Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #4: Psalm 47:7-8

Psalm 47:7-8     New International Version

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

    sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;

    God is seated on his holy throne.

God as "King of all the earth" is a foundational aspect of the Judeo-Christian worldview.  God has no rivals and certainly no equals.  The position and dominion of God is secure, always has been, always will be.  And yet, 'Christian' Nationalism brings the Kingdom of God down into the trenches, pitting nation against nation, viewing the rise of America (or England, the Holy Roman Empire, Rome, etc. before us) as the flowering of God's purposes, and the potential fall of the favored nation as the withering of God's will.  How can this be?  Does God not rule the whole earth?  Is his purpose not accomplished in every nation?

One of the reasons why 'Christian' Nationalism fails to see the big picture is egocentrism, the belief that God's will must revolve around us and our nation because we're just that important (as compared to other peoples and nations of the world, whom God evidently cares much less about).  This was, at times, a flaw of ancient Israel as well, one that Holy Scripture punctures in the story of the prophet Jonah.  The entire book of Jonah is a withering rebuke of Israelite nationalists whose concern about humanity stopped at the boundary of their own ethnicity.  God's concern did not end there, however.  As the prophet Jonah throws a tantrum while watching God's mercy against Nineveh unfold, the book ends with this line:

Jonah 4:11     New International Version

And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

The view of Jonah was far too narrow for God, spending three nights in the belly of the great beast of the sea didn't cure him of his folly, so the book ends with us wondering if he hardened his heart following God's rebuke, or repented.

Likewise, the Gospels contain numerous examples in the actions and words of Jesus that refute the notion that God's focus on one nation means that others fall through the cracks.  Two prime examples being Jesus' discussion with the Woman at the Well and the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  

Lastly, there is one caveat to this discussion, one that will be dealt with numerous times in the texts yet to come in this series: Israel had a covenant with God.  Abraham's descendants did have a relationship with God that held promises of great favor AND a stricter level of scrutiny regarding their actions.  Israel is the exception to the rule, but as Jonah learned the hard way, the special status of Israel did not remove the other nations of the world from God's concern.

In the end, the Church is NOT Israel, and America is NOT Israel.  Whatever promises God made to Israel remain with them, they are not transferable.  'Christian' Nationalism fails, in part, because it seeks to focus God's concern on one nation (the one we happen to live in, imagine that), viewing the world in terms of power politics and national rivalries as they impact that one nation.  God's concern is higher, deeper, and much broader.

Sermon Video: The Reluctant Prophet, Part 2 - Jonah 3-4

After having learned that he cannot run away from the will of God, Jonah proceeds to Ninevah to deliver God's message.  To the shock of all, the Ninevites actually believe God and repent.  In response, God relents and does not send the judgment he had threatened.  Jonah, however, is very angry at this outcome because he wanted his enemies to be destroyed not forgiven.  God uses and object lesson to try to show Jonah the value of each human life and God's desire to forgive any who will repent, but Jonah's own heart is clouded by his hatred.  In the end, as Christians, we have no enemies, only those with whom we can share God's grace.  If Christ didn't die for them also, he didn't die for you either.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: The Reluctant Prophet, part 1 - Jonah 1-2

It can be easy to think of Jonah as the fool who tried to run away from God.  The truth is that Jonah was asked to go to the last place on Earth he, or any Jewish prophet, would have wanted to go.  God asked him to go to the capital of his nation's enemy and bring them a message of judgment (with the implied chance of repentance).  Jonah's flight is similar to the many ways in which we ignore God's Word and commands, of the human capacity to think that consequences won't apply to us.  For Jonah, it took a huge storm and a giant fish to get him to listen to God, what will it take to open up your ears to God's voice?

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

One of the little joys of preaching

How many things can you say about a well known Biblical passage or character?  Most of us might have a few things to say, but how about twenty minutes worth?  One of the joys of the process of preaching is that it forces you to look closely at a given passage of Scripture in order to determine what you should say about it.  As a rule, I don't look back at past sermons to see what I've said from a passage before.  Over time, passage like Luke's account of the birth of Christ will certainly be used more than once.  By not looking at the past messages, I allow God's Word to speak to me afresh and show me new insights that I hadn't seen before.  People have asked me, "If you've already read that book, why are you reading it again???"  That's usually in response to seeing me reading the Lord of the Rings again (I'm well past 15 times and counting).  My answer is simple: I find new things to appreciate and enjoy each time I re-read a book that I love.
Scripture is no different.
  This week I'm preparing a two-part message on the story of Jonah.  It's a story that is popular in Sunday School, kids love hearing about a guy being swallowed by a whale evidently (Of course they do!).  So what do you say about a story that everyone "knows" already?  That's where close examination of the text comes in.  I have to read it carefully; look for things that are obvious, and things that are subtle; put myself in the author's shoes (What is he trying to tell his audience?) and then in the seat of the original audience (What did it mean to them?).  Lastly, I look at the text as it relates to my congregation today; what message does God have for them here and now?
When it's all said and done, it really isn't that difficult to fill up to 9 to 12 pages of notes that I use for my sermon.  At times, the difficulty is in finding a way to stop before it grows out of control.  For me, there's both academic and spiritual joy in the process of rediscovering Scriptures that I've known my whole life and finding a way to explain that message to others.

Sermon Video: Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem - Luke 19:41-44

On his day of triumph, as Jesus approaches Jerusalem, he is overcome with emotion as he considers the fate of this city and it's people.  The Messiah was the last prophet to come to the Covenant people in hopes that they would repent, but the misconception that the Messiah would be a political savior and not a spiritual one was too firmly rooted for the people to listen to Jesus' message of repentance.  An so, the Son of Man weeps for the hardness of men's hearts and reminds us today that we too must listen to God's call for repentance when we hear because we are not guaranteed another chance.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video