GOD'S EXILES BLESS BABYLON.

Civil Religion tries to enlist religion and the church to support the State’s agenda, but Public Theology urges God’s people to return to God’s Word, and then sends them into the public square to pursue the common good of all society — not just your own religious tribe. I treasure a gift from Chinese students in the USA — an object of calligraphy that may be translated, Honor God and Bless People — a good summary of the Great Commandments and Public Theology!

God expelled the people of Israel from their land because they were unfaithful, serving idols. Deported to Babylon, they were told to not be nostalgic for their failed theocracy, but repent of their idolatry, then bless the pagan empire, Babylon. Repent > Be Refined > Bless.

This is the way forward for American Christians and churches. We must first recognize the bad consequences of our trust in politicians. The path ahead is not to go back to some golden age. We must rediscover our identity as God's foreigners. To invert an old phrase, we must learn to live as a moral minority in a foreign land. Or, in John Stott's words: to be spiritually distinct, but not socially segregated. Only when Jesus’ followers and church are spiritually distinct, salt and light, can we bless our nation.

David Brooks, who converted to Christ from Judaism, has noted that the Jews in Babylon are the only case when a people retained and did not lose its cultural-religious distinctives through assimilation. Only the people who belong to God, and who live as God's foreigners, will bless the world. To learn to live as Exiles, God’s people have guidance from God's Word, the Bible. Three examples:

From the Old Testament: Jeremiah’s letter to the Jewish Exiles: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons … give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare [Shalom, complete well being] of the city where I have sent you into exile … pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare [Shalom] you will find your welfare [Shalom]. (Jeremiah 29:4-7)

From the New Testament: the Apostle Paul to the Philippians: our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). The cultural context: Philippi was a colony of Rome in the heart of Greek Macedonia. But, rather than exercise their rights and social status as Roman citizens, they must do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind … which is yours in Christ Jesus … (Philippians 2:3-5)

Again, from the New Testament: the Apostle Peter writes to Christians in Asia Minor, a power center of the Caesar cult: to those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia … I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh … Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1:1, 2:11-12).

Like the Jews in imperial Babylon, or the early Christians under imperial Rome, American Christians now live under an authoritarian regime. Journalist David French notes that this is typical in history, but we live in one of the few times when Christians democratically voted themselves for such a regime (the 1930’s “good Germans” also come to mind). When we confess and follow Jesus Christ under the thumb of a Caesar in a decaying empire, that is the more typical historical norm.

Now, if we live in such circumstances and serve counter-culturally (protecting unwanted lives, redeeming and not disposing of them, or welcoming foreigners to take refuge in our embassies), we may be maligned as “backward conservatives” or “woke progressives.” But, in truth, we will become glimpses of the Kingdom of God, a new world coming, filled with righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

From his distant vantage point in North Africa, Augustine witnessed the decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire. The “eternal city” on earth was overrun and sacked by the Visigoths in AD 410. But Augustine also glimpsed and wrote about the true Eternal City, The City of God.

Now, as 80 years of a Pax Americana degenerates to an inevitable end, may the good news of God’s Kingdom spread rapidly through the lives of people who live as Jesus Christ's Ambassadors, and through local churches that serve their communities as Embassies of God’s Kingdom — the only Empire that cannot be shaken!

YOUR FALSE GODS WILL HARM YOU.

A series of essays on Public Theology. In contrast with Civil Religion that accommodates Religion to support the State's agenda, Public Theology starts with the Bible and God’s People to seek the welfare [Shalom] of the State, the commonwealth, and the common good. What the Bible says about Idolatry exposes partisan delusions.

King David asked, How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? (Psalm 4:2) Trust in falsehoods turns delusional. Devotion to false gods generates a force field of lies, empty promises, false hopes, and pretensions to power. Like any addiction, idols appear to offer you control but end up controlling and harming you.

You can correct falsehoods by fact-checking. But delusions are not open to change when presented with contrary evidence. Those who love delusions will defend their cults and double down, in spite of all the evidence, even if it leads to self-harm.

A dramatic Bible example is King Ahab and his court prophets. Facing an economic crisis of drought and famine, the king and people turned to baals, fertility gods. God’s true prophet Elijah was labeled a troubler of Israel. (1 Kings 18:17) Elijah exposed the impotence of false gods, and publicly shamed the prophets of false promises. But the false prophets at court shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. (1 Kings 18:28)

When your devotion to a false god becomes delusional, it leads to personal and social harm. In our time, uncritical loyalty to MAGA ideology has started to turn delusional and also socially harmful.

Swiss theologian Emil Brunner observed, For every civilization, for every period of history, it is true to say: show me what kind of gods you have, and I will tell you what kind of humanity you possess.

MAGA's distrust of federal agencies (or "the deep state") has brought massive cuts in public health, the National Institutes of Health, and the Communicable Disease Centers. Vaccine skepticism has led to a resurgence of measles. Losing scientific researchers, the ability to regulate and test new medications, and vulnerability to new pandemics are social consequences.

Cuts to the FAA have sown doubts about air traffic safety. The dismantling, not reforming, of domestic or international disaster relief agencies like FEMA or USAID, makes us less able to show compassion to our own citizens or world neighbors. USAID deployed three staff to the Myanmar earthquake zone. But China has flooded relief workers to aid earthquake victims.

If you make sweeping deportations, incarcerate a legal refugee, admit you ignored his Constitutional due process, but still claim — with no evidence — that the victim is a gang member? When asked, “Why do you claim this man is a gang member with no proof?” The MAGA answer: “Why do you defend a known gang member by asking that question?”

What if, contrary to most conservative economists, you start global trade wars, violate your own trade agreements? As the Economist notes: “Almost everything [potus] said … on history, economics and the technicalities of trade … was utterly deluded.” But cult leaders offer a “prosperity” gospel: “you'll get rich — just believe enough.”

David Kelly, the chief global strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management says, “The trouble with tariffs, to be succinct, is that they raise prices, slow economic growth, cut profits, increase unemployment, worsen inequality, diminish productivity and increase global tensions. Other than that, they're fine.”

But who cares if the stock markets tank? If families spend $1,000's more? Trust potus! He knows what he’s doing. Uncritical devotion becomes delusional, leading to personal and societal harm. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame? (Jeremiah 7:19)

FALSE GODS WILL DISFIGURE YOU.

I have long studied the topic of Idolatry. In this cultural moment, biblical insights on Idolatry apply to Public Theology, the dialogue between those inside and outside the church. Public Theology identifies common interests, to build a good and just society to benefit all citizens, not just Christians. As God’s exiles, Christ’s Ambassadors, and local churches as Kingdom Embassies, how can we pursue the common good (“commonweal”) of American society?

The Bible warns: idols distort and disfigure you. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. (Psalm 135:18) What you revere, you will resemble. Trust in false gods turns you into something corrosive, not preservative, to society.

To worship One who is worthy is positively transforming. God’s Son came to earth, was incarnate, embodied in Jesus. We all are broken creatures, bent images of God, but Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature (Hebrews 1:3). Only Jesus is the perfectly righteous Hero (royal Lion King) and the only worthy Victim (God’s sacrificial Lamb).

Devotion to Jesus transforms us into Christ-likeness: beholding the glory of the Lord [we will be] transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Devotion to the only One worthy of worship ultimately leads to bodily resurrection. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:49).

But what happens if we give our hearts to a ruler or a political idol? When our idol acts cruelly or inhumanely, we ourselves become dehumanized. Those who trust in them become like them.

Idolizing rulers both disfigures people and distorts societies. When Babylon’s Nebuchadnezzar made absolute claims, he became beastly. The Bible does not reveal the identity of the final anti-Christ, the beast. But when any unworthy ruler claims to be “savior of the world” (like Augustus, the “revered one”), he becomes bestial. Counterfeits to God’s Lion-Lamb justify themselves as heroes who never do wrong, but are mistreated as victims.

Idolizing rulers produces cults. The Augustus cult persecuted early Christians. When politicians demand cult loyalty, their devotees are disfigured. Society becomes paranoid, brutal, coercive, and cruel. Respectful civil discourse is replaced by anger and grievance.

When professing Christians are seduced by beastly idols, they may begin to condone or excuse anti-Christian behavior, like inhumane treatment of refugees, prisoners, the weak, unhealthy, the poor, and people of color. Xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, and racism are not the marks of a good society or a great nation.

Probably writing from Ephesus, a center of the imperial cult, the apostle John urged Jesus' followers to reflect God’s Light and Love. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you … many antichrists have come … they went out from us, but they were not of us. (1 John 2:18-19, 26)

Jesus' followers must not be corrosive, but preserving Salt, truthful Light, even blessing our imperial Babylon. Let us follow God's Lamb and not marvel at beastly counterfeits (Revelation 17:8). And, as God's children, let us keep ourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)

FALSE GODS ARE FALSE HOPES.

I am sometimes asked, “Why do you, a retired minister, speak or write so frequently on political topics? Is not your highest calling to declare the good news of God’s kingdom in Jesus Christ?” Are you being unfaithful to the “spirituality of the church?” I ordinarily reply in some of these ways:

First, the Gospel of Christ's kingdom is political, but not partisan. When the first followers of Jesus confessed, “Christ is Lord,” they risked their lives. They would pay taxes and honor the government (render to Caesar what was Caesar's), but would not confess Caesar as lord. When Jesus testified to Pilate, My kingdom is not of this world, (John 18:36) he was crucified by self-preserving Jewish politicians who alleged Jesus was a threat to the Roman emperor.

Second, now retired from vocational ministry, I am not diluting or distracting myself from the ministry of God’s Word. As a registered Independent voter, I do not misrepresent any church or ministry as endorsing one party over the other. Neither major political party fully complies with the biblical values of Christians. There is no “Christian party," and it's increasingly difficult for a Christian to be "all-in" on every political agenda or platform.

Third, and most important, my efforts to do “public theology,” to seek the common good, remains an intensely pastoral calling in these times. I often cite the Apostle’s words: I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3) Too many churches and professing Christians now seek to achieve kingdom goals with worldly, political means. When the Bride of Christ is being seduced by politicians, can a Christian minister remain silent?

At the start of his public ministry, Jesus was tested by the devil, who showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, ‘To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.’ (Luke 4:5-6) The Apostle Paul reminded Christians that though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. (2 Corinthians 10:3) The elderly Apostle John ended his first letter: We are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ … the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

The topic of American idolatry is so timely because many American Christians and churches have concluded that kingdom goals and Christian values can be, or must be, advanced through worldly means. But false gods will seduce you into harmful false hopes.

So I seek to do some “public theology,” so that Christians will be salt and light, Christ's ambassadors, and local churches will become Kingdom embassies, to pursue the common social good of our neighbors. In the following posts I will note that false gods will not only FAIL you, but also DISFIGURE you and HARM you and others.

PUBLIC THEOLOGY AND POLITICAL IDOLATRY.

I am still cutting my teeth on “Public theology,” a term traced to the University of Chicago’s Martin Marty, who died last month at age 97. Public theology contrasts with a civil religion that tries to fuse (and confuses) the interests of religion and the state.

Public theology is Christian engagement and dialogue, both inside the church and with wider society. By pursuing issues of common interest, it seeks the welfare of a society that is good and just for all citizens, to build up the common good (“commonweal”).

So public theology resonates with God’s message to his people in Babylon. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare (Jeremiah 29:7). Rather than seek a “Christian America” (religious nationalism), public theology accepts the calling of Jesus’ followers to be salt and light, God's exiles in a foreign land, a secular America (Philippians 3:20, 1 Peter 1:1, 2:11-12).

Inside the church, public theology answers the question: How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? (Psalm 137:4). The church can both worship God and serve all its neighbors as Christ's ambassadors and foreign embassies of God’s kingdom.

Public theology speaks with society. It does not just preach to or at society. It is a Christian theology that seeks to be publicly understood, as well as open to critical scrutiny and public debate.

While I am still a novice at public theology, I have studied the Bible topic of Idolatry, and have written a short course for students from around the world, most who are not Christian, about the risk of putting your trust in idols. Because all idols prove to be false hopes.

Idolatry is a helpful diagnostic for these chaotic American times. The Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky observed that all people “must bow down to something.” All your false hopes will finally disappoint, fail, or even crush you.

How can followers of Jesus seek the shalom of all our neighbors, and help build a better commonweal, a good and just society?

To follow: posts on the risks and the consequences of American Idolatry, trusting in politicians. The Bible warns, Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. (Psalm 146:3)