Are we a Christian nation that serves God or one where God serves us? I have struggled over the years when it comes to religion and politics. They are not supposed to be aligned with each other. The first amendment to the Constitution says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” So, we have the right to exercise our religion. But does that mean we get to enforce our religious opinions and beliefs on others?

I find it very sad that, for over 45 years, abortion has been a co-opted moral value of the Republican Party, used to shame others into following their religious beliefs and vote Republican. If you have a differing opinion, you aren’t considered Christian. Ironically, in the book of Numbers, chapter 5, a husband can force his wife to induce a miscarriage if he deems his wife to be unfaithful. Who knew?

I was taught to not use the Bible or God for one’s own benefit, to gain power, or make oneself taller by putting others down. God is not on our side for our gain; we should be on God’s side for His glory! How can we infer that the architect of the universe would be on our side when we are the pot and He is the potter?

The Israelites once took the Ark of the Covenant into battle as a way of using God to win the battle, but they were destroyed, and the Ark of the Covenant was taken by the Philistines.1 Samuel chapter 4.(The Ark of the Covenant was where God resided in the Jewish Temple.)

We collectively should take great offense when the White House, and members of Congress, do not condemn the blasphemy of Trump depicted as Christ in a Truth Social post, just weeks after he threatened the annihilation of Iranian culture and civilization.

We should not accept the warrior ethos as a Christian virtue and then condemn the Pope for interfering with our power to make war. Jesus was never about earthly power. He was about the power of love to transform people so His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven!

The power to coerce, intimidate, threaten, to wage war, or to use power for personal gain, is the antithesis of Christ. The power of Christ has always been to transform us to love our neighbors as ourselves. To treat others as we wish to be treated. To be servants to the poor, the helpless, the hungry and the outcast cast members of society. To bless the poor with wealth instead of the rich! This is what a Christian nation should value, not our own selfish desires to be number one and then claim that God is on our side when we are not on God’s side!

Corrected; His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven!

Edward Vos is a Jamestown resident.