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American Christians should rethink saying “God Bless America.” Too many Christians make Jesus into their own image, forgetting he was a dark-skinned Middle Eastern Jew subject to the occupation & oppression of the Roman Empire, executed as a *threat* to that empire. 1/12 
If Jesus were around today, would we recognize him – much less listen to him? “God Bless America” sounds presumptuous: like God is blessing America. But God’s work in history has been in solidarity with the excluded; God’s signature deed is liberation. 2/12
God breaks chains whereas America – through poverty, mass incarceration, military industrial complex, concentration camps at our border, and other forms of political/economic coercion and social exclusion – is still making many folks in and outside our country less free. 3/12
American Christianity domesticates Jesus, sanctimoniously anointing our political/economic priorities rooted in self-interest & security. Jesus resisted empire. He made it clear that his followers are expected to love and serve ALL others – even enemies (Luke 6:20-35). 4/12
The defining characteristic of discipleship is mercy (being who God is in the world – see Luke 6:36) and selflessness: “humbly regard others as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). This is irreconcilable with #AmericaFirst or #MAGA. 5/12
Jesus would not endorse patriotism that looks down on people on the other side of the border. We are equals in the eyes of God. We will have to answer for how we treat our brothers and sisters who live elsewhere; how we treat them is how we treat Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46). 6/12
Paul writes: to be like Christ, we should be humble & live in solidarity with the humiliated (Philippians 2:8). Christians should condemn the display of guns & tanks as exalting the threat of violence; we should stand with the victims of violence and the casualties of war. 7/12
The cross shows Jesus’ solidarity with those ground down by empire. The resurrection was not a victory march but justice for victims. Paul writes: “God chose what is low and despised in the world” (1 Corinthians 1:28), not power & wealth. Greatness is measured by our service 8/12
If we want to celebrate our faith & the birth of our country, then American Christians should be agents of freedom, artisans of peace & ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20), especially when 1 in 5 Republicans & Democrats call members of the other side “evil” 9/12
Only 4% of Rs & Ds call the other side thoughtful, kind, or fair. In addition to standing in solidarity with the exploited and those pushed to the underside of empire, we have to stop demonizing each other. There is no other path forward to “liberty and justice for all.” 10/12
The 4th of July should be about the values we uphold, not touting military might, hiding the costs of war to persons, communities & the environment. Militarizing our country’s identity justifies the abuse of power & incredible wasting of resources: nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/ 11/12
We should choose forgiveness over fear, service over power, and love over hate. Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), free of the illusion of our separateness. “If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” – Mother Teresa 12/12
