Part Ten of A Call to Christian Patriotism

It has been my pleasure to think through this election with Howard A. Eyrich's book, A Call to Christian Patriotism and I urge readers of this blog to use that book with its 52 studies in your church or in your family. I said that I would blog ten Mondays until the election using this book and with this last post I have.


The third and final debate happened last Monday. One source said here:

In the third and final presidential debate Monday night, both candidates did their best to convince undecided voters. But with just over two weeks until election day, does it even matter at this point? It didn't take long for the zingers to come out.

President Barack Obama, swung first, blasting Governor Romney for being weak on foreign policy.

"I know you haven't been in a position to actually execute foreign policy but every time you've offered an opinion, you've been wrong," the president said.

But Romney kept his cool and calmly yet effectively responded by saying, "attacking me is not an agenda. Attacking me is not talking about how we're going to deal with the challenges in the Middle East and take advantage of the opportunities there." . . . .

Still, at this late in the campaign, does the outcome of the debate even matter?

Very little, said Kedrowski [chair of the Wintrop University Political Science Department] who pointed out foreign policy isn't issue number one -- the economy is.

Presidents often do not get a second term when the economy is bad.

I would like the economy to not be the only issue.

Over on the Desiring God blog Jon Bloom writes here.

But we must keep things in proper perspective. The “work of our lives” is not advancing a superficial political vision for America. Our most vital work is to become God-entranced people who advance the gospel around the globe. We are to seek satisfaction in the Substance, the Sun, the Ocean. We are to ask, seek, and knock (Luke 11:9) until the reality of “Christ is all” (Colossians 3:11) takes a firm hold on our hearts and our minds are renewed (Romans 12:2) and we are abiding in Jesus (John 15:5).

So, as we approach the election and endure the media blitz and listen to urgent, fervent debate and analysis, let’s remember what really matters and where true peace (John 16:33), true prosperity (Romans 9:23), and true happiness (Psalm 16:11) come from.

Even so we must decide to elect the best candidate. Randy Alcorn writes that to vote for the lesser of two evils is to vote for less evil here.

Obama really seems to ignore problems with extreme Muslims. Benghazi is the latest. One blogger writes here.

What makes a great leader, or for that matter a President? Eyrich sites Nehemiah and Jesus Christ. We need to pray for our next President and support whoever it is. We need to pray for Hurricane "Sandy" on the Eastcoast of these United States. Eyrich concludes on lesson with this prayer:

Father, from whom comes every good gift, grant us leaders who will humble themselves before you and who will have the capacity to lead us in self-governing that seeks the benefit of all peoples. Lord, you made us a great nation to provide a great opportunity for the Gospel. Would you restore that greatness and protect that opportunity. And, Lord, would you help me to be willing to be your instrument to achieve this good. Amen (p. 138).

Part Nine of a Call to Christian Patriotism

Randy Alcorn (married to my cousin so I always read what he has to say)  has a take on the election here and here.

Some say Democrats are switching to Romney here.

Ellen Dollar writes here why she is a Christian Democrat.

Republican and The View celeb, Elizabeth Hasselback, wrote on Twitter about this debate of last week:

Why is Obama eagerly taking responsibility for the past 4 years in Iraq and Afghanistan- but NONE for past 4 yrs here!?!

Not all believe you should display a flag in church according to this Christianity Today article.

Three moments in the second debate were highlighted here.

The real debate is at the poll. Tonight the third debate will be held. I will listen and blog about it in my last post in this series on Oct. 29.

Howard A. Eyrich, author of the study book we are going through with these posts, A Call to Christian Patriotism, starts a session with a warming for the church is a warning for America.

Addressing our fellow citizens with the truth of our founding documents and the teachings of our Founding Fathers is likewise foolishness in an age of relativism and narcissism (p. 121).

Listen to the media. Many Pro Choicers don't want Romney. They want abortion on demand. Which candidate will give me more health care? And what is the national debt doing to our economy? As a Christian, who is retired and not rich, I prefer to rely on the LORD who has promised to supply all our needs. Relativism and narcissism indeed! Eyrich gives three tests to identify a false prophet ob pp. 121-122 and concludes this section with we win because Jesus is coming again to establish his Kingdom forever and ever (p. 122).

Dr. E. points out that the Christian life is learned. He takes off on a May 15, 2011 five-point sermon preached by Dr. Harry Reeder at Briarwood Presbyterian Church and applies it to the Christian patriot.

 First, the American life is transferred by intentional learning. The history and the documents that emerged must be learned. The principles embodied are not intuitive. Training in the cultural nuances of a demoncratic republic must be rooted in these documents The cause of "liberty and justice for all" must be framed by the Judeo-Christian heritage out of which it emanated. Second, since the American way is a matter of intentional learning, we must immerse our children, our families, our schools, and our immigrants in the founding documents and the historical context so that they might not be corrupted by the many attacks from the wolves (Acts 20:29-30) within and without. Third, we must have (and be) faithful teachers who walk the talk of historical Americanism and teach its content. Fourth, each of us must choose mentors and leaders who symbolize the best of America. Fifth, since the American Way is learned, each of us must take responsibility to become teachers of the American Way (p. 131).

 My favorite quote in this section is on p. 127--a prayer by Joe Wright  that is available on various web sites according to Dr. E.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and call it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and call it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and call it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and call it building self esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and call it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and call it enlightenment.

Search us, O God, and know our hearts; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen.

Part Six of A Call to Christian Patriotism

We cannot know at this time how the USA Presidental election will turn out. Is there a prophet among us? Let's evaluate. Kenneth Copeland and Pat Robertson both seem to have to have predictions about 2012 as seen on YouTube. Copeland thinks that God is on America's side. Pat Robertson's take.  I do agree with Robertson that we need to pray. But I do not follow these two men, just find it amusing that they have to have predictions. Go to YouTube if you wish.

Tim Challies writes here on the distribution of wealth which he sees as an issue in this election. Being content is a Christian issue and the government cannot provide for all our needs and wants.

Muslims Worshipping in NYC

What I am concerned about in this post are the Muslims. A person can live in one country and have strong allegiances to Muhammad and the Arab concerns. This was true in World War II with many Germans still tied to their homeland. In our country we have all nationalities. Public schools let Muslim women (staff and students) wear burkas in the classroom, whereas in many school districts other students cannot have their head covered with a hood, hat or cap because these conceal earbuds that can be connected to an electronic device such as a game or a phone. I have read that anywhere from 2 to 7 million Muslims live in the United States even though Muslims hate the West and believe first and foremost in Sharia law. Over a dozen years ago before 9/11 The UMC had a resolution of tolerance here. Can we tolerate the potentials of some radical Arabs and Muslims within borders? One suicide bomber within our borders can do a lot of damage and feel he has been approved by his Islamic deity Mohammad.

Last Monday as reported by Reuters:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Israel has no roots in the Middle East and would be "eliminated," ignoring a U.N. warning to avoid incendiary rhetoric ahead of the annual General Assembly session.

Ahmadinejad also said he did not take seriously the threat that Israel could launch a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, denied sending arms to Syria, and alluded to Iran's threats to the life of British author Salman Rushdie.

The United States quickly dismissed the Iranian president's comments as "disgusting, offensive and outrageous."

I need a president who will not quickly dismiss international problems or offer easy solutions.

There was a very interesting address by Obama at Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt in 2009. In this address he said many things and essentially has a humanistic conclusion:

I’m a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan familu that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and at the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.

As a student of history, I also know civilization’s debt to Islam. . . . And when the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers—Thomas Jefferson—kept in his personal library. [Obama gets applause here. ]

His speech covers many world tensions of the Middle East and Arab nations. More applause came after he dealt with Israel and Palestine. Ahmadinejad take note. Obama in 2009 speech says:

America’s strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied. . . . On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians - - have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. . . . The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security. . . .

There's one rule that lies at the heart of every religion -- that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. . . . We have the power to make the world we see, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.  The Holy Koran tells us: "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another." The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace." The Holy Bible tells us: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now that must be our work here on Earth.

The link to the above released from the White House seems to have been taken down and so you will have to email me to get that lengthy address. I did find it here originally.

In the current (9/1/21) Time magazine, Fareed Zakaria writes: "If pluralism and radical Islam have a future, stronger voices of tolerance are needed."  But we do not have the power to make the world what we want through tolerance. We do not have the power--God does.

These ten posts are going through Howard A. Eyrich's A Call to Christian Patriotism and reflecting on what he writes and the Scripture he uses. He uses the example of Paul with his plural citizenships (Jew, Roman and Christian) in Acts 22 and 23. Then Eyrich writes:

Unfortunately there are those in America who profess Kingdom of God citizenship and prostitute it for their greedy personal ends, whether money or power. But the Christian Patriot cannot react by slipping into being passive. We are under obligation to preach the Gospel. We are under obligation to worship God. We are under obligation to pray in public and private for those who rule over us. We are under obligation to be salt and light. And, if we imitate Paul as he bids us do, we are under obligation to intertwine our spiritual and temporal citizenships for the glory of God while trusting God with the outcome as he did (p. 77).

Eyrich goes on in the next session featuring John 21:14-25 to give these four priorities: loving God, humble service, submission to the Lordship of Christ, honor and obedience to those who rule over us. He notes that our ultimate ruler is the Constitution and its Bill of Rights (pp. 79, 80). Again he highlights generational transference of blessings that begin with a right view of God (p.83 and passages from Deuteronomy 5, 6, 30). Excellent! Buy his book! He concludes on p. 89:

O Christian Patriot, join your family in prayer! Over the last several weeks we have looked at the patterns God has established to transfer blessings. Study the prayers of the Bible! Engage our God on behalf of our nation that we might continue the legacy for freedom and be the engine of the Gospel to the rest of the world. Teach history so that your children learn from the past. Pray that by learning history they will not repeat its mistakes, but will commit themselves to be godly citizens who promote righteousness in both personal and public life.

If Muslims can pray publicly and their women wear a head covering for all to see, surely we need dedication as dual citizens of the USA and Heaven. Paul provides such a good example of balancing it all.