In a previous post I challenged the concept that we are constitutionally or Constitutionally a Christian nation.

I’m sure that to some, this presentation will appear somehow unChristian and even unAmerican. I can only reply that I am a Christian living in the United States of America, a land which I love.

That being said, as a Christian, I believe that we are one nation under God. This is admittedly, an expression of faith, for I believe that God exists. If I may be so bold as to emphasize this, I really do believe that we exist as a nation  under the watchful eye of our Creator.

If there be a Creator, than how could it be otherwise. God is watching us!

Now if this is true, and if you believe it is true, then I want to suggest something. Our inclusion of this phrase in the pledge of allegiance does not make it so. And the lack of such a phrase would not somehow erase the Creator from His Creation.

I’m not attempting to speak to the question of whether that phrase should be in the pledge. It’s just that God does not exist because, through slogan or politics or whatever, we have somehow invented him.

I suspect that at some point many Christians will generate considerable energy around the fear that the phrase, added in 1954, might be removed.

I can’t speak for God, of course, but my suspicions are that He would be more concerned with prophetic themes like:

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Amos 5:24 NIV

Now don’t confuse me with Rev. Wright.

Still, if I understand the prophetic expression in Amos 5, God is watching. So here is my question. How did He view the removal of the native Americans which, of course, involved the breaking of many treaties. How many prayers came from Christian Cherokee people who could hardly grasp the official hatred of all things Cherokee, as a quarter of them perished in detainment camps and on the forced march?

How did He feel about those white Christians who conveniently invoked His Name for some kind of divine right of invasion and extermination? (I speak of Cherokees simply because I am more familiar with them, thanks to the existence of that remnant known as the Eastern Band of Cherokees, in Cherokee, North Carolina.)

How did He view the mass removal of Mexican families in the 1930s? Do you suppose there were any Christians among the thousands of Hispanic American citizens who were removed along with others who actually and literally were “grandfathered in” and were legal permanent residents. Where was the white church voice when this was occurring?

And then the Japanese-Americans. How do I even begin to ask God “to understand” the motives of fear and greed so that somehow this government action would be acceptable to Him?

The more research I do, the longer the list grows.

Now the fear and greed of our nation is creating new political careers, accompanied with new clearly defined constituencies.

And many of our citizens, wrapped in the flag of Christian Nationalism (a christianity which is informed by one’s nationalism) are organizing to “take our country back from these invaders”.

21″I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies.

22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.

23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.

24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
–from Amos, chapter 5

Were Amos living today, maybe his “thus saith the Lord” would sound more like this:

Take Me out of your oath of allegiance,
And please,
Remove Me from your currency.

For you are serving the idols of greed and fear,
In them do you trust, and not in Me;
For if I am not worthy of your allegiance,
Please don’t invite me to the party.