On Wednesday night, we discussed the Apostle Paul’s letter to the early Christians at Philippi (Philippians). Philippi was in a Roman province called Macedonia, an area rich in natural resources and, thus, a vital cog in the Roman colonizing machine.
Because of this, the area was known for its extreme devotion to all things Rome — it was considered, for a period of time, to be a “miniature Rome.” For many, everything implied in what it meant to be “Roman” was taken on as an identity.
Considering that history, the Apostle Paul had a major hurdle to clear in his attempt to bring the Good News to Europe (for perhaps the first time) — call it Roman nationalism.
As we discussed, nationalism is not a synonym for patriotism. It is a much more involved than a simple love or appreciation for your country, and the rights we enjoy as citizens (including the right to worship). I’d argue we should count ourselves fortunate to live in the United States; in that context, we have good reason to be patriotic.
Nationalism is different.
In its ugliest form, it is a tool used to develop a national identity and, ultimately, a set of national beliefs that form a platform from which to divide and exclude. People who know history, including American history, could cite numerous examples of how nationalism has led to unthinkable human tragedies.
Think for a moment about Japanese Americans (many of whom were citizens) who, during World War II, quickly found out that they were not Americans at all when they were rounded up into camps in the western United States after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This was a time in American history in which nationalism reigned, and people who were deemed not sufficiently American suffered.
This type of thinking is the complete opposite of Paul’s teaching about Christ, in which he went to great lengths to preach the Good News as for all people. His ministry founded numerous early Christian communities that were diverse not by design, but by the fact that the Good News is now and always has been for all people. .
His view was the unity Christ did not require uniformity in every other aspect of life.
With that in mind, it is no surprise that Paul’s message was not welcomed by everyone. In fact, early Christians at Philippi were often persecuted because of their beliefs. Imagine finding your identity in Christ, and in the message of his servant Paul, in a time and place in which the center of life was allegiance to Rome.
Sadly, there are elements of this type of misplaced allegiance among Christians today, including people I know personally. There is a percentage of Christians who believe our country should be a strictly Christian nation, sympathetic to or even fully embracing Christian nationalism. Sadly, I know some Christians who could more easily tell me what it means to be a patriotic American than a devoted follower of Christ.
To be clear, placing “Christian” in front of nationalism — something that I strongly believe is meant to divide and exclude — does not make it OK.
Last summer a prominent member of the U.S. Congress said something that should concern all Americans, and especially Christians:
“We need to be the party of nationalism,” she said. “I am a Christian and I say it proudly, we should be Christian nationalists.”
No we should not.
We should do what Paul did, inspired as he was by the life and ministry of Christ.
Paul told the early Christians at Philippi to make “Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11)
Notice he didn’t say, “evangelize the powerful in Rome in order to use their power to compel everyone to accept Christ or suffer the consequences.”
See the difference?
If we as Christians wish for all people to know the Good News, the mission is better served by a message that unifies and includes — a message that does not seek to institutionalize or militarize our faith.
This might mean that Christians should consider a good-faith exit from the tribal, increasingly uncivil, and nationalist discourse that has taken hold in many corners of our community.
We should flee from it.
Obviously, when we flee from something, we should run toward something better. Paul has an opinion about that, too:
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Philippians 4: 8-9
Let’s always be reminded of what Paul told the Philippians: “Our citizenship is in heaven.”
Thanks be to God!
The Pipe 