What’s the Problem With Civic Religion Anyhow?

The Heavenly Banquet

In this episode Chad Rhodes and Charlotte Elia discuss the relationship between Christian identity and national identity. Are these even compatible allegiances? What is American civic religion? How do we recognize it, and why is it so insidious? In what ways does it compete or conflict with the gospel? You've seen those t-shirts that mix the symbols of our faith with the symbols of our nation. Let's talk about them and even get some insight on it all from Revelation.

Chad Rhodes: “Governments operate ultimately by force. That’s how they compel obedience. That is not how the kingdom of God works, certainly not how the church works. I don’t want to say that we compel obedience through love, but love is the prime mechanism, not force. So that fundamental distinction has to be made. This is why, in my mind, the separation of church and state is probably beautiful, because anytime the church gets too aligned with power, invariably they use it for horrific things.”