As a Christian, I would oppose someone else telling me what "kind" of Christian I should be. I do not attend church nearly as much as I used to. I was kind of an alter rat, on the Vestry, on the board of our food pantry, etc. I am comfortable in a liturgical church, for instance, I like the format, procession, opening prayer, the readings, the peace, the prayers again, confession, communion, with lots of psalms and singing in between. I do not like politics in church, period. I also like to travel and drop in on other churches, of various denominations. I would not be comfortable in a Church of America, some people would. While Pentecostal churches are different, I really enjoy them, just as I enjoy the ancient Eastern Orthodox. I like being around other Christians. I can feel the Holy Spirit in all of these places, and I find common ground with Christians from everywhere. I miss churches being open during the week, when you could pop in and kneel and pray in the quiet. Movies often have scenes where a person can just walk into a house of worship and sit and pray. No one has been able to do that in 5o years, but I sure remember when you could, it was nice. DId you know the Shriners Hospitals, run by the Masons have no chapel at all in their buildings? I found out when a close friend of mine had a child who had surgery in one of them, in SPringfield Mass. I asked the nurse where the chapel was went she went into surgery, as we were going to sit there and pray and just be silent in prayer. She said there was none. I asked for a Chaplin to pray with us, with the little girl, there was no Chaplin. And I guess you all know that the Mormon Church considers itself a truly American religion. No thank you. I believe in the Holy Trinity, I have read and been interested in Swedenborgian, I love Thomas Merton, and Augustine, Francis and Luther. So, yeah, I would not want someone telling me what kind of Christianity is appropriate and what is not. The easiest way to turn people off of Christ, is to say that your definition is the only one, I fear nationalism would do that. The definition is in Scripture, and what a delight it is to discuss it with biblically literate people, and to read the faithful of the past, through history, on their experience of God in Christ, their ponderings and witness and insight. ".Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,". If the Chicoms come and stick me in a reeducation camp. they can not separate me from the Lord. If a left wing leader tells me to accept a doctrine that is against scripture, I will not comply, USA or not. Why would we need a national church? Isn't that part of the reason the Puritans left? They did not want to bend the knee to the Church of England.?
As a Christian, I would oppose someone else telling me what "kind" of Christian I should be. I do not attend church nearly as much as I used to. I was kind of an alter rat, on the Vestry, on the board of our food pantry, etc. I am comfortable in a liturgical church, for instance, I like the format, procession, opening prayer, the readings, the peace, the prayers again, confession, communion, with lots of psalms and singing in between. I do not like politics in church, period. I also like to travel and drop in on other churches, of various denominations. I would not be comfortable in a Church of America, some people would. While Pentecostal churches are different, I really enjoy them, just as I enjoy the ancient Eastern Orthodox. I like being around other Christians. I can feel the Holy Spirit in all of these places, and I find common ground with Christians from everywhere. I miss churches being open during the week, when you could pop in and kneel and pray in the quiet. Movies often have scenes where a person can just walk into a house of worship and sit and pray. No one has been able to do that in 5o years, but I sure remember when you could, it was nice. DId you know the Shriners Hospitals, run by the Masons have no chapel at all in their buildings? I found out when a close friend of mine had a child who had surgery in one of them, in SPringfield Mass. I asked the nurse where the chapel was went she went into surgery, as we were going to sit there and pray and just be silent in prayer. She said there was none. I asked for a Chaplin to pray with us, with the little girl, there was no Chaplin. And I guess you all know that the Mormon Church considers itself a truly American religion. No thank you. I believe in the Holy Trinity, I have read and been interested in Swedenborgian, I love Thomas Merton, and Augustine, Francis and Luther. So, yeah, I would not want someone telling me what kind of Christianity is appropriate and what is not. The easiest way to turn people off of Christ, is to say that your definition is the only one, I fear nationalism would do that. The definition is in Scripture, and what a delight it is to discuss it with biblically literate people, and to read the faithful of the past, through history, on their experience of God in Christ, their ponderings and witness and insight. ".Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,". If the Chicoms come and stick me in a reeducation camp. they can not separate me from the Lord. If a left wing leader tells me to accept a doctrine that is against scripture, I will not comply, USA or not. Why would we need a national church? Isn't that part of the reason the Puritans left? They did not want to bend the knee to the Church of England.?
Where are you getting that Christian National equals one single Church of America? Strikes me as a bit bizarre.