“You’ve worked for Christian organizations in the past; would your faith impact your work here at a secular organization?” I smiled. It was a question I expected given my resume, but it was also a question I knew that was also not allowed in the interview process for an after-school program position. I decided to answer anyway.
It feels messy, being a Christian in a nation that has historically claimed to be a “Christian nation” while not always demonstrating that collective faith in decisions and actions. As I’ve studied American history and uncovered more and more that doesn’t quite line up with what it means to follow Jesus, the mess seems to grow. To be honest, I'm fine with dropping that Christian nation title because it sounds too much like a theocracy, and I’m just not a fan of theocracy. As I reflect on the tension of faith and patriotism this 4th of July, I am reminded that I am not called to ignore the mess. When I am tempted to freeze in fear or turn my eyes away in apathy, there are tangible things as a Woman Disciple I can do.
- Pray for our leaders.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 encourages us to pray for our leaders so that we may lead peaceful lives and that our leaders may come to know Jesus and the truth. Regardless of political affiliations, leading is never easy. I want my leaders to know Jesus, experience his grace and freedom, and know truth, so they can lead with wisdom.
- Be a voice for the vulnerable.
God has always made provision for the vulnerable and voiceless in communities—from the laws of the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 14:28-29) to promises of the Psalms that God hears the cries of the oppressed (Psalm 10:14) to Jesus’ command to love our neighbor and serve the “least” in our community (Matthew 25:40). I imagine it’s because God knows how easy it is for us to focus on ourselves at the expense of others. Since the United States was birthed out a desire to have a voice (representation in government), there can hardly be anything more patriotic than to be a voice for the silenced, marginalized, and ignored in our own communities. We can pray and ask God which group we might love well, learn from, and stand with.
- Pray for God’s will.
One of my favorite lines from the Lord’s Prayer comes from Matthew 6:10: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” It’s always a good idea to pray for God’s will. We can trust God’s will over our own; the results may not turn out the way we expect or hope, but we can trust it because God is good and is loving and is for us. Sometimes the issues facing our country seem overwhelming; sometimes the division is too heartbreaking. In these moments, I pray for God’s will.
In my interview for the after-school program position, I explained that I value the separation of church and state because it’s good for the State and the Church. My interviewer was satisfied and moved on. This separation is actually a huge benefit for the Church; it gives us reasonable autonomy and pushes us to fulfill what God has always called us to do—to love him fiercely and to love our neighbors, any neighbor, all neighbors, as ourselves. We may not be a Christian nation, but we can represent Christ well if we do these things.
Movement Step: Take some time between fireworks and hot dogs and reflect on how you can incorporate one of the above suggestions into your everyday life.
