Anti-American

This was bugging me, so I'm going to let it out. I'm sure it will be pretty random and scattered, but here goes:

What's with people calling dissent "unamerican" or "anti-american"? America was founded on dissent, and exists because of dissent. If there is anything that isn't unamerican, it is dissent. Squelching dissent is unamerican, undemocratic, and pretty much facist.

Furthermore, if following my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, means some of my social, economic or political positions aren't neccessarily "american", I would rather be anti-american than anti-christ. I would rather sell out my government than sell out my God.

Unjust blessings?

This weekend I came across a question. It's a dynamic question that cuts to the very nature of my social activity. But this question can't just be released without context.

I live in a country filled with securities, and abundant consumables. This is a country with freedoms to enjoy and plenty of other things we'll call "blessings". Some people say I should be grateful to the soldiers that gave me these freedoms, while the Founding Fathers were quick to say that liberty is granted by God. The Bible also says the armies of the King are nothing because God is the one that gives safety. Other people will say that I should thank God for the blessings he's bestowed on me and my fellow citizens of this fine country.

Thank God.

But many of these "blessings" are gained through unjust practices. Our corporations and government engage in usury, sanctions and other tactics to keep other countries in servitude to us. To prevent them from developing to self-sustainence. The human cost of production leaves us in debt. We can't possible pay these people what they're worth or our luxuries would cost us a little bit more.

So the question is: Does a God of justice really bless some on the backs of others?

Of sin and suffering

It sickens me that some "Christians" are so callous to suffering. Some people say that HIV victims deserve it because it's an illness as a result of sin. Even those who are born with it, or given it through rape, et al. One such person recently said, "but their illness could have been prevented had other people not gone against God's design."

This is true, but there are homeless people living on the streets because someone's sin of usury, and this does not mean we should ignore our duty as Christians to clothe them, house them, and care for them. There are children starving all over the world because of injustice caused by the sin of greed (caused by people like me who care more about saving a dollar than supporting fair trade), and this does not mean we ignore our GOD GIVEN PRIVLEDGE of serving their needs.

Support our troops?

Every Sunday morning I pull into a parking space surrounded by automobiles covered in patriotic stickers. The prevelent sticker is the ubiquitous yellow ribbon adorned with the phrase, "Support Our Troops." The shape of it seems to surplace the Ichtys, which doesn't sit well with me as a follower of Christ. Yesterday I saw a few of them as I left the church parking lot and thought the Church should be embracing a different message.

Support Your Church
Support Global Missions
Support the Orphans and Widows

Maybe it's because people are more dedicated to their country than to their God. Maybe it's because people are devoted more to patriotism than to justice.

When Paul wrote, "Whether your eat or sleep, or anything you do, do it to the glory of God," it seems to me that the most mundane, insignificant thing is to be done to God's glory. You think even applying stickers to your car should be done to the glory of God?