Jesus didn’t bless flags or walls. This is a theological takedown of Christian Nationalism, complete with a prayer card for anyone brave enough to hand it out
"I was a stranger so you lightly electrocuted me for walking too close to your fence.” English suburban life in a nutshell and all recorded on Ring doorbells. We do not have ICE over here but loving behaviour towards refugees and immigrants can still be in short supply.
Ok learn something new every day. Number 1 that you live in England & number 2, everything else you shared. I cannot believe I’ve been to Bali, Australia, Mexico & Canada (short over the border day trips), & 2 trips to Germany & NEVER been to England! Which i fell in love with because of the Beatles & the accent of course. Thanx for sharing & your observations, as usual
Beth, you’d fit right in over there. England has charm, history, and enough dry humor to qualify as a spiritual practice. Steve’s note just proves it. Every country has its shadows. Every country has its soft hearts trying to keep the light on. And you always manage to find the light wherever you look.
James, that’s the whole story in one line. Nobody needs more Christ on coffee cups. They need Christ in their character. The Sermon on the Mount didn’t vanish. It just keeps getting outvoted.
Very good post! Only a true Christian would understand what you just wrote! Because truer words have never been spoken. The Bible is actually pretty clear. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as I have first loved you . But maybe they skipped that part of their Bible. It didn’t fit their agenda, but keep up the good work. We’ve got to continue confronting Christian nationalism because it’s not going anywhere!
Lori, thank you. Funny how the loudest “Bible defenders” somehow miss the parts where Jesus says the quiet stuff like love, mercy, and welcoming the stranger. Christian nationalism keeps trying to claim Christ while ignoring everything he taught. Naming that isn’t rebellion. It’s fidelity. Keep holding that line.
Christian nationalism is not what true Christians believe! But people see that and equate what Christian nationalist do and what a true Christian does and they couldn’t be further apart! I am not perfect. I send multiple times a day but I am a Christian and I know that the Lord forgives me And nothing can be better than being a forgiven Christian. but I do try to emulate my Lord with the way I treat others,sometimes better than other times, but I want other people to see the Lord through me. And a smile to someone that you do not know at helping hand to someone that needs your help and you don’t know them personally. Those are the ones the Lord sees and I don’t want really anybody to know about it because I don’t want accolades.Only person I want to make proud is my Lord and Savior!!
This is an inversion of Christian nationalism to try and score a cutesy point, but avoids a Biblical ethic entirely.
A Christian nation is one where the government bears the sword of justice to protect the innocent and punish the evildoer. This includes having a border and enforcing it for the good of citizens and the surrounding nations who get despoiled by pass through migrants.
A Christian nation is one where the Church loves, accepts and welcomes- it bears the keys, unlocking the door of salvation with the Gospel. It takes care of the widow and the orphan, it welcomes the sojourner and assimilates them (Leviticus 17).
As citizens in a representative republic, it is not a conflict for Christians to expect the government to do its job correctly and effectively, while simultaneously living as the body of Christ that welcomes and loves.
Practically speaking, I fully support the restoration of a strict and orderly immigration system for the common good. Simultaneously I participate in ESL classes through my church that ministers to many illegal immigrants; it is not my job to inquire about their status, report them or anything else- they are welcomed, cared for and loved. Their violation of US penal codes is not my jurisdiction. However, they are culpable for their actions- as St. Peter wrote, "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good."
The kind of Christian nationalism that progressives want, is the kind where the government abdicates its Biblical responsibility to protect and punish, and instead act like a church, loving and accepting. This breeds chaos and the innocent and weakest are most harmed.
I hear the tidy dual-system you’re laying out, but that split between “the government wields the sword” and “the church does the welcoming” is exactly how we ended up with Christians blessing state violence like it’s a sacrament.
Rome loved that arrangement too.
The problem isn’t borders. Every society has boundaries. The problem is pretending that a nation can call itself “Christian” while outsourcing all the compassion to the church and all the cruelty to the state. That’s how you smuggle brutality under the label of “order” and tell yourself it’s obedience.
Jesus didn’t hand governments a sword and tell them to be the tough parent. He told people who claim His name to treat the stranger as themselves, and every time the early church drifted toward power, it lost the plot.
If your framework produces a state that harms the vulnerable and a church that blesses it from the balcony, that’s not biblical responsibility. That’s just empire with a worship band.
Blessings on your wrestling though. These conversations matter, especially when the theology on offer keeps confusing security for righteousness.
They are just stories to control the masses. I’ve known too many pastors that were caught masturbating in public, stole money from the offering plate, etc. How many priests have raped children? Way too many. I was a sheep a long time ago until my friend taught me critical thinking. This is still I think a free country. Believe what you want to be believe.
This writing is ingenius. We're going to need more interviews with Jesus, please. It reminds me of "Conversations with God" except Jesus for the rest of us.
Oh absolutely. If Jesus is taking interviews, the next one needs to be Him calmly explaining that He never asked for a border wall, a militia, or a merch line. Just maybe that we stop acting like the Sermon on the Mount was a Fox News segment.
I could go on with the emoji forever - when you said you were sitting down for an interview with Jesus, I just lost it & have been laffing nonstop so loud I’m sure the new neighbors are now convinced i am a lunatic (not saying there’s no truth in that….)
Is the basis of this funny & hysterical (in the laughter way) - NO. But itz the best satire i have ever read & if i even quoted the most hilarious lines, i might as well just reprint the whole thing. Itz genius. Now i just wish the people who need to read it would read it. Needs to be printed up & passed out. Printed in every newspaper in the country. Make that WORLD.
your joy is its own kind of sermon. If it made you laugh loud enough to confuse the neighbors, then the scroll did exactly what it was meant to do. Satire lands where hearts are open, and you always meet it that way. Thank you for receiving it with so much spirit. Keep laughing, it keeps the soul from hardening.
glad you enjoyed it. Satire is a strange little boat that can carry both truth and laughter if you steer it right. Mouthy Musings brings the fire, I just bring a different spice rack. Happy to have you here for the mix.
"I was a stranger so you lightly electrocuted me for walking too close to your fence.” English suburban life in a nutshell and all recorded on Ring doorbells. We do not have ICE over here but loving behaviour towards refugees and immigrants can still be in short supply.
Ok learn something new every day. Number 1 that you live in England & number 2, everything else you shared. I cannot believe I’ve been to Bali, Australia, Mexico & Canada (short over the border day trips), & 2 trips to Germany & NEVER been to England! Which i fell in love with because of the Beatles & the accent of course. Thanx for sharing & your observations, as usual
Beth, you’d fit right in over there. England has charm, history, and enough dry humor to qualify as a spiritual practice. Steve’s note just proves it. Every country has its shadows. Every country has its soft hearts trying to keep the light on. And you always manage to find the light wherever you look.
Maybe before they start talking about putting Christ back in Christmas, they should look into putting Christ back into Christians.
James, that’s the whole story in one line. Nobody needs more Christ on coffee cups. They need Christ in their character. The Sermon on the Mount didn’t vanish. It just keeps getting outvoted.
Feel free to use it. I didn't trademark it or anything. (If it'd fit on a bumper sticker, maybe, but... nah.)
I think "suffer the little children" lost something in translation too. Something pretty significant.
I can’t believe I’ve never heard someone say that before. Truth & brilliant!!! 👏
Thanks, I do my best.
Thank you for this most important message for Christmas — “the early Christians welcomed everyone.”❤️
And I’m so jealous of your interview with JC — scoop of the century, Bro!🌎
When he said he was gonna sit down & interview Jesus, I swear i laughed so hard i couldnt stop. And yep, great call, scoop of the century!!!
… and she wept… she had Finally reached the part in the story when she jumped up from her chair as if by electric cattle prod and yelled YES!
So loudly the neighbour upstairs yelled.
🙌✨⛓️💥💕💃
Let ‘em yell! Luckily mine were gone for the moment i was reading lol
😁😂🫂💕 agreed!
Joy of Recognition is a wonderful thing! ✨💕✨
Very good post! Only a true Christian would understand what you just wrote! Because truer words have never been spoken. The Bible is actually pretty clear. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as I have first loved you . But maybe they skipped that part of their Bible. It didn’t fit their agenda, but keep up the good work. We’ve got to continue confronting Christian nationalism because it’s not going anywhere!
Lori, thank you. Funny how the loudest “Bible defenders” somehow miss the parts where Jesus says the quiet stuff like love, mercy, and welcoming the stranger. Christian nationalism keeps trying to claim Christ while ignoring everything he taught. Naming that isn’t rebellion. It’s fidelity. Keep holding that line.
Christian nationalism is not what true Christians believe! But people see that and equate what Christian nationalist do and what a true Christian does and they couldn’t be further apart! I am not perfect. I send multiple times a day but I am a Christian and I know that the Lord forgives me And nothing can be better than being a forgiven Christian. but I do try to emulate my Lord with the way I treat others,sometimes better than other times, but I want other people to see the Lord through me. And a smile to someone that you do not know at helping hand to someone that needs your help and you don’t know them personally. Those are the ones the Lord sees and I don’t want really anybody to know about it because I don’t want accolades.Only person I want to make proud is my Lord and Savior!!
Amen
"It’s amazing how much Scripture people forget when it interferes with their patriotism."
This 👆🏻
This is an inversion of Christian nationalism to try and score a cutesy point, but avoids a Biblical ethic entirely.
A Christian nation is one where the government bears the sword of justice to protect the innocent and punish the evildoer. This includes having a border and enforcing it for the good of citizens and the surrounding nations who get despoiled by pass through migrants.
A Christian nation is one where the Church loves, accepts and welcomes- it bears the keys, unlocking the door of salvation with the Gospel. It takes care of the widow and the orphan, it welcomes the sojourner and assimilates them (Leviticus 17).
As citizens in a representative republic, it is not a conflict for Christians to expect the government to do its job correctly and effectively, while simultaneously living as the body of Christ that welcomes and loves.
Practically speaking, I fully support the restoration of a strict and orderly immigration system for the common good. Simultaneously I participate in ESL classes through my church that ministers to many illegal immigrants; it is not my job to inquire about their status, report them or anything else- they are welcomed, cared for and loved. Their violation of US penal codes is not my jurisdiction. However, they are culpable for their actions- as St. Peter wrote, "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good."
The kind of Christian nationalism that progressives want, is the kind where the government abdicates its Biblical responsibility to protect and punish, and instead act like a church, loving and accepting. This breeds chaos and the innocent and weakest are most harmed.
I hear the tidy dual-system you’re laying out, but that split between “the government wields the sword” and “the church does the welcoming” is exactly how we ended up with Christians blessing state violence like it’s a sacrament.
Rome loved that arrangement too.
The problem isn’t borders. Every society has boundaries. The problem is pretending that a nation can call itself “Christian” while outsourcing all the compassion to the church and all the cruelty to the state. That’s how you smuggle brutality under the label of “order” and tell yourself it’s obedience.
Jesus didn’t hand governments a sword and tell them to be the tough parent. He told people who claim His name to treat the stranger as themselves, and every time the early church drifted toward power, it lost the plot.
If your framework produces a state that harms the vulnerable and a church that blesses it from the balcony, that’s not biblical responsibility. That’s just empire with a worship band.
Blessings on your wrestling though. These conversations matter, especially when the theology on offer keeps confusing security for righteousness.
They are just stories to control the masses. I’ve known too many pastors that were caught masturbating in public, stole money from the offering plate, etc. How many priests have raped children? Way too many. I was a sheep a long time ago until my friend taught me critical thinking. This is still I think a free country. Believe what you want to be believe.
This writing is ingenius. We're going to need more interviews with Jesus, please. It reminds me of "Conversations with God" except Jesus for the rest of us.
Oh absolutely. If Jesus is taking interviews, the next one needs to be Him calmly explaining that He never asked for a border wall, a militia, or a merch line. Just maybe that we stop acting like the Sermon on the Mount was a Fox News segment.
I could go on with the emoji forever - when you said you were sitting down for an interview with Jesus, I just lost it & have been laffing nonstop so loud I’m sure the new neighbors are now convinced i am a lunatic (not saying there’s no truth in that….)
Is the basis of this funny & hysterical (in the laughter way) - NO. But itz the best satire i have ever read & if i even quoted the most hilarious lines, i might as well just reprint the whole thing. Itz genius. Now i just wish the people who need to read it would read it. Needs to be printed up & passed out. Printed in every newspaper in the country. Make that WORLD.
I’m gonna read it again.. i need to laff.
your joy is its own kind of sermon. If it made you laugh loud enough to confuse the neighbors, then the scroll did exactly what it was meant to do. Satire lands where hearts are open, and you always meet it that way. Thank you for receiving it with so much spirit. Keep laughing, it keeps the soul from hardening.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
This is absolutely 🔥🔥🔥! Outstanding! 💜💜💜
glad you enjoyed it. Satire is a strange little boat that can carry both truth and laughter if you steer it right. Mouthy Musings brings the fire, I just bring a different spice rack. Happy to have you here for the mix.