tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post9148826722424344262..comments2023-05-13T04:58:46.682-05:00Comments on mashena: America: It's a country, not a god.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12416478929643863722noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-69669737533457912562011-06-28T19:47:19.766-05:002011-06-28T19:47:19.766-05:00I can easily relate to all of this, having grown u...I can easily relate to all of this, having grown up in your typical Evangelical church. We often confuse church and state, being good neo-conservatives/Americans rather than being good Christians. This is not to say that our political views shouldn't be shaped by our religious beliefs. However, there needs to be balance. The church isn't the place for flags, patriotic songs, or anything of the sort. When we enter a church, we step out of one kingdom and enter another.<br /><br />It's interesting that a lot of Roman Catholic friends I know would agree with this too. Ironic, perhaps, because Roman Catholicism has always advocated the so-called "Corpus Christianum" which is essentially a merger between church and state. That's an old error, one which repeatedly pops up in the history of the church, especially among Evangelicals today.Joshhttp://reformedvirginian1689.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-84245374004993829572011-06-06T13:30:06.869-05:002011-06-06T13:30:06.869-05:00I've never attended a church where we pledged ...I've never attended a church where we pledged to the flag,that would be weird in church. Our Pastor makes mention to be thankful for the men and women who do fight,but it's not a patriotic service. We don't sing patriotic songs that day either.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04356646350944128657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-54745331583438036132011-05-30T13:15:56.676-05:002011-05-30T13:15:56.676-05:00RE: Don't try to get out of the history Protes...RE: Don't try to get out of the history Protestants. <br /><br />Actually there was reforming going on as early as this. Not much, but it wasn't just something that happened all of a sudden with Luther. I think it was around of the crusades that we got Wycliff who was called the morningstar of the Reformation. And, I can't remember their names but there was one Pacifist type Christian sect early on too. Anyway, I'm not trying to get out from under anything (promise! I know Protestants have done awful things), Protestant or not, men are men and all commit sin (unjust wars, using God's name in wrongs ways, etc). I just wasn't sure if you knew the history of the reformation and such. Just trying to share knowledge :) <br /><br />I'm glad your church was flag free. I, like you, really appreciate my church being devoid of all flags. <br /><br />Very well said - couldn't agree more!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-73621914203136159362011-05-30T01:39:35.727-05:002011-05-30T01:39:35.727-05:00Completely agree with you.Completely agree with you.April Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946968627887624127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8913587525785298444.post-66639140204620288172011-05-30T00:33:21.865-05:002011-05-30T00:33:21.865-05:00You nailed it on the head with this statement:
W...You nailed it on the head with this statement: <br /><br />When you present information in order to influence an audience towards a specific belief - that's called propaganda. And while propaganda is a neutral term in its denotation alone, the negative connotations are evident here - this image uses an emotional scene, strong words, and a Biblical passage removed from it's proper context in order to influence a church-going audience towards a political opinion.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17163924823632769175noreply@blogger.com