"Respond to this statement:..."

I am somewhat frequently interviewed by students here at MVNU for Research Writing projects, Public Speaking presentations, or Christian Life and Ministry papers. Tonight I was interviewed by Daniel Coutz. It was one of the more thoughtful interviews that I have experienced and I appreciated the approach. The conversation went something like this:

Daniel: "Respond to this statement: The United States is a Christian Nation."

Travis: "No earthly empire is distinctively in keeping with the way of Jesus. Those who claim the United States to be a Christian nation need to enroll in a post-reformation church history course that discusses the period of American colonization. Also helpful would be a study in theology and philosophy to explore the definitions of theism, deism, and idolatry.

Daniel: "Do you feel the American flag should be displayed in churches? Why or why not?"

Travis: "No. The church is laced with a history of symbol and icon for visual engagement in worship and when one considers what the American flag represents I would have to question what one is worshiping. I would have no problem with displaying a flag in a church if it was displayed beside every other flag of every other nation so long as the symbol is understood to represent equality and unity.

Daniel: "Respond to this statement: The loyalty of a person belongs first to his country."

Travis: "Why would one view an earthly empire as something to which giving loyalty is necessary or a priority? My suggestion is that most would give said loyalty due to an enculturation that promotes a sense of loyalty as nessecary. I would also suggest it has something to do with the supposed 'safety' provided by the military branch of a certain country's government. Fear would be that which fuels loyalty to an earthly empire."

Daniel: "Respond to this statement. Christians living in the United States should be patriotic about the United States."

Travis: "One's definition of patriotism would be primary. I find it problematic for a follower of Jesus to pledge his allegiance to an earthly nation. So in the sense that the recitation of the 'Pledge of Allegiance' is patriotic, then patriotism may be considered contrary to 'worshipping no other gods.'"

Walter Brueggemann

Author and Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann will be teaching tonight at Mount Vernon Nazarene University @ 7:30 p.m. in the R.R. Hodges Chapel Auditorium. For all friends and acquaintances we will be gathering in our apartment (Oakwood Hall RD Apt.) immediately following the lecture for coffee, tea, and something else equally arbitrary.

The Week of the Interview.

A week of interviewing 64 candidates for Resident Assistant and Spiritual Life Assistant positions caused a brief hiatus in my posting. It is intriguing to experience different personalities communicating and expressing themselves in both individual and group interview settings. Psychological and sociological observations could be conducted in the setting of an interview. I was fascinated.

I was also highly encouraged to be reminded of the energy and passion that college students have to be servants and to love incoming students so that they may experience the love of Jesus.

Shane Claiborne @ MVNU + Lunch.

Shane Claiborne, author of The Irresistible Revolution and member/participant/advocate (I'm not sure what descriptor goes here) of The Simple Way, is teaching in chapel at MVNU on Wednesday, February 13 @ 10:20 a.m. Sarah and I have had several of our friends contact us about visiting and sharing a meal with us sometime after the service. We will be hosting lunch in our apartment for all or our friends and their friends. If you are interested in joining us for a shared meal please post a comment here or e-mail me so that we know how much food to have ready. We will be serving potato soup, sandwiches, fresh vegetables, spinach salad, and we're taking requests as well. Simply let us know that you are coming and then meet us in our apartment attached to Oakwood Hall after the chapel service. If you are unable to make it to the service the message should be available on the MVNU podcast.