Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation

by Michael J. Gorman

“Sacred” duty/honor Divine passive voice: “we are called” (e.g., at a certain moment in history, usually before war) “God bless America”/“God bless our troops” Echoes of/allusions to the Bible in civic and political discourse Attribution of biblical language for God or God’s people to the U.S. (e.g., “the light of the world”; “city on a hill”) Lack of theological specificity (e.g., omission of Jesus’ name from public prayer and Scripture reading) Sacred music/national hymns Patriotic songs of sacred devotion with much (“God Bless America”), some (“America/My Country, ’Tis of Thee”), or even no explicit religious language (the national anthem) Hymns with explicitly nationalistic and militaristic language (e.g., “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Navy Hymn”) Hymns with allegorical militaristic language interpreted literally and nationalistically (e.g., “Onward Christian Soldiers”) Sacred texts The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights Famous speeches by sacred leaders and heroes (e.g., Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, Douglas MacArthur, John Kennedy, Martin Luther King) Biblical texts that seem to underwrite national values such as freedom and redemptive violence Sacred stories of sacred leaders and heroes (“saints”/“martyrs”/“prophets”) Founding Fathers Leaders in crisis (e.g., Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage) Great warriors (e.g., Patton) Veterans in general