The Wittenberg Trail is a great forum. The folks over there played a big part in my conversion to Lutheranism, as well as in helping me find my current church.
There's been a big discussion at the WT regarding female pastors and orthodox theology that I've been reading with interest. In the course of that discussion one of the posters, Didymus20X6, said something that really struck me regarding how we view authority in America:
At the root of much of this contention is how we view authority. Scripture actually seems to place a great deal of esteem in authority. "Honor your father and your mother", the commandment teaches us. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise those in authority over us, but love, cherish, honor, serve, and obey them. This teaching is further elaborated on in Romans 13 and elsewhere in the New Testament. Scripture: authority is good; rebellion is not.
So where does this faulty idea that authority is bad come from? From narcissistic, self-serving, highly individualistic American culture. We are the country that threw off the shackles of oppression from the British king (e.i., we killed a bunch of people BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LIKE PAYING TAXES). We fought a Civil War for the sake of freedom, but how contradictory is it to defend the freedom to oppress other human beings? Point is, in America, we worship the Unholy Trinity: Me, Myself, and I. Here in America, we sing the Frank Sinatra Hymn: "♫ I did it MYYYYYYYY WAAAAAY! ♪" Here in America, authority is always bad, no matter whether God establishes it, no matter whether it is for our benefit. In our culture, authority is bad, and rebellion is good. "Woe unto you who call evil good, and good evil," says the LORD.
This, I think, is why no one likes to talk about authority, or even submission to authority.
So, in a culture built on rebellion and defiance, which exalts the will of the individual over the good of society, is it any surprise that submission and authority are such nasty words in our language?"
"A culture built on rebellion and defiance." This makes me wonder whether or not we are now reaping what our forefathers have sown. We Americans romanticize rebellion, particularly when it comes to the origins of our country. Romans 13 applies to everything else but when it comes to the Revolutionary War, God must have been for it because look at the good results! But I've never read anything in Scripture that tells us that the end justifies the means. There's really no way to know what the outcome would have been if our forefathers had taken Romans 13 more seriously.
We lament the rebellion of our youth and the rebelliousness of our culture in general while at the same time praising the rebellious origins of our country. For me, as an American (and as a for-the-most-part politically conservative American!), to even say such things seems like the civic equivalent of blasphemy. But I can't help but think of the words of Nathan to King David, that because of the murder he committed with the sword, the sword would never depart from his house. Maybe in a similar way rebellion will never depart from us because of our origins in rebellion. Lord have mercy on us.
Great post, Dawn. I’m convinced that one cannot separate American political rebellion from the evangelical spirit of Sciptural and/or catholic (little “c”) rebellion. the American revolution cemented into America’s consciousness that we’re the new Israel, and that God blesses us because we constantly assert our liberty. If you really want to explore the connections more deeply, I highly recommend Mark Noll’s “America’s God.” It’s dry as dirt in some places, but it gives an excellent treatment on why American evangelicalism is so uniquely, well, American.
Thanks, Adam! One sees this also in the fact that many American evangelicals speak as though America is a special nation in God’s eyes and as though various Old Testament promises apply to America. If anything bad happens to America, the end of the world must surely be near. I have heard some evangelicals saying that the Rapture is surely imminent because of the economic crisis.
I will check out Mark Noll’s book. It looked interesting from the reviews on Amazon. I read a lot of non-fiction on various historical, theological and scientific topics, so “dry as dirt” doesn’t intimidate me …
I’ve always thought this was largely a historical issue, after all even the Brits have forgiven you, but perhaps it’s not as simple as that. I do not want to be classified as anti-American by any means, but when an outsider like me looks at American society and the role of violence and rebellion in it down through history to the present day, one can’t help but consider the possibility that the spirit of rebellion has indeed permated the American character in an indelible way.
Interestingly, some colonial American Lutherans migrated to Canada rather than be counted citizens of a nation founded by an act of rebellion. It was a matter of cosncience for them. They were known as Loyalists.
Dawn,
The US would certainly not be the only country that confuses criticism by its own with unpatriotic activity. But yes, there is a religious element to it in America. Imo, “civil religion” plays a bigger role in the US than in other Western democracies, and I think the church has occasionally been guilty of fostering it. It surprises me, for example, when I see the US flag in church sanctuaries. One would not see that in Australia or the UK, but of course we do pray for those in authority.
Hi Pr. Henderson,
I think sometimes it’s easier for “outsiders” to look critically at these issues. For some Americans, saying anything critical of America (even though it may be historically true) means you’re unpatriotic, ungrateful or worse. There’s almost a quasi-religious element to patriotic sentiment here. I think it’s very difficult for us Americans to look at these things objectively, and “outsiders” can provide a welcome reality check.
Blessings,
Dawn
The church in America is most certainly guilty of fostering the civil religion – at least in evangelical/baptist circles. In my old church patriotic holidays like Memorial Day and Independence Day were occasions for what could only be described as “patriotic services” where the hymns and video clips were all about America and the choir would sing patriotic mini-cantatas. There was much assumption of the idea that America is a Christian nation. I have been to Communion services on the eve of Thanksgiving Day where the Founding Fathers of the United States were probably quoted more than Scripture.
Since coming to the Lutheran church I am grateful to not see that sort of thing (at least not in the church I attend).
Dawn,
That is such a foreign experience to me, especially in my experience as a Lutheran. When I was Anglican there was a closer link to the state, especially as in Australia the Anglican Church is sort of the de facto established church, where civil occasions are marked in cathedrals, etc. Thankfully we Lutherans have the two kingdoms doctrine to guide us in our roles as citizens of the state and of heaven.
Thanks for your comment re the Luther quote – I’m glad it was helpful to you. I posted the long excerpt especially for lay people who don’t have access to Luthers Works. I’m doing a similar thing on my other blog, ‘What Sasse Said’, where I post excerpts from the German-Australian Lutheran theologian, Hermann Sasse especially for lay people to read.
I’m going to keep reading your blog, Dawn, and add it to my blog roll.
Peace & Joy!
Thanks, Pr. Henderson!