In Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, in the explanation to the Fourth Petition of the
Lord’s Prayer (“Give us this day our daily bread.”) Luther writes this: “Daily bread
includes everything needed for this life, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house…”
Included in his list of twenty-two things that make up “daily bread” is “good government”.
Of course, we are a very blessed people. God has poured out all the elements included
in “daily bread” with breathtaking generosity on us as American people. “Food, drink,
clothing, shoes, house… All 22 things we have and more. (If we were better at sharing
our blessings, nobody would have to go without anything in America!)
Certainly, our American democracy (warts and all) has been a central boon in our life.
Most of us have experienced it as strong, stable, and free. Whenever the realization
has dawned on the American people that not all of us share equally in the blessings of
being Americans, we have not decided that our vision is wrong, but that our
employment of it is imperfect.
Ironically, the more blessed human beings are the more we are likely to forget God. As
far back as the Old Testament prophets, perceptive voices from among God’s people
have reminded us that the poor are far better at maintaining the mindfulness of our
dependence on God. The rich tend to wander off into thinking that they have what they
have by their own doing or their own deserving. Blessed people tend to forget that their
“blessing” are blessings and the giver is more important that the gift; and that gifts are
given to be shared!
Americans – exactly because we have a great blessing of “good government” – have
always been tempted to think that our country and its system of government, in itself,
is the thing to revere; rather than God who is the only complete and perfect good in our
lives.
That temptation is at the heart of the heart of “Christian Nationalism”, the belief set that
the United States of America is the ultimate realization of the Kingdom of God and that
Americans, therefore, are a special “Chosen People” Of course, that belief set makes it
easier to hear criticism of our country – or questions about how we should live out our
vision – as both unpatriotic and unchristian.
Our Beer & Bible Study folks have asked if we could look at Christian Nationalism. In
fact, the ELCA has encouraged us to do just that. WE WILL BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION
AT THE FEBRUARY SESSION OF BEER & BIBLE STUDY which will be at Mama’s
Saloon in Waterloo at 5:30 on Tuesday, February 3rd .
I am also inviting you to be part of a deeper study of Christian Nationalism during the
season of Lent. Watch for more information about that this month.
In Christ, Pr. Bob Moberg
