We Have No Borders . . .

I’m sure you have heard of the organization Doctors Without Borders. It’s also a fitting metaphor for us Christians as well:

Christians Without Borders!

This is fundamentally who we are and reflects the larger context of our place in the world today. 

Unfortunately we too often forget this huge global context in which we have been called to be image bearers of God. We are enticed into believing that God sees America alone as his special pet project and tempting us to shrink our Christian vision.

Israel of the Old Testament made this mistake. She forget that God placed Abraham on the much larger world stage in order to bless all people rather than be confined to a narrow strip of land that became known as Israel.

Perhaps this is why the Jews of Jesus’ day needed to be told: “For God so loved the world . . .” 

Perhaps we need to re-hear it as well!

Today Christians across the United States will celebrate the independence of our nation. The 4th of July always provides an opportunity for our patriotism to be put on public display.

Of course this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I have small American flags decorating my front yard in fact. But for Christians there are hidden dangers in excessive patriotism and unfettered nationalism. Activist and author Shane Claiborne reminds us of such dangers: 

“Patriotism can be a dangerous thing if it leads to amnesia about the dark patches of our nation’s history. And it can leave us shortsighted if our nationalism prevents us from seeing pain or hope beyond our borders. As an American, and especially as a Christian, I am convinced that a love for our own people is not a bad thing, but love doesn’t stop at borders. Love is infinitely boundless and all about holy trespassing and offensive friendships.”

Blogger and pastor John Pavlovitz reminds us of a much larger story in which we Christians find ourselves:

“God’s agenda is not America’s prosperity or dominance or success, and God’s reach is not confined within our borders either. To say that God blesses America, is to claim that we have the market cornered on reflecting the image of the Divine and that all of our citizens would even care to make such a claim for themselves.”

It is a noble thing to honor the country of one’s birth or adoption. 

But the Christian story is not the American story. 

They are based on two very different origins and two very different narratives. 

Unfortunately too many Christians get sucked into the vortex of unfettered patriotism and become myopic in their Christian vision.

The Apostle Paul was a pastor and a Roman citizen. Yet Paul came to believe that as a Christian the whole world became the primary context of his existence. In fact he wrote words to this effect to an up and coming congregation in Colossae:

“Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Later  he wrote the treasonous words, "Jesus is Lord"which may very well have helped contribute to his demise.

Christians Without Borders! 

What an idea! 

Paul would have been mortified at the suggestion of building a wall around our nation. This may be something politicians with aspirations of being elected may suggest but it is certainly nothing any Christian should ever happy about or support. 

Israel became myopic (short and narrow sighted) and ceased to exist. Biblical Israel gave way to a truncated vision of who she was in the larger context of God’s purpose for her.

Israel lost sight of her global mission and built walled cities and drew hard borders to keep her safe. Well it didn’t work. It never does. She ceased to exist in CE 70. 

It is my prayer that we American Christians rediscover our global context. Yes the world is a very dangerous place—it always has been. That pastor named Paul mentioned above, well he was executed by his own nation for being a Christian without borders.

My prayer is that all American Christians will discover the courage to reach beyond our well-defined borders with the Good News of our Christian story: 

“God so loves the world . . .”

Perhaps the next time we hear the empty meaningless words; “God bless the United States of America” we will instead hear:

“God bless the whole world.”

Yes my friends, we are Christians without borders.