Insurgency and Counterinsurgency

OK, I'm back.  I was in a class on counterinsurgency all last week, getting ready for my deployment next year.  By the time I finally got home each evening I didn't have the energy to write a blog post.  One random thought from the class was was the applicability to the Christian life.  Metaphors abound that compare the Christian life and evangelism to military action.  So, I wondered, is the Christian life more like insurgency, or counterinsurgency?  On the one hand I thought it is like an insurgency:  Satan is the Prince of this world and he holds the reigns of power from our perspective.  We Christians are a minority and we are trying to undermine the legitimacy and power of the evil one.  On the other hand, I considered that it might be more like a counterinsurgency.  God is the legitimate sovereign government and Satan and his minions are the insurgency.  Christians in this model are like a special forces team behind enemy lines, trying to win the hearts and minds of the population and restore governmental control.  Of course, neither metaphor is perfect.  If anyone is still reading this blog, which do you think fits better, and why?

Roosevelt on Immigration

I knew I liked Teddy Roosevelt! Here's what he had to say about immigration:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American.There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
--Theodore Roosevelt 1907

I don't think that means that ethnic/cultural heritage cannot be celebrated. It is just that ethnic/cultural heritage must be subordinated to the new loyalty and identification as American.

American flag sent home

Did you see the news article about the high school students in Morgan Hill, CA who were sent home for wearing American flag shirts at school on the Fifth of May?  Amazing!  Wearing patriotic apparel might be too divisive on Cinco de Mayo (a holiday that isn't even celebrated widely through Mexico)?  Then, the Hispanic students demonstrated through the streets of the town waving Mexican flags?  This is just incredible.  Patriotism isn't politically correct?  This kind of thing just might be why the citizens of Arizona are standing up and saying "Enough!"

More on Franklin Graham

Just to clarify on my previous post about Franklin Graham... I really appreciate his clear, public stand for the Christian faith.  I applaud his clear, uncompromising stand - which is what got him uninvited in the first place.  I just think it was unnecessary for him to react offended and to make comments that appear to be playing power politics.

Slap in the face

From USA Today: "If President Obama fails to intervene to allow controversial evangelist Franklin Graham to lead a National Day of Prayer event Thursday inside the Pentagon, 'it will be a slap in the face of all Christians,' Graham said Tuesday."
What?! Why is he so worried about this? If we are slapped, shouldn't we just "turn the other cheek"? Should we be concerned as Christians to be respected by our national government? We already know they don't respect us. Indeed, much of what they do is antithetical to what we believe. How is acting offended over this slight going to help advance the Gospel?
Of course we should be involved as good citizens in the activities of our government the the extent we are allowed. And, of course we should pray for our nation, not just on one particular day, but continually. We don't need to be invited to some event at the Pentagon to pray effectively for our nation. In fact, I would argue that prayers at such an event may even be less effective because of all the political trimmings and trappings.
Why would President Obama even care whether he offends "mainstream evangelicals". It has been obvious in his campaign and following that he is courting votes from completely the other end of the spectrum.
By all means, pray for America. We have turned our backs on God and are completely deserving of His judgment. We need His mercy more than ever. But, we don't need some official event or the sanction of our government to pray. Just ask Daniel.

Being Comes Before Doing

I need to read Scripture daily to be reminded of who I am in Christ. Then, I need to act like who I am.  Justin Taylor says it better at his blog.