one nation under God

I understand what the motto added to the American "Pledge of Allegiance", "one nation under God" means. It was added during the heighth of the cold war in response to the atheism of the enemy Soviet state. It is an expression of "we are what they are not."

The only problem is that there is no longer any theocratic nation on the face of the earth. Not even present day Israel claims such, as was true of Israel of old. Yet there is a theocracy in the world, and it's certainly not any recognized global nation. I take it that the one theocracy is the church which has as its Lord and head, Jesus, this church scattered throughout the world. In 1 Peter called "a holy nation," and I take that to refer not just to scattered Jewish Christians in exile, living as strangers in the world. I take that to mean all Christians as I think that letter is addressed to Gentile as well as Jewish converts to Jesus.

Therefore it is a mistake to put too much of an emphasis on one's own nation, especially under the notion of thinking it's a Christian nation. The one Christian nation consists of all Jews and Gentiles who put their faith in Jesus as Lord and Messiah. This nation resides all over the earth, in many nations. Not to deny citizenship in those countries, Paul certainly used his Roman citizenship. But just to know where our true identity in Jesus really lies. Not in America or any other country of this earth. Instead we seek a better country, a heavenly one that is to come. A country that exists in Jesus now, on the face of the earth. And is someday to rule the earth under Jesus, but is beginning that presence of Jesus' reign in the kingdom of God present in the world even now. A reign so different than the world. A reign based on Jesus and his work for us, foolish and weak in the eyes of the world, but strong in God to the pulling down of all that stands between it and God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Now I may be accused of not being patriotic or whatever. I respect all flag waving Americans and all Christians who proudly serve their country in the military. And there are many great freedoms we enjoy here as Americans that have been bought and kept through American blood, even though some of our military ventures have surely been mistaken from the basis of the Christian just war position of which I'm in doubt. Our allegiance is not to Caesar or any national entity in this world as Lord, but only Jesus as Lord. But a lordship that allows me to live as an American citizen in this world, flag waving or not. And to live out the true identity which we are, in Jesus wherever it may be. Of the truly one nation under God that exists in the world, someday to be evident when God's kingdom in Jesus at last makes known its authority in God's timing over all the earth in judgment and grace.

What might you like to add or subtract from this posting?