I want to begin this exhortation with two qualifications. The first is that I know you have heard this point from me before. But as Paul says in Philippians, to repeat the same things over again is not a trouble to me, and it is helpful to you. Secondly, this is a word to Americans—and I know that not all of you here are Americans. You are nevertheless invited to listen in, and there are truths here that any believer may apply, making the necessary adjustments as you go.
As the recent op-ed by Vladimir Putin showed, the assumption of American exceptionalism is offensive to him. But because he is a former KGB thug, we shouldn’t really care that it is offensive to him. What we should care about is the way in which this manner of speaking might be offensive to God.
The Founding of our nation really was exceptional in many ways. God’s blessing was manifestly with us. But one of the most exceptional things about it was the fact that the men who approved our form of government were deeply suspicious of man in general, and Americans in particular. Do not trust an American with power as far as you can throw him (Art. XII). The genius of our founding framework is that it demonstrates no trust whatever in the innate goodness of all future politicians. At our founding, we knew that we were ordinary, mortal men, prone to sin and corruption. We knew that we were ordinary, and that realization was extraordinary.
But the notion of American exceptionalism that has taken root in recent days is really the photo negative of that founding vision. It seeks to separate this exceptionalism from the gospel of grace, the gospel that straightens out depraved Americans, which is quite a trick, and it wants to make this exceptionalism somehow innate with us. And this overweening conceit provokes anti-Americanism, a form of blowback which is itself just as much an enemy of grace as that which provoked it. The former says “God didn’t give us this; we did it ourselves” and the latter says “God didn’t give you that; the Great Satan did.” They both have this in common—they refuse to give glory to the living God. They refuse to show appropriate gratitude. They pretend that we must choose between proud and ungrateful and envious and ungrateful.
How about humble and grateful? That really would be extraordinary.
So you Americans who confess Christ, your ultimate allegiance, your highest allegiance is obviously to Jesus and His Bride, the City of God. To the extent that God calls you to be a partaker of this nation’s life—and He certainly does—you must learn to see every form of secularism as an idolatrous and arrogant ingratitude. So this is one litmus test with regard to whether your form of “exceptionalism” is acceptable. If it is secular, it is not.
As a people, we must hear the gospel summons, and we must return to Jesus Christ, the president of presidents.
Bullseye!
God bless America.
“…the notion of American exceptionalism that has taken root in recent days…” How ‘recent,” Doug? The further back I look, the further back it seems like the faux American exceptionalism has been with us. But I think it really hit its adolescent growth spurt after WW II, when the Greatest Generation — sleek and fat after having whupped Japanese imperialism and European fascism single-handed (well, with a bit of help from good ol’ Uncle Joe) — proceeded to build Detroit, the interstate highway system and the suburbs where they raised the tune in, turn on and drop out crowd. IOW,… Read more »
… and how did the K of C and Ike think that adding “under God” to our national loyalty oath was supposed to turn THAT back?
Pastor, this kind of post and exhortation is truly and unfortunately exceptional. This is good stuff. Rare. And we shouldn’t expect many folks, professional pastors included, to produce these thoughts for consumption. You’re an pastor to the mind, and a good one. So you have an affinity to pastoring-by-preaching. But what is all that if you are not at least overseeing that your little sheeps are getting touched where they are — in their daily grind and challenges and conflicts. I’m sure you must have people doing this, no? Please consider posting how your follower pastors need to engage not… Read more »
PS Just want to make clear that I hope you yourself keep doing what you are doing. You’re a gift to us as you are. — Wishing you health and long life — because I selfishly need to learn from you and want you around to do it!
Eric — First, I don’t think you’re giving enough credit to what the Spirit can do through preaching. Good sermons feed heart and soul as well as mind. Just as the Spirit most often uses preaching to get the gospel into us in the first place, so He uses it to keep us fueled up with gospel power. Second, Christ Church has a system of parishes, each one overseen by one of the elders. In such a large congregation, it allows for more direct shepherding so the little sheeps don’t get neglected.
It wasn’t the main thing, but a couple points about Putin.
1. Just because he was in the KGB doesn’t necessarily mean he was a thug -= any more than just because someone was in the CIA means that.
2. Even if he was, a man can change, I hope.
Valerie — I’m thinking the Spirit can work perfectly through scoundrels talking jibberish behind that box. He does call the preacher to preach well from that box, of course. And He does work through that too. Most biblical preaching did not come from the box, however. Yet most “preachers” see that box as central — I think because it’s easier. I’m glad Christ Church as elders tending manageable size flocks. Nonetheless, I’d ask how often the sheeps get touched. My fingers are crossed, but my guess is … most are neglected.
Well, Eric, I’m giving you a ground-level report. If you choose to believe your imagined version of the story, I can’t do much about that.
Eric, I agree with Valerie that you’re undervaluing preaching, but you’re also overestimating blogging as a medium. I agree with you that most real shepherding doesn’t take place in the pulpit, but the proper venue for training a man to shepherd well in the trenches is apprenticeship, not a blog. Speaking as one who both learned and subsequently taught those skills both in seminary and in church venues, I can tell you that even the classroom is well nigh useless for teaching shepherding — a blog is worse still. One can make some useful points in a “remember this when… Read more »