religion.

Is it a population of Christians living in the same geographical region? If this is the case we must concede that America is not a Christian nation, but rather one of variegated religious traditions.

Is a Christian nation one that is founded upon the principles discussed in the Bible? With a close look at Christ’s teachings we must say that gospel scripture cannot be the foundation for a country.

There is no such thing as a Christian nation, because a nation consists of a military, laws, and judges. Christ’s vision for the world was one of love, forgiveness, and peace.

Our nation has a military and police force. One provides protection from external foes and the other is intended to provide protection from internal nuisances. Christ teaches that we cannot retaliate to evil. The gospel says “resist not evil” and “if anyone strikes you on the right cheek turn your other also.” (Matthew 5:39, Luke 6:29) The United States military could not take these guidelines seriously and survive as it is. It would mean unilaterally dismantling the executive branch of the government, as its whole purpose is to resist “evil.”

Our nation has laws and punishments for those laws. Christ teaches only the law of love and gives only the verdict of forgiveness. Always, Christ urges us to forgive, even to “seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:22) The United States justice system could not exist on these guidelines and survive as it is. It would mean the disintegration of our courts and laws.

I agree with Mr. Misso and Jefferson that we are “endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” However, once a system is formulated to preserve those rights, the teachings of Christ are abandoned. The system of enforcement for rights becomes the culprit of encroachment on them.

If the gospel is taken seriously, it is apparent that its ideas are to be followed by individuals, and not by governments or policies. The result won’t be a system; it won’t have a military or police force; it won’t be a codified set of laws; it absolutely will not be a nation. It will be “action and truth.” (1 John 3:18) Of what use is a military if every citizen really was to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) and “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) Of what use is a judge if forgiveness is always the answer to evils? Of what use is defining rights if each person was taking seriously “do to others as you would have them do to you?” (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31)

It may be going too far to say that anarchy is the only feasible option that Christ may have supported (though there are many who do; Leo Tolstoy and Jacques Ellul among them) but it is not a stretch to say that the United States is not a Christian nation, nor is any other nation in this world today.

Taking the teaching of Christ seriously will not transform voting decisions or political perspectives. It will transform an individual’s entire way of life; and call to question the assumptions on which elections and debates are based.

In God We Trust?

Recently, I received a chain email begging the American population for help. It was written in urgent tones and affirmed me that in this issue, I could indeed make a difference. In a world of so many social, political, and spiritual problems, I read on in hopeful anticipation of how I could “make a difference.” Ready and poised to take action in a direction that promised results and change, I curiously considered what this ill could be that I had the power to solve. AIDS? Cancer? Poverty? World Hunger? Suspenseful lists in blog posts?

The email was trying to convince people to “refuse to accept” new coins that the United States government has issued. The major problem with these coins was that they lacked the words “In God We Trust.”

Although I don’t recall if the email was rooted in a Christian organization, it represents a large movement in American Christianity. Most Americans are familiar with the “In God We Trust” debate and those issues that run parallel to it, ie; Ten Commandments in courthouses, prayer in classrooms, “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Christianity has effectively convinced its populations that defending these areas of tradition and others are an essential Christian duty. There are fear-mongering preachers who teach that the abolishment of “In God We Trust” from American forms of money would lead to the demise of the United States as we know it. Because we are a God-fearing nation, and we demonstrate that fact proudly to the world on every piece of legal tender, we are in His omnipotent favor and can enjoy the fruits of His providence. But beware! To turn from God by neglecting to print His name on your money is certain destruction!

But what really should the Christian stance on this topic be, if any? In this issue, has a Christian duty become a civil duty or vice-versa? What does scripture say?

It is generally admitted by Christians that money is the second-most discussed topic by Christ in the gospels. Jesus had a lot to say about your relationships, and not much less to say about your pocketbook. And what does he say?

Well, one day Jesus and his disciples are discussing the matters of the world and the kingdom of heaven, and a Pharisee asks him about taxes. Of course, the Pharisee knows that Jesus is a threat to the Roman Empire and if he can catch Jesus saying explicitly: “Don’t pay your taxes because they fund that evil empire of Rome!” then the Jewish teachers and the Roman government can be rid of the nuisance that is the Christ. So the Pharisee pipes up:

“Jesus, what about taxes? Should we pay them?” Jesus, (as he so frequently does) responds to a question with a question;

“Do you have a coin?” Certainly the Pharisee does, and hands it to the Rabbi as the Jewish and Roman crowd anxiously awaits the response. Jesus takes a look at the coin and says to the Pharisee,

“See how it says ‘In God We Trust’ right here in little letters? That means that it is your Christian (or Jewish) duty to pay your taxes. Based on the printing on the coin, you can clearly see that the Roman Empire is godly, as it recognizes God on every piece of legal tender…”

Wait a second…. I thought I remember that story reading differently! Oh yeah, that is not how it went at all! In Mark 12:17, after Jesus does indeed ask the Pharisee what is on the coin and it is established that the head of Caesar is branded in the piece, Jesus says,

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Well, of course, back in Jesus’ time, this answer would work just fine. And now it would work just fine too, except that the government of our empire has slyly printed God’s name onto the coins next to Caesar’s (or Washington’s) head. Now the Christian populace is confused: “render to God, wait… No, Caesar! Wait, no… God!” To alleviate this confusion, those who have their hands in the pot of political interests and their words in the sanctuary of American churches have taught us that by rendering to the government our taxes, we are also effectively rendering to God what is God’s. If the government recognizes the authority of God, then by some hierarchal law of association, what belongs to the government is also Gods. Also, conveniently, our money is now of greater spiritual power! What joy it is to tithe and donate money that has the name of God printed in the side! Certainly God will use this coin more favorably than any other in circulation, because He sees that it bears His name! And certainly, He will look with disdain and disgust on coins that don’t have His name; in fact, He will devalue them!

Jesus is rolling over in his resurrection. The head of Caesar (or Washington) is still clearly there! Do not confuse “In God We Trust” with whom this money REALLY belongs to. It is a clever ploy by men who understand Christianity well enough to manipulate it. Of course, no one is so explicit in their talk of this issue, but read between the lines and cut through the pulpit rhetoric; these trends are there.

I urge you, pay your taxes. But don’t do it as some Christian duty. Do it because you recognize that money that you own is a chunk of metal with the empire’s name on it, and in the end the value that it has is created and defined by them, not God. To God it is worthless.

I urge you, rejoice in the removal of “In God We Trust” for it will be the repealing of a lie. And if “In God We Trust” continues to remain on the coins, ask your political leaders, fellow citizens and yourself to think of whom we trust when they build weapons of mass destruction. Is it God? Or are we trusting in our technological superiority? Whom do we trust as we send soldiers off to Afghanistan to “defend our freedom?” Is it God or are we trusting in our military might? Whom do we trust when we allocate money for economic bailouts? Is it God or are we trusting in the financial leverage we have created for ourselves? Whom do we trust when we open savings accounts, retirement plans and life insurance policies? Whom do we trust when we buy lock boxes for our money? Whom do we trust when we use money as if it were the ultimate power itself? Is it God?