Part One of A Call to Christian Patriotism

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2247692/#lb  

With the election in the fall, Dinesh D'Sousa released a movie, a documentary, on what America will be like in 2016 if Obama is elected.  I do not know whether it is a faith-based movie, but it will cause some with faith to consider a responsibility in this election. Christians are on both sides of the election for sure, but we need to consider carefully our country and our world.



For ten weeks I will blog about A Call to Christian Patriotism by Howard A. Eyrich. It is a 52 week study, but I will go through it in the ten weeks before the election. You can get it here where author Dr. Howard A. Eyrich writes:

I am really excited about of my readers impacting the outcome of the 2012 elections. This book is about inciting a passion for the American way that our Founding Fathers conceived. My earlier books have been about changing the lives of those struggling with personal and family problems. This book is about Christian Americans struggling with the tarnishing of the American vision that our Founding Fathers rooted in the Gospel.  It is about practical Christianity doing something to revive and restore God’s good gift of freedom.

There are 52 weeks of studies but I will cover this book each Monday  until the election. You can cover it also.
 

The reading of this book really suggests an action plan beyond the book. Eyrich suggests in the Preface:

You will best utilize this book first of all by setting aside 20 minutes or so on Monday Morning. . . . . Engaging the essay will challenge you to be a Christian Patriot each Monday morning. . . . You determine the project within your comfort zone, your time frame and your sphere of influence. . . . In the process of working through this book I hope you will begin to develop a philosophy of Christian Patriotism and an action outlet for your passion.

So I am hoping to write about this book for ten Mondays until the election, a faster pace than the 52 weeks, but not impossible. These ten Monday posts will essentially be my notes and reflections for Eyrich's book.

Genesis 1-3 and Romans 13 recounts how sin came into the world and how the governing authorities are appointed by God to handle this sin and lawlessness.

In Acts 2:37-47 the first Christians devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, communion and prayers. In Revelation 2:1-7 the Ephesians we read have abandoned their first love. Has our country abandoned our first love?

Eyrich writes "God providentially gave America a foundation that is largely consistent with righteousness. No, God did not directly make a covenant with American, but our Founding Fathers gave us a framework that recognized God's providence and set forth a pattern of freedom, justice, and mercy that honored God (p. 8)."

He then asks why we should be a Christian patriot? His answer: "We cannot afford to be patriots who simply want to retain a way of life. Neither can we afford to be Christians who naively enjoy liberty. We must be Christians who are completely involved in the propagation of the Gospel, while at the same time taking the responsibility to be Americans, so as to preserve our freedom for the sake of the Gospel: thus we are Christian patriots (p. 11)." He goes on to say that the only hope for our country comes through expansion of the Kingdom of God. "It is only as the church is strengthened, expanded, and permeating American can we hope to experience the integrity of the intent of our Founding Fathers. . . . Preserving our nation is a consequence of the impact of the Gospel, just as turning of the world upside down was a consequence of preaching the Gospel (p. 13)."

How is this accomplished?

1. Prayer. Colossians 4:2,3
2. Preaching. Acts 2 and 3
3. Deeds of justice and mercy. Acts 4:32-37
4. Evangelism. Acts 8:2, 4

It is not too late to buy the book

 and to use these the suggested action plans. Meanwhile

invite people to this movie

 and pray for our elections in November.

Next Monday I will again blog more about this book.