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The Letter to the Editor titled "The finger of God", which appeared in the January 12 edition of this paper, needs to be challenged for its many distortions and false facts.
First, the author claims that this is a Christian Nation! If that were true, we would not be the poorest example of caring for our citizens in the developed world. We have one of the highest rates of childhood poverty, hunger, medical care costs, incarceration of citizens, violence, guns per capita, with a system that, more and more, skews towards the 'haves' to the detriment of the 'have-nots'. Add to that the fact that in three of the four Gospels (Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, and Luke 20:25), Jesus exhorts us to "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew, NRSV) This verse, stated in slightly different language in three of the four gospels, makes it clear that Christianity is a religion, NOT a political system! Our Founding Fathers were explicit in codifying the separation of Church and State; the State, in this country, has no business telling people what to believe! Ergo, Christian Nationalism is an oxymoron and in direct opposition to the Constitution.
Secondly, he claims "Christ didn't die for Christians to allow evil to have rule over them or others!..." The only truth in that sentence is the first five words! Christ did NOT die for Christians; He died for EVERYONE! There were NO Christians when Jesus was murdered and resurrected; the followers of Jesus were considered a Jewish sect. Jesus, in both his words and actions, made it clear that ALL people are children of God and the promise of salvation is extended to everyone who puts their faith in God and lives that faith in action, not just words.
Thirdly, he claims "only devout Christians, inspired by The Wisdom of God, could devise [the] Constitutional republic [as] ours." A look back at history shows that the Founding Fathers were not, as a group, or even majority, Christians. Many of them were deists, believing in a higher power, but not a particular religion. Thomas Jefferson went so far as to 'rewrite' the Bible, cutting out verses he didn't agree with. That same examination of history shows a government that fell, and continues to fall, far short of the ideals stated in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.
We are far from a country that acts as if we believe ALL men (people) are created equal, with certain unalienable Rights. In fact, today, we are living under a government that is eagerly trying to whitewash and rewrite history, rather than owning up to the errors of the past and moving forward to atone and make the ideals of the Declaration reality. Our government is actively working to divide us; invading certain states and removing funds that Congress designated from those 'enemy' states. We live as hypocrites, saying one thing, but by our actions, undermining our claimed belief in the equality of all. Until we are prepared to give up our anti-Christian tribalism, us versus them mentality, and demonizing of those who hold different and focus on the humanity of ALL of us, we will never achieve what the Founding Fathers aspired to.
NANCY McCARTY
Williamsport
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom