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 September
11, 2001. President Roosevelt used the word "infamy" to describe December
7, 1941 - but what word is dark enough, severe enough to describe what we
experienced that day (and countless times since) when we watched the plane
slice through the second tower, both towers collapse, and the Pentagon in
flames. This is new territory — we have nothing in history with which
lo compare 6000 and more civilians killed in the security of their workplaces
in an attack against History's greatest nation by a loosely connected network
of terrorists.
We may remember the Challenger disaster, the Tet Offensive, the Iranian Hostage
Crisis, the Fall of Saigon, the Kennedy and KJng Assassinations, even Pearl
Harbor - yet none compare - none provide a paradigm, a frame of reference
and meaning.
And so we must turn to what we have read to find a comparison — for
reading allows us to transcend personal experience and connect with the past
and with imagination. I was reminded of Pietro Di Donato's novel Christ in
Concrete, which describes, in leirifyTng detail, what it is like to die in
a collapsing skyscraper. I thought of John Hersey's Hiroshima, with its detailed
stories of those who did and did not survive the explosion at "ground zero".
I recalled C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, which was written during the London
Blitz, and in which death by bombing brings a saved man immediate victory
and bliss.
But mostly I thought about scripture — especially the Psalms. And so
did everyone else. Mayors, Military men, fire fighters, EMTs. the President,
and Network news anchors, repeated the phrases of scripture. Even the Hollywood
crowd reminded us "God is a great God" (Julia Roberts) during last Friday
night's national telethon.
It is not surprising that a tragedy of biblical proportions leaves us groping
for biblical comfort and perspective. But what about the reverse? Should
we the people of the book be comfortable with the language of nationalism
of American patriotism?
I have often used these essays to remind us that Christians are engaged in
a cultural war against the West, using language not unlike some of the
accusations Osama Bin Laden makes against Americans. I refuse to retreat
from such a stance. Jesus frequently tells us the values of the kingdom are
opposed to the values of the West (Matthew 5.47, 6.7, 6.32, Mark 10.41 among
others). Paul reminds us we are in a war ofworldviews, and we will not capitulate
(II Corinthians 10.4, Ephesians 6.12). We are not citizens of any nation;
we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3.20). As long as we are here we are
pilgrims and strangers (II Peter 2.10-12).
So can a pilgrim be a patriot?
Can we be devoted to love for our enemies - overcoming evil with good and
devoted to our country, its defense, and those in uniform who wage war on
our behalf?
I believe these roles - God's pilgrim and American patriot - are not exclusive
- and that the word itself expects OUT patriotism.
In the same passage which tells us to overcome evil with good (Romans 12.9-13.7)
we are also told that our government is God's servant to protect us and punish
those evildoers who plot harm against us. We are told that our government
has been authorized to use lethal force in the exercise of this responsibility.
Praying for our enemies, and praying for our armed services are not mutually
exclusive.
In fact, praying for our government is a Christian duty (I Timothy 2.1-3).
Such a prayer is "pleasing to God our Savior." Our prayer should be that
we are allowed to live "quiet, peaceful lives." This is the case. We, in
America, enjoy more "domestic tranquility" than any people at any time m
history. The United States of America answers this prayer as no nation ever
has. We can not but be grateful to God for our nation.
This crisis has served to remind us just how "Christian" our nation continues
to be. Same-sex marriage, stem-cell research, and partial birth abortion
not withstanding - we are still molded by our Christian past. We are still
shaped by the great awakening that formed our founding fathers, and the great
revival that shaped our frontier fathers. We still believe that "all men
are created equal", and are endowed by lheir creator with the inalienable
rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We still believe that
we can have "malice toward none", and still fight to ensure the "government
of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the
earth."
We still believe in God.
We still believe in grace.
And so the pilgrim can be, must be a patriot.
- Barry Bryson
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