Bowing Toward Babylon: The Nationalistic Subversion of Christian Worship in America

by Craig Watts, Michael K. Kinnamon (Foreword by)

Overview

What is being done in worship when national holidays are celebrated, the American flag is displayed and honored, and songs are sung that extol the nation? Are these benign gestures? Or could they actually be idolatrous? In this insightful and persuasively argued study Craig M. Watts contends the inclusion of elements of American nationalism in worship is detrimental to the integrity of Christian worship. He maintains that in faithful worship the story of Jesus must be re-presented and performed in such a way that the only affections and loyalty that are fostered are those Christians everywhere rightfully share. To do otherwise opens the door to idolatry and leaves the church doing what Watts calls "bowing toward Babylon." He reviews the development of the symbols, songs, and gestures that celebrate America and how they were introduced into worship. Watts concludes that the spirituality of American Christian nationalism does not complement the faith of the church but distorts it, hindering global Christian unity and the peaceable witness of the church in a divided world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781532611735
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	03/08/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	196
File size:	483 KB

About the Author

Craig M. Watts is minister of Royal Palm Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Coral Springs, Florida. He is the author of ,Disciple of Peace (2005).
Craig M. Watts is minister of Royal Palm Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Coral Springs, Florida. He is the author of Disciple of Peace (2005).

Table of Contents

Foreword Michael Kinnamon vii

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

A "Worship War" Worth Fighting 3

Personal Patriotism 5

Nationalism and Claims of Loyalty 7

Uniting Citizens, Dividing Christians 9

An Overview 11

Chapter 1 Nationalistic Idolatry in the Church of Babylon 13

Living in Babylon 14

Babylons Beyond Babylon 16

Political Idolatry and the People of Cod 19

Adoration Any American Can Offer 25

Weak Justifications 28

Chapter 2 Who God Is, Who We Are 32

Confusing Our Identity 33

Identity in Community 36

True Greatness 37

Credible Christian Worship 40

Liturgy of Nationalism 45

Chapter 3 Where Are We Worshiping? 49

American Israel 50

Chosen Nations 55

America As Babylon 60

Local Worship 63

Chapter 4 What Time Is It? Holidays or Holy Days? 68

We Are What We Celebrate 68

Telling Time in Church 71

Wrong Calendar, Wrong Story 75

Independence Day: The Myth of "Our" Origin 77

Memorial Day: Rightful Remembering? 80

Thanksgiving Day: Being Grateful for Us 84

Chapter 5 Displaying the Banner of Babylon 88

How the American Flag Got into the Church 89

Enforcing Flag Honor 96

Flag Idolatry in the Church Today 104

Chapter 6 Pledging to Babylon's Banner 110

The Pledges Backstory 111

Passion for the Pledge 118

Adding God to the Pledge 124

Creed Not Pledge 127

Chapter 7 Singing the Songs of Babylon 131

Tilt- Place of Singing and the Problem of Nationalism 133

Affection and Connection 134

Singing for the Wrong Ends 137

Are Patriotic "Hymns" Really Hymns? 140

Chapter 8 Born into a Larger Family and Eating at a Bigger Table Than Babylon 147

Dead in the Water 148

Baptism and Barriers 150

Beyond the Baptized 154

Lords Supper: Rightly Remembering 158

Christian Unity and the Eucharistic Imagination 162

The Lords Table and the Messianic Banquet 165

Bibliography 169

Index 177