American Exceptionalism is not Gospel Teaching.

  I am not against patriotism, or against people with flags on their houses. One of my best friends just got back from a term in Baghdad and I love him to death, but I love him, not his camouflage or orders or service. I believe Jesus was about the whole person, not their political affiliation. What I am against is when that Flag (American or otherwise) becomes more important than the gospel and the message of Jesus Christ and God-Creator and Holy Spirit from the pulpit or bar-stool... Don't think this could happen? It does. In my neighborhood. In your neighborhood. With “pastors” who have not authority over them but their own opinions, their own agenda, etc. The word of God that would speak life is what we should build our ministries around, that speak life into them, not some 'damaged goods sin theology' or 'pro-America, Anti-Muslim theology'. That would be doing a dis-service to my people and to my faith, and to God, who called ALL people to himself.

When preachers are allowing themselves to preach 'America The Beautiful' (and Best) from pulpits, others will feel the same way because that being preached from the pulpit is to say that it is also how God feels. There is NO accountability in that, just BIAS. So, I guess this isn't about patriotism at all, but how holy do we see the pulpit or God for that matter? This American Spiritual Revolution or Exceptionalism is not Gospel, and it definitely has no place for the pulpit. If we preach from a holy place that America is the Best, then that concludes that all other countries should be like America and that they are not the Best and therefore are 'in sin' or 'not blessed' or 'devils'...which may be the opinion of many people that wear crosses around their necks, but would not be the opinion of Jesus.

We have come to great places in the last 100 years with historical evidence and looking into what the context of Paul's letters and Jesus' words have been. “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” (present tense). We have come to great places where the church has agreed (finally) that the Crusades were a bad idea and rooted in politics rather than 'true religion' like is described in James. We know that much if not all of Jesus' language was political serious-satire, using the words of Caesar and Rome to show the people that God's kingdom would root itself in are the poor and weak and in illegal aliens, and broken widows or orphans, or in the wounds of Himself and the lepers Jesus healed...that Kingdom would reign, and is truly exceptional.

Paul, when writing Ephesians 4:1-6 outlined a greater emphasis on the resistance language of unity than a case for monotheism. (see Imitators of God: A Study Book on Ephesians, by Letty M. Russe) The church was to show that people Jews/Gentiles would get along because they love Jesus and are committed to the things the church is committed to, “Jesus is Lord” was one part, feeding the poor, widow, orphan, raising the dead, serving all people was the majority of their work. That is, to show the Kingdom of God that is present.

Who did Jesus love? Who did he admonish? Samaritans, women, even “centurions and their servants” (Which is an interesting story, Luke 7, look it up in ALL possible contexts). He honored widows who lost all they had, and gave of their loss. He gave examples that were not socially acceptable to the Jewish community that followed him. Shouldn't we?