When the Spanish settled (conquered) South America, they were obligated to "convert" the Indian populations to Christianity. Of course this was a clash of cultures and was difficult, if not impossible, to force something like a set of religious beliefs on others with a totally different view of religion. The Quechua Indians were pagan worshipers with all kinds of god's. Instead of offending the natives, the Spanish invaders "syncritized" the religions by drawing parallels between key icons of each religion, creating an amalgamation religion and blended rituals of worship. For instance, the Virgin Mary was basically seen by the natives as Pachamama, goddess of earth and fertility. Catholicism was contaminated in order to accommodate the natural, cultural sense-making of the natives. "Catholics" in Boliva did not receive the benefits of their faith and anyone looking from the outside in, would not see Christianity present at all.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
This, as much as anything, has driven a nation of people unparalleled in the history of mankind. An enforcer of freedom against tyranny, an economic system raising the standard of living for the entire world, and a benevolence for the needy, even when they were enemies. There's is no doubt that in terms of civil order and the governance of a society for the well being of all, the truths in which our country are grounded are to be admired, honored, and perpetuated. That is not the question for the Christian.
We should ask ourselves to what degree have we been drawn to the truths of our country's founding in a way that we have "contaminated" our sense-making of who we are and what makes us well. In other words, where in the Bible does it say God has given us "unalienable rights"? Are our civil liberties and the pursuit of happiness what Jesus died for? I think not.
Jesus goes out of His way to explain that "our rights" are not at all the purpose of the Kingdom (Matt 5). In fact Jesus claims we must "lose our life" in order to save it. He says the Kingdom is not about social justice and establishing what is fair (Matt 20). It was the most moral in society (Pharisees) that Jesus said could never enter His Kingdom. We are sojourners and pilgrims, aliens in this world (1 Peter). Regarding happiness, Paul says he is content whether he has a lot or whether he has a little, that his circumstances are irrelevant to his well being.
While it is a good thing we live in a country that creates the greatest common good and we should grieve any loss of that quality, even "fight" to keep it strong as we are called to do so. However, when we see our country as our Savior, we have lost the power of the cross in our lives. We live beneath the privileges of the Kingdom. When we are anxious and fearful of governments and cultures, we see freedom as something governed by society, not granted to us by the King. Maybe we too have fallen victim of syncritism.
Maybe we look like the Quechua Indians to others around the world, an errant testimony to the Gospel - an unreached people group.
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