"If My People..."

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

II Chronicles 7:14

This is an oft quoted verse by Christians, claiming a promise from God for the restoration and healing of our country, the United States of America. As far as that goes, it isn’t a terrible thing. But it is often done out of ignorance or glibly, and that is a problem.

First, we quote it out of context, and that is always a dangerous thing. Who is speaking? Obviously God, but under what circumstances and to whom? Read this larger segment:

American Foreign Policy and Islam

I just got back from a lecture by Graham E. Fuller (former vice chairman of the National Intelligence Council at the CIA, senior analyst at RAND Corporation) on his new book, “A World Without Islam.” His premise is that if the religion of Islam never existed, many of the areas of conflict that exist today would still be problems, comparable in scope to what currently exists. Basically, he builds a case that religion is not really the source of these conflicts, but the typical sorts of resource-driven conflicts where more powerful nations take resources from the less powerful, and the resentment that is generated in a region where foreign troops occupy one’s turf for whatever reason.

It is a powerful thesis that I have observed in other areas, particularly Northern Ireland. Their conflict was less about theology (Catholic versus Protestant) and more about British occupation of Irish land and abuses that ensued. Since both groups ethnically looked alike, the primary way to determine who was enemy and friend was which door they darkened on Sunday.

We all know people who are so dynamic that they disrupt everything going on in the room, regardless of their motivations. Perhaps we’ve done this as a nation more than we realize. I think Fuller has a valid point in the sense that being the elephant in the room, America has tended to get its way without needing to take others’ perspectives too much into account, we got used to it and sometimes barely even pay lip service to others’ viewpoints and needs, and that engendered resentment by the them being forced to accommodate us. Even if mostly benevolent, even if it helps raise others’ standard of living, it is still on the selfish side and hard on others’.

There is another key issue:  both journalists and politicians prefer sound bites and black and white issues to the shades of gray and nuance that actually comprise most issues. This really complicates things because people like bold, decisive leadership, and often this is done in lieu of wise leadership, on both sides of the aisle.

However, while Fuller makes a good point, I think he is somewhat guilty of oversimplification himself. He put most of the onus on America (and the West), and while he acknowledged problems on both sides, he didn’t elaborate at all on the issues created by those in the Middle East themselves. Part of this was likely because he was a guest of a Muslim student group, but I suspect it was also due to a personal sense that we really are mostly to blame and therefore the other issues are less important.

Furthermore, I think Fuller oversimplified and “overminimized” the role that religion does play in these conflicts, and I think addressing in some way the role that Islam and religion in general have made a difference and are real causes in conflict would have been very appropriate.

My view on persuasive speech is that if you want to convince a skeptic of your position, you must thoroughly describe the skeptic’s perspective, demonstrate you understand it, and show the limits to the validity of their arguments, before they really have a chance to raise them. Show what is good about their perspective and what and why the weaknesses are weaknesses. Then, you can address the strengths of your own perspective. This builds credibility and more importantly shows respect to the skeptic. In my opinion, Fuller’s talk failed to do this to my satisfaction, and I left with a nagging feeling that he was too entrenched in his political perspective to fully give credence to the arguments of those with whom he disagreed, and thus risks recommending policies that are not fully formed.

I do believe that in terms of world powers, we have done or at least tried to do much more good than any other power in history. (less oppression, encouraging more freedom, donating blood and treasure for others’ benefit, etc.) We have also stepped in it pretty deep and done things we should not have and hurt many innocent people as a result. These do not negate each other as sin is sin and good deeds do not make up for our sin. However, we mustn’t be too myopic about either our national/governmental sin or our generosity, championing the weak, and so on.

As academics, we should be trained to appreciate the complexities of real systems, and we should appreciate the difference between theory and practice. As educators, we have a responsibility to help our students learn to be appreciative as well. However, college faculty have somewhat of a reputation of pushing ideology rather than training in critical thinking. As Christians who follow the Incarnate Truth, we must be willing to recognize the truth of complex situations and deal with those realities, regardless of political persuasion, and help others to work through those realities as well. Looking at naked truth is uncomfortable, even painful. But full healing only comes when the whole wound is exposed and treated, not just the parts that don’t hurt when we probe them.

SDG

American Mythology

Continuing with my train of thought from yesterday, I have often struggled with certain aspects of our history. There are many truly glorious moments when we as a nation have demonstrated the very best of what it means to be human beings. There are also times where we have shown the very worst side of humanity.

Were the American and Texas Revolutions consistent with the theory of “just war?” When I honestly look over it, I’m seriously inclined to say no. But am I glad they happened? Absolutely. Did we break our treaties with the American Indians (Native Americans)? Yes. Am I glad those happened? Not a bit. Am I the standard by which our national actions/policies to be judged? Not hardly. But I believe myself to be a reasonable person (as most of us usually do assess ourselves). I do believe in American exceptionalism in the sense that we have overall raised the standard of living of most of the world, we give the most charity and are the first to respond to international disasters and many other truly great and noble things. Yet we are far from sinless, and our exceptionalism would be greater if we were better at acknowledging our mistakes and doing what we can to make it right.

However, right now, it is fashionable in the media and the academy to highlight our sins and the skeletons in our closet. There are times and manners where honest self reflection are important and sins to be confessed and atoned for. What concerns me is the titillating way this is being done. We need to realize where we’ve gone wrong and hold our government accountable for those actions. That is when critical navel gazing is beneficial. What is being done now is not beneficial, nor is it being done in a beneficial manner.

We also, as a nation, must have pride in our country and recognize what we’ve brought to the world to improve it. We also need to realize that our good deeds are not necessarily negated by our bad ones. Scripture says that where there is no vision, a people perish. Some translations specify that as the visions of a prophet, others leave it vague. Either way, nations that do not have a common goal or purpose are weaker and less effective and do not shine with the best light of God’s image in which we are created. We need to hear the stories of our true heroes, our true accomplishments, our true visions for what the nation and world can be—not necessarily at the expense of other nations, but rather in bringing the world as a whole to a higher level.

Someone once said, “Whether you say, ‘I can,’ or ‘I can’t,’ you are right.” The same is true for the psyche of a nation. Whether we say, “We are evil,” or “We are a noble, but human, nation,” we are right. Of which nation do you want to be a citizen?

SDG

Give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving!

May the time with your friends and family be a time of renewal and peace.

Passover, like most things God institutes, fulfills multiple purposes, but the stated one is so that Israel may remember their history and God’s faithfulness in creating their nation. In some ways, Thanksgiving is the American Passover. Let us share the story of His faithfulness to us. Share with your family history—the history of your family, the history of your country, the history of your faith.

Share with them the story of our freedom and why it is precious.

SDG