The other day I was behind a car that had a bumper sticker which read. “One nation under God.”
It struck me just how far from this ideal we really are. I am sure the owner of the car was expressing their objection to those who would have us removed the phrase “under God” from the Pledge to the flag. But the words, “One Nation,” jumped out at me. I asked myself if this describes our current ideology.”
We have always had a plurality of religions and nationalities within our borders and among those we have had groups who simply wanted the freedom to continue to be who they are. We held on to our German language for 100 years after coming to the USA. The Acadians kept their French until their children were beaten in public school for using it. We sent settlers to Mexico until we outnumbered them and annexed half of Mexico into the USA. So what is happening to today is not really new. What does seem new, however, is the desire to reject the ideal. Can we really COEXIST? Can we really be many nations under no god?
Scripture is clear, “All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.” Nothing demonstrates our sinfulness more than our desire to be free from God. The sad reality is that sin is what unites us. It is the thing we all have in common that makes us equal. That sin also is evident in our belief that everyone else’s sin is damnable and mine is justified. So we shift the blame to everyone except our selves. If justice is to be served, the sinner must be punished. “The wages of sin is death.”
The amazing good news is that God Created a way to both serve justice and forgive the sinner. He claims the guilt of the sinner and dies in our place. Now our unity in guilt becomes unity in Christ and his forgiveness. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
So now we are not “One Nation under God.” We are by faith one Human race united in Christ and His Grace.
It struck me just how far from this ideal we really are. I am sure the owner of the car was expressing their objection to those who would have us removed the phrase “under God” from the Pledge to the flag. But the words, “One Nation,” jumped out at me. I asked myself if this describes our current ideology.”
We have always had a plurality of religions and nationalities within our borders and among those we have had groups who simply wanted the freedom to continue to be who they are. We held on to our German language for 100 years after coming to the USA. The Acadians kept their French until their children were beaten in public school for using it. We sent settlers to Mexico until we outnumbered them and annexed half of Mexico into the USA. So what is happening to today is not really new. What does seem new, however, is the desire to reject the ideal. Can we really COEXIST? Can we really be many nations under no god?
Scripture is clear, “All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.” Nothing demonstrates our sinfulness more than our desire to be free from God. The sad reality is that sin is what unites us. It is the thing we all have in common that makes us equal. That sin also is evident in our belief that everyone else’s sin is damnable and mine is justified. So we shift the blame to everyone except our selves. If justice is to be served, the sinner must be punished. “The wages of sin is death.”
The amazing good news is that God Created a way to both serve justice and forgive the sinner. He claims the guilt of the sinner and dies in our place. Now our unity in guilt becomes unity in Christ and his forgiveness. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
So now we are not “One Nation under God.” We are by faith one Human race united in Christ and His Grace.
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