Thursday, November 20, 2008
Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
A BETTER COUNTRY
None of us are very far removed from what Mr. Brokaw so famously called the "Greatest Generation." I can testify that the events of those years have been by far the most influential on my idea of what America is and its place in the world. Growing up in the 80s, not only the history classes but much of the literature and media painted a very vivid picture of America as the great stalwart hero, the giant that stood against all evil and kept it at bay. I am not going to try and discuss the role of America on the international scene, and I have nothing but the greatest respect for that generation and everything they did. But I do think that we need to remind ourselves that America is not the chosen nation of God. It is not the light on the hill. It is not the hope for the world, nor even God's conduit to bring good to the world.
The Christians of Augustine's time had a similar problem with national perspective. They thought of the Roman Empire as almost equivalent to God's kingdom. They thought of it as something special, a nation privileged by God, a nation given a special mission by God. When the Roman Empire fell they were dumbstruck, they were crushed even in their faith. They could not understand how a nation so obviously blessed and chosen by God could fall. And Augustine had to write his book, "City of God," to remind the people that the institutions and kingdoms of this earth are not God's Kingdom. We seek a "better, that is, a heavenly country."
Neither America, nor democracy, nor capitalism, nor socialism, nor military might, nor diplomacy can even come close to beginning to solve the problems that exist in this world. Even in America, without Christ we are without hope. And really what a wonderful message of joy that is. It is not man that will change the world, but Christ alone, for in the end the world cannot be changed, it is fully and completely at enmity with God.
