restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations
Government Plays the National Security CardAgain
The dominant factor behind the current political situation in America is the logic of the totalitarian state. Day by day our leading politicians proclaim this doctrine. It is capturing the realm of law: jurists are being taught that the peoples necessities are the only source of legal rightRecht ist was dem Volke dient Right is what serves the people (as it was phrased in 1930s Germany). The federal government is currently focused on displacing the Constitution. The movement for local self-government has given way to the federalization of life, including local police forces under the USA Patriot Act. This has been done, thanks largely to the fiery zeal of one John Ashcroft, a professing Christian. In truth, a more uncompromising defiance vis-à-vis the Bill of Rights could scarcely be imagined.
All these decisions are, in a sense, religious. On the left is the definitely non-Christian force that exalts the god of secularism and it alone; but, allied with this in practice though not in principle, is the so-called conservative right comprised of those who either equate the totalitarian and the evangelical creeds or who seek to prove them to be compatible with each other. Some of them would even connect the spirit of unquestioning national allegiance to the bearing of the cross of Christ. In reality, their desire is to preserve only a modicum of the evangelical tradition and to overthrow its classical confessional expressions.
For example, in a recent column entitled Thank You, Tony Blair, Cal Thomas wrote, Why does it take an outsider to remind us of the real issues? It isnt about the next election. It is about the survival of the United States and our way of life, because what we now face is far more dangerous and lethal than communism ever was. The theological dictators of the world who think they do their angry god a favor by killing infidels are serious. Too many think the terrorists dont really mean it and can be placated by tossing them Israel, hoping they wont demand more. They will settle for nothing less than our head on a platter.
Cal Thomas identifies himself as a Bible-believing Christian, and he is one of the most widely read conservative columnists in America. I admire Cal Thomas, but his view on theological dictators is nothing but secular twaddle, as Christopher Manion noted in Lew Rockwells Blog:
not only does he [Thomas] damn the Husseins to hell (a decision most Christians are very willing to leave to Gods own justice, thank you), he also judges the hearts of any and all Moslems who will not accept U.S. government military overlords. They are false, and only interested in power themselves, thats all. No room for liberty, personal conviction, or even Moslem protestantism there.
At least Thomas is less than deft at hiding his gnostic conversion. He lets the cat out of the bag, forever rejecting the possibility of reconciliation in Iraq short of a total secularization of their culture American style. This is not Christian, it is idolatry the worshipping the false god of the American state, and the demonization, then the damning, of all those who refuse to bend the knee.
It is against this menacing multitude that the modern-day Black Robe Brigade has taken its stand. To be sure, the outlook is complex and most disquieting. To measure the forces that give ground for any optimism is certainly beyond my power. But it is at least clear that the totalitarian dogma is confronted with the certainty of resolute resistance from a growing body of conviction represented in numerous websites and institutions.
Still, do American Christians realize the urgency of the matter and the need for new measures to be taken? The influence of present-day education on the young, without the help of the church, has proven disastrous. More importantly, the new conservatism is not really open to brooking any other point of view on the state, and therefore the real danger is of a church that puts a religious complexion on the national party and says Ditto, in religious language, to the heresy of statism.
I am reminded of a curious story that is told about pastor Niemöller and von Ribbentrop. Von Ribbentrop was in Niemöllers parish in Dahlem. He was not much of a churchman, but his children had been christened by Niemöller. In 1933 he wanted his youngest girl christened and asked Niemöller over to tea with himself and his wife. They discussed matters in a friendly way until von Ribbentrop proudly said that in that chair (pointing to a nearby chair) Hitler sat when it was decided that he should become Chancellor. Niemöller braced himself and assumed an attitude of reserve. Then Frau von Ribbentrop said something about the German Christians. They both noticed that Niemöllers reserve became all the stronger and that there was now an atmosphere of hostility. They didnt understand it. They made proposals for the baptism of their child, subject to a convenient date. Niemöller left, and they tried several times, a day or two later, to fix a date on the telephone but could never get hold of Niemöller personally. Niemöller did not make any appointment for the baptism so the baptism lapsed. This deeply affected von Ribbentrops feelings toward Niemöller. He obviously looked upon Niemöller as an opponent of National Socialism and Hitler.
In the Third Reich, the national security card was played by Hitler with great finesse. He said repeatedly that the fundamental thing was to save the nation. If there was no nation there would be no church. Hence there had to be some ultimate direction of church affairs that was acceptable to Hitler himself. And it wasnt long before the church bowed to the pressure.
It is becoming clearer and clearer that the policy of Washington is based on a similar commitment to national security. I am anxiously watching the situation and am prepared to offer any encouragement I can to those who are striving to preserve orthodox Christian beliefs and to protect our constitutional freedoms. It would be difficulty to exaggerate the seriousness of the challenges facing the church today. Prophesies are always dangerous, but it is plain that among a number of Christian leaders and lay people there is a profound feeling that what is at stake is not only the church as an organization but its faith and mission, and because of this they are preparing to join themselves together to do whatever may be necessary.
July 26, 2003
David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.