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The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church
The church was established to serve the world with Christ-like love, not to rule the world. It is called to look like a corporate Jesus, dying on the cross for those who crucified him, not a religious version of Caesar. It is called to manifest the kingdom of the cross in contrast to the kingdom of the sword. Whenever the church has succeeded in gaining what most American evangelicals are now trying to get – political power – it has been disastrous both for the church and the culture. Whenever the church picks up the sword, it lays down the cross. The present activity of the religious right is destroying the heart and soul of the evangelical church and destroying its unique witness to the world. The church is to have a political voice, but we are to have it the way Jesus had it: by manifesting an alternative to the political, “power over,” way of doing life. We are to transform the world by being willing to suffer for others – exercising “power under,” not by getting our way in society – exercising “power over.”
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
296 people are currently reading
4051 people want to read
About the author
Gregory A. Boyd
94 books350 followersGregory A. Boyd is the founder and senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minn., and founder and president of ReKnew. He was a professor of theology at Bethel College (St. Paul, Minn.) for sixteen years where he continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor.
Greg is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (BA), Yale Divinity School (M.Div), and Princeton Theological Seminary (PhD). Greg is a national and international speaker at churches, colleges, conferences, and retreats, and has appeared on numerous radio and television shows. He has also authored and coauthored eighteen books prior to Present Perfect, including The Myth of a Christian Religion, The Myth of a Christian Nation, The Jesus Legend (with Paul Eddy), Seeing Is Believing, Repenting of Religion, and his international bestseller Letters from a Skeptic.
Greg is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (BA), Yale Divinity School (M.Div), and Princeton Theological Seminary (PhD). Greg is a national and international speaker at churches, colleges, conferences, and retreats, and has appeared on numerous radio and television shows. He has also authored and coauthored eighteen books prior to Present Perfect, including The Myth of a Christian Religion, The Myth of a Christian Nation, The Jesus Legend (with Paul Eddy), Seeing Is Believing, Repenting of Religion, and his international bestseller Letters from a Skeptic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
February 2, 2011
I think every American Christian should read this book. The American church really is becoming obsessed with politics and forgetting our real mandate is not to make a country into a Christian-run nation. The only part that I disagreed with was his last chapter on non-violence. I think that Romans 13 clearly demonstrates that government has the right to operate the sword, and for Christians to participate in this mandate does not violate Christ's command to turn the other cheek. But overall, I would highly recommend this book.
May 29, 2015
This really should be required reading for so many Christian evangelicals. I have many wonderful Christian friends who have become completely caught up in the idea of a Christian nation...God blessing our nation according to how much power the Christians wield, and how closely we are following his commands. Boyd pulls almost exclusively from Scripture to show that Jesus was apolitical...that Jesus showed in his life that the government in charge was superfluous to what the Christian should be doing. We as Christians should be striving for a "power under" approach...a humbling of ourselves to show Christian love to those around us. If we really want to reach people with the Gospel message, this is the way to do it. Great book!
December 6, 2008
Boyd’s book was a very interesting read for me. I’m not sure if I’ve ever had such a rollercoaster reading experience as I had reading this book. I have read books where I agree with some of it but not all of it. Only the intellectually insecure seem to discount everything someone says simply because s/he says something you disagree with. But with this book, I literally agreed with one sentence 100% and then disagreed with the very next sentence 100% and then agreed with the very next sentence 100%. So this book’s ability to cause a rollercoaster experience is the reason I give it 4 stars.
The book has its draw backs as far as the structure goes. Boyd’s writing style is smooth and conversational (being based on a series of sermons he preached at his church in '04), that’s not my gripe. It is one of the most repetitive books I’ve ever come across. Boyd constantly repeats himself, using the same language and illustrations throughout. It doesn’t border on overkill, it is overkill. I suspect this is on purpose though. Boyd is trying to “drive home" a point.
Boyd’s central thesis is that “a significant segment of American evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political ideology.” They are guilty because they (attempt to) “fuse the kingdom of God with the kingdom of the world.” These two kingdoms are radically different. But despite that, many American Christians think the “kingdom of God’ is about a particular form of government, political program, outlawing abortion, keeping gays from getting married, keeping “God” on our money and “under God” in the pledge, placing the ten commandments in court houses, and fighting for prayer at Friday night football games. Boyd says this is misguided. Any such fusing is idolatrous and has a negative effect on the message of Christianity. Boyd doesn’t argue that Christians should have no involvement in politics. He doesn’t argue that any particular political issue of the day is right or wrong. He just thinks that “finding the right political path” doesn’t really have “anything to do with advancing the kingdom of God.”
Boyd follows the basic insights of such historians of American religion as Marsden, Noll, Yoder &co. Boyd believes that the idea that America was a “Christian nation” is largely founded on myth, anachronisms, misunderstandings, and shallow exegesis of the Founders’ writings. The claims that are marshaled out as the usual suspects that supposedly prove the Founders’ deep and pious commitment to Christianity, are largely nebulous claims about ‘religion’ and ‘morals,’ along with deistic claims about ‘God.’ At times, they make claims explicitly stating they had no intention to found a uniquely “Christian nation.” But, such myths are typically seen as the grounds that underwrite oft repeated claims about “taking America back for God.”
Boyd finds something almost inherently evil and sinful in the kingdom of the sword (another name he gives “kingdom of the world”). He claims that Satan rules this kingdom (he lumps all governments under the one rubric “kingdom of the sword/world”) and that it is always seeking to gain “power over” (Anything? Everything?), while the “kingdom of God” is characterized by “power under.” One “wins” according to human tradition and common sense, the other “wins” in ways totally foreign to common assumptions of what “winning” looks like. Here, think something like, “the victory of the cross.” By human standards, a dead messiah hardly looks like a winning messiah.
We frequently think our ideas on political issues and interactions with the world are “righteous” because “fallen humans tend to identify their own groups as righteous and any group that opposes them as evil.” Due to our narcissism we think that whatever we think is right, automatically mean that God thinks it’s right. Hence Bush’s claim that we are “rid[ding] the world of this evil.” Of course the rest of the world sees us in highly different terms. A militant (or non) Muslim might get the idea that we are militants if they saw some of our church services where the American flag waves across a big screen, complete with jets doing a fly-by and the congregation singing “God bless America,” all wrapped up with a sermon on how we need to pray for our president and our “boys” who are out “keeping America safe from evil,” all with the providential blessing of God, of course. “Despite our widespread reputation, of course, we evangelical Christians often insist that we are loving; it’s just that the world is so sinful they can’t see it -- or so we tell ourselves.” And so George Bush: “I’m amazed that there’s so much misunderstanding of what our country is about that people would hate us…like most Americans, I just can’t believe it because I know how good we are.” We know what’s best for the world.
On top this, Boyd also finds that the church has a terrible history whenever they have been in charge. The early church wasn’t like the Constantinople church. When the church gained political power, terrible and scary results were brought about. Boyd finds the political-Christianity, always just a baptized version of “kingdom of the world” government, have engaged in racism, massacre, witch hunts, hypocrisy, tribalism, marginalizing, and all sorts of other thing incompatible with “the kingdom of God.” He cites Frederick Douglas’s reaction to the expression of “Christianity” he saw in his contemporaries. Thus Douglas: “Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognized the widest possible difference-so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other. I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of frauds, and the grossest of all libels."
All of this Boyd uses as support of his repeated claim that “No one has ever been called a heretic for not being loving enough.” He wonders why? Boyd sees true Christianity as primarily about our actions. Christ is primarily a moral exemplar. And of course this is just a function of his clear Emergent approach to Christianity. Boyd is described on the front cover as an “electrifying preacher.” And he frequently says such cool, relevant things like, “We need to have an outrageous love.” Rather than discuss some of the problems I see in some of what I said above (I did not mean the above as an endorsement of Boyd, though I agree with some of it), I’d like to springboard off Boyd’s last point to discuss what I find is the biggest error in his book.
Boyd claims the “kingdom of God” expands by us our “act[ing] like Jesus.” Christianity and the kingdom is not “primarily” about “confessing…magical truths.” God’s kingdom is “manifested and expanded through the faithfulness of his subjects, and so where people choose peace over violence and forgiveness over retaliation, acting in the interest of others rather than out of selfish interest, the kingdom of God is present.” We are to be “Christlike,” even “incarnating ourselves” into the world’s problems. True statements like, “our confidence isn’t to hang on power brokers of human history” is followed by claims that our confidence hangs on our being “committed to walking in the way of Jesus of Nazareth.” We “conquer by … making it our sole task , movement by moment, to manifest the unique righteousness of the kingdom of God.” “The kingdom of God…always looks like Jesus.” “What if we just did the kingdom?” “Doing the kingdom …transforms peoples hearts and therefore transforms society.” We are to love all people “with a Calvary love.” Since Jesus dies “for all people” then we are to “love all people” with “the same Calvary love that drove Jesus to the cross.” We love, we don’t judge. “If you want to judge someone else, you first have to be sinless.”
These are all direct quotes from Myth. And it is statements like this that make Boyd’s book dangerous. The subtitle of the book is, “How the Quest for Political Power is Destroying the Church.” But it is Boyd’s teaching that will destroy the church far more efficiently than misguided Christians exhibiting a zeal without knowledge. As should have been self-evident from the above, Boyd is teaching a works-based gospel. Confusing law and gospel. The kingdom expands and people are transformed by what we do, not by what they believe Christ did for them. Boyd critiques that historic understanding via an argument from pejorative: “magical truths.” Our “confidence, again, rests on what we do. We need to “do” the gospel. “Live” the gospel. None of this is good news! It’s quite scary, actually. If our good works and righteousness is how the kingdom advances, then, with a healthy doctrine of sin, I dare say there will be no advancement and there is and will never be a “kingdom of God” here on earth. No one will ever be transformed. The gospel, which is a proclamation of good news about something that was done for us, has been turned upside down. Can there be anything more dangerous to Christianity than a denial of the gospel?
I offer some extended criticism here:
http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2008/1...
The book has its draw backs as far as the structure goes. Boyd’s writing style is smooth and conversational (being based on a series of sermons he preached at his church in '04), that’s not my gripe. It is one of the most repetitive books I’ve ever come across. Boyd constantly repeats himself, using the same language and illustrations throughout. It doesn’t border on overkill, it is overkill. I suspect this is on purpose though. Boyd is trying to “drive home" a point.
Boyd’s central thesis is that “a significant segment of American evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political ideology.” They are guilty because they (attempt to) “fuse the kingdom of God with the kingdom of the world.” These two kingdoms are radically different. But despite that, many American Christians think the “kingdom of God’ is about a particular form of government, political program, outlawing abortion, keeping gays from getting married, keeping “God” on our money and “under God” in the pledge, placing the ten commandments in court houses, and fighting for prayer at Friday night football games. Boyd says this is misguided. Any such fusing is idolatrous and has a negative effect on the message of Christianity. Boyd doesn’t argue that Christians should have no involvement in politics. He doesn’t argue that any particular political issue of the day is right or wrong. He just thinks that “finding the right political path” doesn’t really have “anything to do with advancing the kingdom of God.”
Boyd follows the basic insights of such historians of American religion as Marsden, Noll, Yoder &co. Boyd believes that the idea that America was a “Christian nation” is largely founded on myth, anachronisms, misunderstandings, and shallow exegesis of the Founders’ writings. The claims that are marshaled out as the usual suspects that supposedly prove the Founders’ deep and pious commitment to Christianity, are largely nebulous claims about ‘religion’ and ‘morals,’ along with deistic claims about ‘God.’ At times, they make claims explicitly stating they had no intention to found a uniquely “Christian nation.” But, such myths are typically seen as the grounds that underwrite oft repeated claims about “taking America back for God.”
Boyd finds something almost inherently evil and sinful in the kingdom of the sword (another name he gives “kingdom of the world”). He claims that Satan rules this kingdom (he lumps all governments under the one rubric “kingdom of the sword/world”) and that it is always seeking to gain “power over” (Anything? Everything?), while the “kingdom of God” is characterized by “power under.” One “wins” according to human tradition and common sense, the other “wins” in ways totally foreign to common assumptions of what “winning” looks like. Here, think something like, “the victory of the cross.” By human standards, a dead messiah hardly looks like a winning messiah.
We frequently think our ideas on political issues and interactions with the world are “righteous” because “fallen humans tend to identify their own groups as righteous and any group that opposes them as evil.” Due to our narcissism we think that whatever we think is right, automatically mean that God thinks it’s right. Hence Bush’s claim that we are “rid[ding] the world of this evil.” Of course the rest of the world sees us in highly different terms. A militant (or non) Muslim might get the idea that we are militants if they saw some of our church services where the American flag waves across a big screen, complete with jets doing a fly-by and the congregation singing “God bless America,” all wrapped up with a sermon on how we need to pray for our president and our “boys” who are out “keeping America safe from evil,” all with the providential blessing of God, of course. “Despite our widespread reputation, of course, we evangelical Christians often insist that we are loving; it’s just that the world is so sinful they can’t see it -- or so we tell ourselves.” And so George Bush: “I’m amazed that there’s so much misunderstanding of what our country is about that people would hate us…like most Americans, I just can’t believe it because I know how good we are.” We know what’s best for the world.
On top this, Boyd also finds that the church has a terrible history whenever they have been in charge. The early church wasn’t like the Constantinople church. When the church gained political power, terrible and scary results were brought about. Boyd finds the political-Christianity, always just a baptized version of “kingdom of the world” government, have engaged in racism, massacre, witch hunts, hypocrisy, tribalism, marginalizing, and all sorts of other thing incompatible with “the kingdom of God.” He cites Frederick Douglas’s reaction to the expression of “Christianity” he saw in his contemporaries. Thus Douglas: “Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognized the widest possible difference-so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other. I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of frauds, and the grossest of all libels."
All of this Boyd uses as support of his repeated claim that “No one has ever been called a heretic for not being loving enough.” He wonders why? Boyd sees true Christianity as primarily about our actions. Christ is primarily a moral exemplar. And of course this is just a function of his clear Emergent approach to Christianity. Boyd is described on the front cover as an “electrifying preacher.” And he frequently says such cool, relevant things like, “We need to have an outrageous love.” Rather than discuss some of the problems I see in some of what I said above (I did not mean the above as an endorsement of Boyd, though I agree with some of it), I’d like to springboard off Boyd’s last point to discuss what I find is the biggest error in his book.
Boyd claims the “kingdom of God” expands by us our “act[ing] like Jesus.” Christianity and the kingdom is not “primarily” about “confessing…magical truths.” God’s kingdom is “manifested and expanded through the faithfulness of his subjects, and so where people choose peace over violence and forgiveness over retaliation, acting in the interest of others rather than out of selfish interest, the kingdom of God is present.” We are to be “Christlike,” even “incarnating ourselves” into the world’s problems. True statements like, “our confidence isn’t to hang on power brokers of human history” is followed by claims that our confidence hangs on our being “committed to walking in the way of Jesus of Nazareth.” We “conquer by … making it our sole task , movement by moment, to manifest the unique righteousness of the kingdom of God.” “The kingdom of God…always looks like Jesus.” “What if we just did the kingdom?” “Doing the kingdom …transforms peoples hearts and therefore transforms society.” We are to love all people “with a Calvary love.” Since Jesus dies “for all people” then we are to “love all people” with “the same Calvary love that drove Jesus to the cross.” We love, we don’t judge. “If you want to judge someone else, you first have to be sinless.”
These are all direct quotes from Myth. And it is statements like this that make Boyd’s book dangerous. The subtitle of the book is, “How the Quest for Political Power is Destroying the Church.” But it is Boyd’s teaching that will destroy the church far more efficiently than misguided Christians exhibiting a zeal without knowledge. As should have been self-evident from the above, Boyd is teaching a works-based gospel. Confusing law and gospel. The kingdom expands and people are transformed by what we do, not by what they believe Christ did for them. Boyd critiques that historic understanding via an argument from pejorative: “magical truths.” Our “confidence, again, rests on what we do. We need to “do” the gospel. “Live” the gospel. None of this is good news! It’s quite scary, actually. If our good works and righteousness is how the kingdom advances, then, with a healthy doctrine of sin, I dare say there will be no advancement and there is and will never be a “kingdom of God” here on earth. No one will ever be transformed. The gospel, which is a proclamation of good news about something that was done for us, has been turned upside down. Can there be anything more dangerous to Christianity than a denial of the gospel?
I offer some extended criticism here:
http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2008/1...
April 4, 2015
How I wish I could give a copy of this book to every politician, every religious leader, and everyone who believes that, due to their Christianity, it's their job to judge anyone different from them and treat these "others" with disdain, violence, hatred.
Few books have moved me as this one has. The author advocates for a realistic view of our nation and its founding, including the dark places glossed over by many who profess Christianity. He advocates further for individuals and congregations to actually live what Jesus taught: radical love, not just for those we like or who are like us, but for all of our fellow travelers on this planet.
"Jesus' weapon was not a sword, but a towel." That's my favorite quote from the book. Jesus came as a servant. Jesus didn't hang with the "right" people; he accepted those whom the society of that day considered outcasts. He welcomed them with love, he ate with them, he laughed with them, he walked among them.
In our comfortable little lives (and I'm part of the "our") we don't want to go out and get our hands dirty. We plunk a check into a plate "for the poor", and pretend that it is enough, that we have fulfilled our duty. I believe, with the author, that following Jesus requires more - more sacrifice, more willingness, and certainly, more LOVE.
When people look at the shambles of what they see as "The Christian Church" in our country, they see something very ugly, self-righteous, violent. I want no part of that, either, as a Christian. I want to have that radical love and humility, that faith that overcomes fear.
It looks like a hard undertaking - but I can think of no better.
Few books have moved me as this one has. The author advocates for a realistic view of our nation and its founding, including the dark places glossed over by many who profess Christianity. He advocates further for individuals and congregations to actually live what Jesus taught: radical love, not just for those we like or who are like us, but for all of our fellow travelers on this planet.
"Jesus' weapon was not a sword, but a towel." That's my favorite quote from the book. Jesus came as a servant. Jesus didn't hang with the "right" people; he accepted those whom the society of that day considered outcasts. He welcomed them with love, he ate with them, he laughed with them, he walked among them.
In our comfortable little lives (and I'm part of the "our") we don't want to go out and get our hands dirty. We plunk a check into a plate "for the poor", and pretend that it is enough, that we have fulfilled our duty. I believe, with the author, that following Jesus requires more - more sacrifice, more willingness, and certainly, more LOVE.
When people look at the shambles of what they see as "The Christian Church" in our country, they see something very ugly, self-righteous, violent. I want no part of that, either, as a Christian. I want to have that radical love and humility, that faith that overcomes fear.
It looks like a hard undertaking - but I can think of no better.
September 11, 2023
Amazing. Boyd might be a lib, but he takes Scripture more seriously than his inerrantist fundamentalist antagonists.
An articulate defense of anti-nationalist, sacrificial, cruciform Christianity.
An articulate defense of anti-nationalist, sacrificial, cruciform Christianity.
September 11, 2011
This book is certainly over due. This is a book all Christians in America must read. As Boyd writes Christians in American have become to closely tied to the American government and as a result the church in America has also been tied with the government, which it never should be. America is a nation with Christians, not a Christian nation. Boyd writes about the dangers of the myth Christians live by in believing America is a Christian nation. His argument is sound and his points are well defended. He isn't saying America is a "bad" nation, but that this nation has and never will be a nation "under God." He describes the differences of the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world, and they are extremely different. How the governments of this world rule with the "power over" people, but the kingdom of God rules with the "power under" people. Jesus did not come into this world to be served, but to serve it. Jesus is the example we should be following in everything that we do and think. Boyd also speaks to Christians judging sinners, being moral guardians, and military service. A must read for anyone who believes they are a member of God's kingdom and a citizen of Heaven.
November 27, 2023
this should be required reading for every christian.
that’s a bold statement. i know. but there’s polarization among christians, and there’s polarization dividing christians and unbelievers. why? boyd offers an explanation: christianity has become so thoroughly mixed with the political right that unbelievers (particularly, liberals), won’t touch christianity because they disagree with the republican rhetoric.
this is a problem, and this is not okay.
so how do we begin to resolve this?
well, jesus was not affiliated with a political party, no matter how much his ideals might (or might not) align with one over another. in fact, jesus was particularly careful not to get involved with the violently polarized politics of his day, refusing to engage on that level. though he disagreed with the government leaders & laws on so many points, he did not come to lead a political revolution against them.
that, i think, is the beginning.
if we are christian, we’re supposed to model ourselves after jesus before anything. not how we perceive jesus would want us to live if he just saw what was going on today, but modeling ourselves after how he lived. modeling ourselves after how he loved.
how do we do this on a practical level? aren’t we supposed to take america back for god? wouldn’t that be god’s ideal?
no, boyd says.
the kingdom of god is distinctly different from the kingdom of the world. we are not called to make the kingdom of the world a more godly version of itself. we are called to live out the kingdom of god, of love, of mercy. and this is a wildly different thing.
through several chapters filled with scripture and a gentle narrative voice, boyd calls christians back to what we should’ve been prioritizing all along: bringing god’s kingdom about on earth, not through fiercely lobbying or confusing christianity with politics, but through serving the sinners, through nonviolence, and through a gentle, completely christ-centered model of evangelism.
some of the material in this book is blatantly offensive. boyd clearly states that he believes this: “a significant segment of american evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry.” but this tone is not the precedent for the rest of the book. boyd, while honest, and often critical, is never hateful, never attacking. always, always, he brings the reader back to the model of jesus.
boyd doesn’t tell the reader who to vote for, or what should (and shouldn’t) be legalized. he doesn’t turn this book into liberal rhetoric. actually, he doesn’t publicize what his own political party is. because that’s not the point. the point is looking like jesus, in everything we say, and do, and are. the point is loving & serving all people, everyone, no matter who they are and what they’ve done. the point is coming back to the point of christianity, dropping the hypocrisy and pride and realizing that we are all sinners, in need of forgiveness, in need of grace.
and that, i think, is a message america desperately needs to hear.
that’s a bold statement. i know. but there’s polarization among christians, and there’s polarization dividing christians and unbelievers. why? boyd offers an explanation: christianity has become so thoroughly mixed with the political right that unbelievers (particularly, liberals), won’t touch christianity because they disagree with the republican rhetoric.
this is a problem, and this is not okay.
so how do we begin to resolve this?
well, jesus was not affiliated with a political party, no matter how much his ideals might (or might not) align with one over another. in fact, jesus was particularly careful not to get involved with the violently polarized politics of his day, refusing to engage on that level. though he disagreed with the government leaders & laws on so many points, he did not come to lead a political revolution against them.
that, i think, is the beginning.
if we are christian, we’re supposed to model ourselves after jesus before anything. not how we perceive jesus would want us to live if he just saw what was going on today, but modeling ourselves after how he lived. modeling ourselves after how he loved.
how do we do this on a practical level? aren’t we supposed to take america back for god? wouldn’t that be god’s ideal?
no, boyd says.
the kingdom of god is distinctly different from the kingdom of the world. we are not called to make the kingdom of the world a more godly version of itself. we are called to live out the kingdom of god, of love, of mercy. and this is a wildly different thing.
through several chapters filled with scripture and a gentle narrative voice, boyd calls christians back to what we should’ve been prioritizing all along: bringing god’s kingdom about on earth, not through fiercely lobbying or confusing christianity with politics, but through serving the sinners, through nonviolence, and through a gentle, completely christ-centered model of evangelism.
some of the material in this book is blatantly offensive. boyd clearly states that he believes this: “a significant segment of american evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry.” but this tone is not the precedent for the rest of the book. boyd, while honest, and often critical, is never hateful, never attacking. always, always, he brings the reader back to the model of jesus.
boyd doesn’t tell the reader who to vote for, or what should (and shouldn’t) be legalized. he doesn’t turn this book into liberal rhetoric. actually, he doesn’t publicize what his own political party is. because that’s not the point. the point is looking like jesus, in everything we say, and do, and are. the point is loving & serving all people, everyone, no matter who they are and what they’ve done. the point is coming back to the point of christianity, dropping the hypocrisy and pride and realizing that we are all sinners, in need of forgiveness, in need of grace.
and that, i think, is a message america desperately needs to hear.
February 20, 2017
An important book for every Christian to read, especially in this day and age.
I felt the book was well researched and Biblically based. It gave me hope because so much of what it says confirms how I feel about the separation that Christians should have between their faith and their politics. It also challenged me on other aspects, like serving in the military and the death penalty.
I strongly recommend this book to Christians and non Christians alike.
I felt the book was well researched and Biblically based. It gave me hope because so much of what it says confirms how I feel about the separation that Christians should have between their faith and their politics. It also challenged me on other aspects, like serving in the military and the death penalty.
I strongly recommend this book to Christians and non Christians alike.
August 18, 2020
I liked the idea of Boyd’s book when it was first released about 15 years ago, although at that time I had a much more simplistic view of the issues involved. I never got round to reading it then, but recently I’ve become interested in the historical development of ideas around freedom of conscience and the separation of church and state (and of the influence of Christian principles on those ideas), so I thought I should acquaint myself with the relevant literature.
I basically agree with Boyd’s premise, and he movingly articulates how the way of Jesus is not of this world. I believe passionately, as Boyd does, that the idea of a Christian state is deeply antithetical to the entire nature of the Gospel. However, in many places I found Boyd to be inarticulate and meandering, resulting in a book which will fail to persuade anyone who doesn’t already agree with him. He rambles a bit and jumps confusingly between very different topics, and he supports his points with vague arguments (i.e., “It’s all about love, man!”) rather than articulating specific principles.
Boyd says that if a pastor makes a statement in support of a war, then that pastor is falling victim to a Constantinian mindset. Well, in my opinion, not necessarily – unless that pastor explicitly says that the war should be prosecuted by the church in support of the church’s agenda. If the same pastor were to argue against a nation going to war based on Christian principles, it’s possible that this could also be a problem of a Constantinian mindset. Supporting religious war, or on the other hand, arguing that governments should govern according to the Sermon on the Mount (and have their soldiers turn the other cheek, for example), are flipsides of the same error – namely, an inability to conceptualize separate, appropriate spheres for government and church.
It’s not a contradiction for a Christian to believe, for example, that (1) the US government was right to participate in World War 2, and (2) that Christians should not promote war to advance the church’s agenda. It’s not hypocrisy for a Christian to believe simultaneously that (1) he himself should turn the other cheek and seek to change violent people by laying his life down for them and having “power under” them, in Boyd’s words, and (2) that it is also appropriate for governments to utilize police and military forces to protect their citizens from violent people. The only thing required to hold these things in tension is a belief that the government and the church are separate entities.
However, Boyd muddles all of those issues, and his lack of precision and nuance really weakens his arguments. His arguments are also colored by his unusual theological beliefs (namely open theism and his beliefs on spiritual warfare), and this also unnecessarily weakens his arguments. I think that a belief in human sin and Satan’s general influence on the world is enough for Christians to have a healthy degree of skepticism about the world and about government. But Boyd goes beyond this and seems to believe that secular government in any form is necessarily under the total control of Satan. I’m as pessimistic about government as anyone in the world, but even I found Boyd’s stance here to be exaggerated. His view will lead to the mistake of Christian disengagement with culture, and it also neglects Scriptural teaching that government is a means of grace, given by God to promote peace and flourishing. In a word, his perspective on government is unbalanced.
Overall, I appreciate where Boyd’s heart is, but this isn’t really the powerful manifesto on the separation of church and state that I was hoping for.
I basically agree with Boyd’s premise, and he movingly articulates how the way of Jesus is not of this world. I believe passionately, as Boyd does, that the idea of a Christian state is deeply antithetical to the entire nature of the Gospel. However, in many places I found Boyd to be inarticulate and meandering, resulting in a book which will fail to persuade anyone who doesn’t already agree with him. He rambles a bit and jumps confusingly between very different topics, and he supports his points with vague arguments (i.e., “It’s all about love, man!”) rather than articulating specific principles.
Boyd says that if a pastor makes a statement in support of a war, then that pastor is falling victim to a Constantinian mindset. Well, in my opinion, not necessarily – unless that pastor explicitly says that the war should be prosecuted by the church in support of the church’s agenda. If the same pastor were to argue against a nation going to war based on Christian principles, it’s possible that this could also be a problem of a Constantinian mindset. Supporting religious war, or on the other hand, arguing that governments should govern according to the Sermon on the Mount (and have their soldiers turn the other cheek, for example), are flipsides of the same error – namely, an inability to conceptualize separate, appropriate spheres for government and church.
It’s not a contradiction for a Christian to believe, for example, that (1) the US government was right to participate in World War 2, and (2) that Christians should not promote war to advance the church’s agenda. It’s not hypocrisy for a Christian to believe simultaneously that (1) he himself should turn the other cheek and seek to change violent people by laying his life down for them and having “power under” them, in Boyd’s words, and (2) that it is also appropriate for governments to utilize police and military forces to protect their citizens from violent people. The only thing required to hold these things in tension is a belief that the government and the church are separate entities.
However, Boyd muddles all of those issues, and his lack of precision and nuance really weakens his arguments. His arguments are also colored by his unusual theological beliefs (namely open theism and his beliefs on spiritual warfare), and this also unnecessarily weakens his arguments. I think that a belief in human sin and Satan’s general influence on the world is enough for Christians to have a healthy degree of skepticism about the world and about government. But Boyd goes beyond this and seems to believe that secular government in any form is necessarily under the total control of Satan. I’m as pessimistic about government as anyone in the world, but even I found Boyd’s stance here to be exaggerated. His view will lead to the mistake of Christian disengagement with culture, and it also neglects Scriptural teaching that government is a means of grace, given by God to promote peace and flourishing. In a word, his perspective on government is unbalanced.
Overall, I appreciate where Boyd’s heart is, but this isn’t really the powerful manifesto on the separation of church and state that I was hoping for.
October 20, 2016
A controversial book that argues for a severe distinction between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world, to the point that the author disputes Christians serving in the military. Whatever side of the "American as Christian nation" question you may fall, Boyd helpfully unpacks five significant harms done by the close association of these kingdoms and passionately and scripturally argues that Christians must trust only in the "power under" demonstrated by Christ and his cross, rejecting the "power over" means of the kingdoms of this world.
This is an energetic read and one that will give you pause about your various allegiances and how they interrelate. In the end, I don't find his strict Anabaptist/Pacifist stance to be tenable, for both theological and practical reasons. However, I respect his commitment to living in the Way of Jesus and his admission that, were his family's life in danger, he could not say that he would never resort to violence for their defense.
One thing I most appreciated was his lament that when we readily accept the use of violence in "just causes," we fail to experience the love of enemies Jesus commanded (and we too quickly make enemies out of people) and we also greatly diminish our capacity to find creative, non-violent, non-coercive solutions that forge peace, establish justice, or promote Christian values.
This is an energetic read and one that will give you pause about your various allegiances and how they interrelate. In the end, I don't find his strict Anabaptist/Pacifist stance to be tenable, for both theological and practical reasons. However, I respect his commitment to living in the Way of Jesus and his admission that, were his family's life in danger, he could not say that he would never resort to violence for their defense.
One thing I most appreciated was his lament that when we readily accept the use of violence in "just causes," we fail to experience the love of enemies Jesus commanded (and we too quickly make enemies out of people) and we also greatly diminish our capacity to find creative, non-violent, non-coercive solutions that forge peace, establish justice, or promote Christian values.
July 22, 2021
This was a sensitive topic when Boyd published this book in the wake of 9/11 and the heat of the Iraq War. The topic was no less tense while Jesus Saves banners waved in front of a breached Capitol building last month.
Logical, courageous, and supported by Jesus' teachings, Boyd presents a clear argument for what it means for Christ followers to live in a country of this world, but not subscribe to this world's ways of handling problems. Jesus advocated not "power over", but "power under", Boyd likes to say.
This is not at all intended to be a history book; he only briefly mentions examples of America not being "Christian" in the past. I'm sure you can find many such records of atrocities America has committed while being "Christian", but that is beside the point. Nations clearly can't be following the Sermon on the Mount while wielding violent power over others.
I felt that the author did well presenting his case against "Christian Nationalism" or whatever you want to call the belief that Christians should try to fix the world’s problems through politics. He did it in a kind way, and an understandable way. If you should approach this with humility, you may be forced to dismantle your entire way of thinking about a Christian's role in society.
Logical, courageous, and supported by Jesus' teachings, Boyd presents a clear argument for what it means for Christ followers to live in a country of this world, but not subscribe to this world's ways of handling problems. Jesus advocated not "power over", but "power under", Boyd likes to say.
This is not at all intended to be a history book; he only briefly mentions examples of America not being "Christian" in the past. I'm sure you can find many such records of atrocities America has committed while being "Christian", but that is beside the point. Nations clearly can't be following the Sermon on the Mount while wielding violent power over others.
I felt that the author did well presenting his case against "Christian Nationalism" or whatever you want to call the belief that Christians should try to fix the world’s problems through politics. He did it in a kind way, and an understandable way. If you should approach this with humility, you may be forced to dismantle your entire way of thinking about a Christian's role in society.
August 11, 2008
Boyd attacks the idea that to be a Christian is to be affiliated with a specific political party. He shows that a Christian's commitment is to the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of the world. So much wrong happens when people assume that a specific kingdom of the world (America for example), is favored by God. He spends a lot of time going through the damage that has been done by equating a earthly nation with God's kingdom, specifically the damage done by assuming America is a Christian nation. There is no such thing as a Christian nation. This book gets right to the point, is very easy to read, and is challenging. I recommend it to any Christian, but especially to those fed up with the constant political rhetoric coming from many churches.
May 9, 2022
Miért nem mossa meg Semjén Zsolt Gyurcsány Ferenc lábát? Erről és másról is szól ez a recenzió:
https://azonnali.hu/cikk/20220508_mie...
Jó olvasást kívánok.
https://azonnali.hu/cikk/20220508_mie...
Jó olvasást kívánok.
July 3, 2023
Another outstanding book by Gregory A. Boyd! I recommend it to every Christian!
February 17, 2024
So this book was actually pretty good… a lot of Hauerwas and John H Yoder. I’d actually recommend this book as a good intro “kingdom thinking” for evangelical minded people
November 30, 2017
4.5/5 If you are a pastor in America today, you should read this book. If you are a Christian who is at all interested in how your faith and your citizenship should interact, you should read this book. I happen to fit both categories, and I have nine pages of powerful quotes that I took down to reflect on from its pages. The Myth of a Christian Nation is even more relevant and essential today than it was when Boyd wrote it in 2005.
In short, Boyd argues that attempting to meld Church and State is harmful for both institutions. He suggests that the Kingdom of God is meant to operate totally differently from the Kingdom of the World--specifically, without the coercive element.
It will be very easy for those who are uncomfortable with Gregory Boyd's arguments to dismiss this book based on a disagreement with Boyd on a particular point. After all, didn't he write in support of Open Theology? Doesn't he quote from some liberal Catholic theologian? What? He dismisses Augustine's just war doctrine with a couple sentences?!
Not so fast. Take a look at the main points he is presenting in this book, and ask yourself whether there is BIBLICAL support for what he is saying. I believe that most of the time, the answer is yes. It is always uncomfortable to be confronted with the ways we have culturally accommodated at the expense of our faith. However, it is these uncomfortable messages that most need to be heard.
There were things that I myself didn't like about this book. In the mechanics department, I admit that about the 12th time he used the phrase "to the contrary" when he meant "on the contrary" I was ready to take out my red pen. (But I was reading an interlibrary loan book so I refrained.)
On more substantive issues, there were things I disagreed with. I find his affirmation of the expansion of state hate speech laws unsettling, as well as inconsistent with the overall theme of the book that coercion doesn't change hearts, only behavior. A few times I thought he was employing hyperbole to disadvantage, such as when he suggested that the presence of Christian slogans and mottoes on coins and in the pledge couldn't possible bring anyone to a meaningful faith. Why spoil a good point with overstatement?
That being said, there's just too much good content here to dismiss it. I'm a big fan of C.S. Lewis, but a few things he said I disagree with. I love Martin Luther, but there are a number of things he said that I disagree with. And this book is not inerrant scripture, but it is just the thing that the American church needs today to return from its focus on nationalism, militarism, and coercion to the calling and culture that Jesus outlined for his Church in the New Testament.
Thank you Gregory Boyd for having the courage to say it.
In short, Boyd argues that attempting to meld Church and State is harmful for both institutions. He suggests that the Kingdom of God is meant to operate totally differently from the Kingdom of the World--specifically, without the coercive element.
It will be very easy for those who are uncomfortable with Gregory Boyd's arguments to dismiss this book based on a disagreement with Boyd on a particular point. After all, didn't he write in support of Open Theology? Doesn't he quote from some liberal Catholic theologian? What? He dismisses Augustine's just war doctrine with a couple sentences?!
Not so fast. Take a look at the main points he is presenting in this book, and ask yourself whether there is BIBLICAL support for what he is saying. I believe that most of the time, the answer is yes. It is always uncomfortable to be confronted with the ways we have culturally accommodated at the expense of our faith. However, it is these uncomfortable messages that most need to be heard.
There were things that I myself didn't like about this book. In the mechanics department, I admit that about the 12th time he used the phrase "to the contrary" when he meant "on the contrary" I was ready to take out my red pen. (But I was reading an interlibrary loan book so I refrained.)
On more substantive issues, there were things I disagreed with. I find his affirmation of the expansion of state hate speech laws unsettling, as well as inconsistent with the overall theme of the book that coercion doesn't change hearts, only behavior. A few times I thought he was employing hyperbole to disadvantage, such as when he suggested that the presence of Christian slogans and mottoes on coins and in the pledge couldn't possible bring anyone to a meaningful faith. Why spoil a good point with overstatement?
That being said, there's just too much good content here to dismiss it. I'm a big fan of C.S. Lewis, but a few things he said I disagree with. I love Martin Luther, but there are a number of things he said that I disagree with. And this book is not inerrant scripture, but it is just the thing that the American church needs today to return from its focus on nationalism, militarism, and coercion to the calling and culture that Jesus outlined for his Church in the New Testament.
Thank you Gregory Boyd for having the courage to say it.
August 1, 2021
Wow! This is one of the most incredible books I have ever read. Aside from the Bible itself, there has been no other book that has caused more arguments and division within my circle of Christian friends than this one. When I informed a few of my friends that I was beginning to read this book, the author, the book, and even I was criticized to some extent.
The American version of the Christian faith is so intertwined with politics, patriotism, and military pride that any mention of separating them illicits anger from those who see them as one. Boyd does a great job of deconstructing Americanized Christianity and pointing us back to kingdom "power under" Christian living rather than worldy "power over" civic religion that is so prevalant in American Christianity. Patriotism and national fervor is an idol in America and unfortunately many evangelical Christians in America have bowed down at it's altar, owing their allegiance to a flag rather than Christ, and justifying violence and war for the sake of preserving a worldy kingdom.
The bottom line is this: Jesus did not come to revolutionize some form of government or impose a theocratic policy upon a society. He came to save people from eternal damnation and reconcile us back to a holy God. And, the only way this message can be conveyed to a hurting society is to love them and serve them, including those who we may deem our political and national enemies. We are not to legislate morality, or force our ways upon society through politics and power. Instead, we are to extend grace and show through our lives the beauty and love of Christ, both outwardly and verbally.
This is a book I highly recommend if you are able to look at it objectively outside of the context of Americanized Christianity, void of politics and power. It will shake your world and quash any previously conceived notions of what you have been fed from the pulpits of Americanized Christianity. Similar to the book, "Radical" by David Platt, I dare any American Christian to read this. It will truly change your thinking... at the cost of perhaps losing a few friends in the process.
The American version of the Christian faith is so intertwined with politics, patriotism, and military pride that any mention of separating them illicits anger from those who see them as one. Boyd does a great job of deconstructing Americanized Christianity and pointing us back to kingdom "power under" Christian living rather than worldy "power over" civic religion that is so prevalant in American Christianity. Patriotism and national fervor is an idol in America and unfortunately many evangelical Christians in America have bowed down at it's altar, owing their allegiance to a flag rather than Christ, and justifying violence and war for the sake of preserving a worldy kingdom.
The bottom line is this: Jesus did not come to revolutionize some form of government or impose a theocratic policy upon a society. He came to save people from eternal damnation and reconcile us back to a holy God. And, the only way this message can be conveyed to a hurting society is to love them and serve them, including those who we may deem our political and national enemies. We are not to legislate morality, or force our ways upon society through politics and power. Instead, we are to extend grace and show through our lives the beauty and love of Christ, both outwardly and verbally.
This is a book I highly recommend if you are able to look at it objectively outside of the context of Americanized Christianity, void of politics and power. It will shake your world and quash any previously conceived notions of what you have been fed from the pulpits of Americanized Christianity. Similar to the book, "Radical" by David Platt, I dare any American Christian to read this. It will truly change your thinking... at the cost of perhaps losing a few friends in the process.
October 29, 2007
I am hardly objective since I attend Boyd's church. This was a great read and the sermon series it was based on articulated many thoughts I have been wrestling with over the past 3-4 years. Boyd offers a dynamic vision of the "kingdom of god" that calls believers to emulate Christ's self-sacrificial love and service to society rather than attempting to police it morally by seeking and wielding political power. Boyd brilliantly deconstructs the myth, still believed by way too many in this country, that the U.S., or any nation-state can ever be "Christian".
December 12, 2009
I have a headache and don't feel like writing a review, so I'll keep it short. This book is absolutely amazing. For me, I'd say it's life-changing. This book points out what a mistake it is to mix true Christianity up with politics. There were points in the book that were a bit repetitive, but the message was so incredible. Why haven't I heard these things before? No matter how good any govt. may be, it is no substitute for the kingdom of Heaven. Ugh, I can't do this book justice right now. Read it.
January 14, 2016
Boyd tackles one of the major dominant and still emerging obstacles to Christian faith in the US which is nationalism and more precisely the power-over authority of the "principalities and powers." This book is a must read for opening up thoughts and dialogue about what it is to be a part of God's kingdom and how that differs from the world at-large. Be careful, this book is revolutionary!
January 12, 2009
pretty confused, actually
September 19, 2017
Far and away the most concise, level-headed, and logical argument for the separation of church and state I have ever read. Gregory Boyd takes aim at the idolatry of nationalism and how it has crippled the Church's ability to an effective witness to the culture and the world. The quest for politic power and justification for violence against America's enemies has long been a blind spot in the ethics of Christianity since it became Rome's official religion in 312 A.D.
The Myth of a Christian Nation excels at its systematic takedown of the nationalistic jargon associated with mainstream evangelical Christianity like "We need to take the country back for God!" Walking through the history of the United States, Boyd shows that at no point was the U.S. ever a "Christian Nation" and that much of our romantic views of an idealized past are nothing short of white-washed mythology. He also shows how using faith to justify being the "morality police" only results in a more alienated and disillusioned culture that harms both the church and the culture.
However, this is not a book bashing Christianity. Boyd is merely pointing out the gaps of logic and inconsistencies many Christians fall into when they confuse being a good Christ follower with being a good American citizen. He answers so many questions (like "Should Christian be a part of the military?" and "What about self defense?") that this book should be an inexhaustible resource for those late-night conversations fueled by practical theological application and a couple of beers.
Nearly every page of my copy has multiple passages highlighted. Packed full of Biblical references and verse annotations, I cannot recommend this book enough - for Christians and nonChristians, alike. This book may leave you angry, conflicted, convicted, or encouraged, but it definitely won't leave you unchallenged. This book seriously has the potential to change the way you see the world and your faith.
The Myth of a Christian Nation excels at its systematic takedown of the nationalistic jargon associated with mainstream evangelical Christianity like "We need to take the country back for God!" Walking through the history of the United States, Boyd shows that at no point was the U.S. ever a "Christian Nation" and that much of our romantic views of an idealized past are nothing short of white-washed mythology. He also shows how using faith to justify being the "morality police" only results in a more alienated and disillusioned culture that harms both the church and the culture.
However, this is not a book bashing Christianity. Boyd is merely pointing out the gaps of logic and inconsistencies many Christians fall into when they confuse being a good Christ follower with being a good American citizen. He answers so many questions (like "Should Christian be a part of the military?" and "What about self defense?") that this book should be an inexhaustible resource for those late-night conversations fueled by practical theological application and a couple of beers.
Nearly every page of my copy has multiple passages highlighted. Packed full of Biblical references and verse annotations, I cannot recommend this book enough - for Christians and nonChristians, alike. This book may leave you angry, conflicted, convicted, or encouraged, but it definitely won't leave you unchallenged. This book seriously has the potential to change the way you see the world and your faith.
August 16, 2020
The Kingdom of God always looks like Jesus, and the clearest picture we have of Jesus is the cross.
This may seem like pretty basic Biblical ethics, but when we look at our politics through this lens, we see that the quest for political power by the Christian community is destined to fail.
Boyd breaks down his argument in several key ideas, but the basic premise is that the Kingdom of the world (the government, in this book usually specifically the US government) uses “power over” to coercively enforce order and law, even laws we would consider “good”. This system of governing, while ultimately legitimized by God to maintain order, is not ideal and is in fact diametrically opposed to the “power under” system of self-sacrificial love displayed by Jesus which is to be replicated by Christians.
A running theme is that this love doesn’t always look effective, it may look ridiculous even. How can we be so irresponsible to not exercise political power to enforce justice? How can Christians stand by and allow *insert political issue* to continue and not vote evil out of existence? Boyd counters by pointing out that Jesus could have used political force to control the Roman government and called legions of angels to destroy his political enemies. In fact, this was one of the temptations offered by Satan, who holds dominion over the governments of the world. No, instead Jesus did something that looked ridiculous and ineffective: he allowed the government to murder him in the ultimate act of love.
Self-sacrifice is the focus, and while politics are not incompatible with Christianity (things can be “good”, like democracy, and not specifically ordained by God), our Kingdom and its way of solving problems is very different from the worlds. We are not limited to the nuanced and coercive political game set before us by party politics.
Overall this book challenged me to rethink the questions I want to answer. Our Kingdom does not play by the same rules, and Boyd shows through countless examples the power of self-sacrifice and service to those around us. Highly recommend!
This may seem like pretty basic Biblical ethics, but when we look at our politics through this lens, we see that the quest for political power by the Christian community is destined to fail.
Boyd breaks down his argument in several key ideas, but the basic premise is that the Kingdom of the world (the government, in this book usually specifically the US government) uses “power over” to coercively enforce order and law, even laws we would consider “good”. This system of governing, while ultimately legitimized by God to maintain order, is not ideal and is in fact diametrically opposed to the “power under” system of self-sacrificial love displayed by Jesus which is to be replicated by Christians.
A running theme is that this love doesn’t always look effective, it may look ridiculous even. How can we be so irresponsible to not exercise political power to enforce justice? How can Christians stand by and allow *insert political issue* to continue and not vote evil out of existence? Boyd counters by pointing out that Jesus could have used political force to control the Roman government and called legions of angels to destroy his political enemies. In fact, this was one of the temptations offered by Satan, who holds dominion over the governments of the world. No, instead Jesus did something that looked ridiculous and ineffective: he allowed the government to murder him in the ultimate act of love.
Self-sacrifice is the focus, and while politics are not incompatible with Christianity (things can be “good”, like democracy, and not specifically ordained by God), our Kingdom and its way of solving problems is very different from the worlds. We are not limited to the nuanced and coercive political game set before us by party politics.
Overall this book challenged me to rethink the questions I want to answer. Our Kingdom does not play by the same rules, and Boyd shows through countless examples the power of self-sacrifice and service to those around us. Highly recommend!
November 16, 2020
I wish I would have read this back in 2004 when it came out. I think it was certainly ahead of its time in calling out nationalistic & political idolatry in the American evangelical church. Followers of Christ are to display their beliefs through radical love, not power and legislation. He does several times make the case that Christians can and do support different sides of the political spectrum but we should be careful to never believe that our side is the “Christian” side. The one issue I take however is that you could potentially interpret from this book that Christians need not involve themselves at all in politics and should influence the world on an individual “heart change” basis and through prayer only.
I do think considering these issues with humility is always important but lately in the climate of 2020 I also have come to see how voting and government, while it may not influence my suburban privileged lifestyle in any major way, impact so many people living on the edges of society. One way I can live out my faith is by staying informed and supporting governmental policy that supports structural change for the poor and disenfranchised. This is a way of loving my neighbor- “institutional neighborliness” as I’ve heard it phrased before.
I’m curious if the author has changed any of these views since 2004 and I do think it was a fascinating read- good for anyone involved in evangelical churches lately.
I do think considering these issues with humility is always important but lately in the climate of 2020 I also have come to see how voting and government, while it may not influence my suburban privileged lifestyle in any major way, impact so many people living on the edges of society. One way I can live out my faith is by staying informed and supporting governmental policy that supports structural change for the poor and disenfranchised. This is a way of loving my neighbor- “institutional neighborliness” as I’ve heard it phrased before.
I’m curious if the author has changed any of these views since 2004 and I do think it was a fascinating read- good for anyone involved in evangelical churches lately.
April 8, 2022
I enjoyed this look at the Christian church in America today, the first few chapters felt slow for me. Once Boyd started to talk about America and the desire to win this country for God I was in! I liked how he connected his ideas to the real world with examples of how this problem is playing out and also what should be done to resolve this issue. I didn’t agree with some of Boyd’s theology. Overall I really liked his thesis and how he explained his points. This is a book that I will continue to think about and will recommend to friends.
January 21, 2024
Mr. Boyd is a master of repeating the same thing over and over without adding anything to his point. Like, this book could’ve easily been 115 pages and still been very effective. It did not need to be 220. HOWEVER! he raised some amazing points about the state of american christianity in a very easy to read way (also raised some bad points!). Despite the length, it was a great book. This was a certified Good Read.
February 8, 2021
This book is, I think, an very important read for Christians today. The problems addressed in this book have, unfortunately, only gotten worse. Boyd does an excellent job of diagnosing Christians "politics problem" and gives a well thought out solution. While he does not ban Christian political involvement entirely, he does put it in perspective and makes the oft overlooked point, that the New Testament does not really consider Christians as political people, and advocating Christian values through the government is never talked about as a good option for achieving Christ-Like behaviors, especially from non-believers.
The last part of the book was probably the only part he did not really sell me on, which was okay, as I think he was primarily just sharing his opinion on controversial political topics.
The last part of the book was probably the only part he did not really sell me on, which was okay, as I think he was primarily just sharing his opinion on controversial political topics.
September 3, 2023
A great entry into understanding the difference of “power over” and “power under” as faithful followers of Jesus.
July 6, 2019
I was hoping this book would be a thoughtful critique of the religious right, especially of their equation of America with the New Israel and their use of religious language to justify wars in the Middle East. I was also interested in hearing Boyd's take on the role Christianity had in the founding of America and the implications that has for contemporary political discourse. Unfortunately, Boyd doesn't deal with either of these topics in any meaningful way. Instead, he constructs his own myths about Christendom and Church-State relations since the time of Christ.
When Boyd says that America is not a Christian nation he does not mean to say that America's founders were not Christian, nor deny that American was founded on Christian principles per se. His argument is that in order for America to deserve the name of Christian it has to look like Christ. Unfortunately Gregory Boyd wildly misinterprets what being Christlike entails. As an Anabaptist, Boyd is committed to Christian pacifism, a radical departure from traditional Christian teaching on justice, the use of force, and the role of the state. When he says 'Christlike' he means peaceful, non-violent, non-judgmental, tolerant, and polite. Yet Christ came "not to send peace, but the sword" (Matthew 10:34). He calls the Pharisees a "brood of vipers" (Matthew 23:33). He "made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts" (John 2:15). Being nice is not the greatest Christian virtue and our politics have to reflect that. True charity often involves judgement, chastisement, reproach, and punishment.
In order to defend his unorthodox reading of Scripture, Boyd must reject all of Christendom, from Constantine forward, as an aberration. He also rejects St. Augustine's thoughts in the City of God because St. Augustine believes the coercive power of the state can and should be used to build up the Kingdom of God. For Boyd, the state does legitimately exercise its divinely given authority by establishing law and order to enact justice. Yet he sees something problematic about Christians trying to seize state power and rule justly. The problem with Boyd's pacifism is that it is merely liberalism in disguise. Political means are not always evil; the law is a teacher and so just laws actually do help change hearts. It is rather absurd to think that the abolition movement was wrong to see slavery outlawed and that instead they should have merely persuaded each of the slave owners to free their slaves. Pacifism is directly contrary to the virtue of justice because it leaves the weak and the helpless undefended from the attacks of truly violent men.
If you can look past all of the major theological and political problems in this book, I do believe there is some good in it. America is not the New Israel. The Church is the New Israel. And putting our faith in our nation or our government instead of in Christ and His Church is indeed idolatry.
When Boyd says that America is not a Christian nation he does not mean to say that America's founders were not Christian, nor deny that American was founded on Christian principles per se. His argument is that in order for America to deserve the name of Christian it has to look like Christ. Unfortunately Gregory Boyd wildly misinterprets what being Christlike entails. As an Anabaptist, Boyd is committed to Christian pacifism, a radical departure from traditional Christian teaching on justice, the use of force, and the role of the state. When he says 'Christlike' he means peaceful, non-violent, non-judgmental, tolerant, and polite. Yet Christ came "not to send peace, but the sword" (Matthew 10:34). He calls the Pharisees a "brood of vipers" (Matthew 23:33). He "made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts" (John 2:15). Being nice is not the greatest Christian virtue and our politics have to reflect that. True charity often involves judgement, chastisement, reproach, and punishment.
In order to defend his unorthodox reading of Scripture, Boyd must reject all of Christendom, from Constantine forward, as an aberration. He also rejects St. Augustine's thoughts in the City of God because St. Augustine believes the coercive power of the state can and should be used to build up the Kingdom of God. For Boyd, the state does legitimately exercise its divinely given authority by establishing law and order to enact justice. Yet he sees something problematic about Christians trying to seize state power and rule justly. The problem with Boyd's pacifism is that it is merely liberalism in disguise. Political means are not always evil; the law is a teacher and so just laws actually do help change hearts. It is rather absurd to think that the abolition movement was wrong to see slavery outlawed and that instead they should have merely persuaded each of the slave owners to free their slaves. Pacifism is directly contrary to the virtue of justice because it leaves the weak and the helpless undefended from the attacks of truly violent men.
If you can look past all of the major theological and political problems in this book, I do believe there is some good in it. America is not the New Israel. The Church is the New Israel. And putting our faith in our nation or our government instead of in Christ and His Church is indeed idolatry.
May 28, 2012
Boyd does an incredible job with this book in taking a very delicate and explosive topic and dealing with it in a dialogue-inducing way. While he pulls no punches and is very straight-forward through the book, he also "keeps his head" and stays away from outlandish rhetoric or dramatic pontification.
This book is sure to irritate many readers, yet I find his message about confronting the idolatrous blend of the American way with the Way of Jesus completely refreshing. Not since reading "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne have I been so impressed with an author's ability to make a clean and concise case for sacrificial, loving, kingdom-living.
Boyd will start by outlining the key and significant differences between the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God. He will deal with what he calls the "myth of a Christian nation" and the misconception that America ever had a Jesus-centered "glory day". He will then challenge the reader to consider what it looks like to respond to the world with Christlike "power under" rather than "power over" tactics. He will even deal with many of the questions that are produced by this conversation in the last chapter.
This book is sure to encourage some, irritate others, and challenge most.
This book is sure to irritate many readers, yet I find his message about confronting the idolatrous blend of the American way with the Way of Jesus completely refreshing. Not since reading "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne have I been so impressed with an author's ability to make a clean and concise case for sacrificial, loving, kingdom-living.
Boyd will start by outlining the key and significant differences between the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God. He will deal with what he calls the "myth of a Christian nation" and the misconception that America ever had a Jesus-centered "glory day". He will then challenge the reader to consider what it looks like to respond to the world with Christlike "power under" rather than "power over" tactics. He will even deal with many of the questions that are produced by this conversation in the last chapter.
This book is sure to encourage some, irritate others, and challenge most.
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