Reading an article on evangelicalism and a line stuck out, where there seems to be an assumed role for Christianity in that it must be coupled with a nation, which if I infer further by this nation I assume that it means nation-state. Over 2000 years have we, as Christians, not realized any of our grandiose errors? Have we not figured out that the Holy Nation, the Holy State is not what Christ intended, rather it seemed that he was diametrically opposed to the systems of government in place and instead created an entirely new system of relations of power?
The Late Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, Papal States, Colonial Europe, Tsarist Russia, Commonwealth England, Imperial United States of America, Apartheid South Africa, all operate as under God but have very little resemblance to Christ. We were called to something different, not to building more efficient weapons to stop ‘evil-doers’ from committing more acts of evil [terror]. There is no just war. Can anyone honestly picture Christ blasting away anyone? Did he not rebuke Peter for using a sword to defend him? Did he not stop James and John from ridding agents of terror by blasting down fire from heaven? Where in the message delivered by Christ have we received this message of policing the world from evil? We are supposed to be a light in the darkness, not an explosion to rid the darkness. We should return to out roots, to the praxis of the early church and the teachings of Christ.
here is the article that this rant inspired, notice how assumed the notion of Christian nation is put about [assumed on Gentry's part as well as quickly I am to assume that this is what he meant].
