Christians First?
In the February 1, 2010 issue of Time, p. 3 under the “Numbers” section, I read the report that 47% of Muslim Americans think of themselves as Muslims first; 28% say they consider themselves Americans first.
In growing up in the Christian church (the Stone-Campbell heritage), I was often told that we were not the only Christians but Christians only. I do not believe I was taught as often that I was a Christian first and an American second. Yet from a biblical perspective, that is certainly to be the perspective that all Christians living in America should have. Of course, that should be the case for Christians living in Austria or Australia or Ukraine or Uzbekistan. I have no doubt that Paul, a Roman citizen, would have considered himself a Christian first, a Roman citizen second (Philippians 3:20-21).
I do not know what the answer would be if Christians living in America were asked: Are you a Christian first or an American first? My fear is that the percentage who would answer “Christian first!” would not be as high a percentage as the Muslims surveyed.
But my final question is this: If I believe that I am to be a Christian first and an American second, at best, what difference should that make in the way that I live?
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Interesting post…I have been having this same (ongoing) discussion with a couple of different friends who think that political correctness and the current political regime is a clarion call for revolution (as in 1776).
I concur with your assessment of Paul but my question with both Paul, and perhaps Muslims (wherever they might live) is that I don’t think their connection between “church and state” is as interwoven as our political and spiritual worldview seem to be here in America. The “God Guns, and Guts made America Great” might appear as a ridiculous bumper sticker or slogan to some–but MANY actually hold this as a belief–therefore I contend that American patriotism is held to a higher degree because some equate God WITH America (manifest destiny)–therefore, I suggest that they see “Christian” and “American” as equal terms–I don’t see that being as prevalent in other worldviews…any thoughts?