Post by Admin on Dec 17, 2014 8:48:06 GMT -5
I was listening to a show yesterday on the radio where a popular Christian talk show host (who I believe is a sincere Christian man) expressed a very widespread sentiment, and this is just a rough quote and not meant to represent the spokesman, just the sentiment:
"I am proud to be an American, but there are some things in American History I am ashamed of as an American."
On the surface, this seems like a reasonable statement, but can I offer my opinion? lol
Thanks.
My opinion is just this: I am proud to be an American...period.
There is nothing about being an American that I am ashamed of.
Why? Glad you asked: because imposed in the above quoted sentiment is that things that perhaps have been performed by those who were Americans is not a reflection on what it means to be an American, any more than the things performed by those who called themselves Christians is a reflection on what it means to be a Christian.
Get it?
In other words, would a Christian say "I am proud to be a Christian but there are things in Christian History that I am ashamed of?"
The obvious answer would be no, and in fact I would go so far to say that those actions actually distinguish those individuals from the associated group, whether American or Christian.
We would not say "I am ashamed that Christianity led to the deaths of people at the hands of Jim Jones and David Koresh."
Why? You ask great questions.
Because they were not Christian efforts, that's why. lol
You don't vilify the group based on the actions of individual members of a group. That is just a basic principle in discussion, as far as I am concerned. Jones and Koresh cannot be called representatives of Christian Doctrine and Practice, thus to associate them as examples of why one might be ashamed of what Christianity has done, or, our parallel with what Americans have done...is ludicrous.
We could get more specific with a more well known "representative" of Christianity, and speak about what many view as atrocities committed by the Catholic Church. Again, the same principle applies...show how those atrocities can be seen as mandated by the Word of God. Another example: show me where Christians are called to burn people at the stake for witchcraft. Do we dismiss the fact that there were in fact Christians in this group (Catholicism)? Of course not, but, we can distinguish between those that upheld Christian values, teachings, and practices, who would be better examples of being representative of Christianity.
It is a misconception which feeds a liberal attitude which vilifies two very good groups which by reason of their good works are defined by those works and...
...I take great offense at their being besmirched by those that have not given it any thought.
Don't misunderstand, I think it is an easy enough sentiment to find as a reasonable statement, but, let's keep the facts clear. When an American Soldier throws a grenade into the barracks of his fellow soldiers...do we attribute that as a basis for being ashamed of our history, our heritage, and the many great works which we have, at our own expense, endeavored in?
So I say without shame, without hesitancy I am proud to be an American...period.
And to a degree that cannot be measured nor put in adequate words, I am proud to be a Christian, though on this we put no period, because I am happy to tell you in detail why I am, lol.
Christ and America are not to be put on an equal level in our hearts, I hope all Christians understand that. But, I also hope that all Christians and Americans understand the Spirit and the spirit that stands behind both of these groups, without which...it is neither Christian nor "American."
God bless.
"I am proud to be an American, but there are some things in American History I am ashamed of as an American."
On the surface, this seems like a reasonable statement, but can I offer my opinion? lol
Thanks.
My opinion is just this: I am proud to be an American...period.
There is nothing about being an American that I am ashamed of.
Why? Glad you asked: because imposed in the above quoted sentiment is that things that perhaps have been performed by those who were Americans is not a reflection on what it means to be an American, any more than the things performed by those who called themselves Christians is a reflection on what it means to be a Christian.
Get it?
In other words, would a Christian say "I am proud to be a Christian but there are things in Christian History that I am ashamed of?"
The obvious answer would be no, and in fact I would go so far to say that those actions actually distinguish those individuals from the associated group, whether American or Christian.
We would not say "I am ashamed that Christianity led to the deaths of people at the hands of Jim Jones and David Koresh."
Why? You ask great questions.
Because they were not Christian efforts, that's why. lol
You don't vilify the group based on the actions of individual members of a group. That is just a basic principle in discussion, as far as I am concerned. Jones and Koresh cannot be called representatives of Christian Doctrine and Practice, thus to associate them as examples of why one might be ashamed of what Christianity has done, or, our parallel with what Americans have done...is ludicrous.
We could get more specific with a more well known "representative" of Christianity, and speak about what many view as atrocities committed by the Catholic Church. Again, the same principle applies...show how those atrocities can be seen as mandated by the Word of God. Another example: show me where Christians are called to burn people at the stake for witchcraft. Do we dismiss the fact that there were in fact Christians in this group (Catholicism)? Of course not, but, we can distinguish between those that upheld Christian values, teachings, and practices, who would be better examples of being representative of Christianity.
It is a misconception which feeds a liberal attitude which vilifies two very good groups which by reason of their good works are defined by those works and...
...I take great offense at their being besmirched by those that have not given it any thought.
Don't misunderstand, I think it is an easy enough sentiment to find as a reasonable statement, but, let's keep the facts clear. When an American Soldier throws a grenade into the barracks of his fellow soldiers...do we attribute that as a basis for being ashamed of our history, our heritage, and the many great works which we have, at our own expense, endeavored in?
So I say without shame, without hesitancy I am proud to be an American...period.
And to a degree that cannot be measured nor put in adequate words, I am proud to be a Christian, though on this we put no period, because I am happy to tell you in detail why I am, lol.
Christ and America are not to be put on an equal level in our hearts, I hope all Christians understand that. But, I also hope that all Christians and Americans understand the Spirit and the spirit that stands behind both of these groups, without which...it is neither Christian nor "American."
God bless.