Gregory Boyd on "The Myth of a Christian Nation" Part 3/3

[friedie1jeff]

You mean that Jesus Christ didn't write the Constitution? The Republicans are wrong?

[dedred5]

The best part is that even though this may be controversial to some Conservative Christians,Greg still never gives up any of his Conservative Christian values.He simply steps out of the line of lemmings and proceeds on a path still focusing on Christ and His best interests for His kingdom.

[dostol3701]

Jesus was clearly not a Jewish nationalist as represented in the gospels, yet we somehow insist He must be an American nationalist. He remains above politics, of course. Good message!

[slipslapsloppy]

Keep preachin brother - spot on!

[WILLTHEWGMAN]

US liberty is granted first by a creator at birth and only recognized and upheld by the US constitution as a birth-right as such. Why, because if mere men or documents alone granted you liberty only a mere man or document can take it away! This is the distinction from American Liberty & why all men are created equal, evolution surly does not teach this but Christianity does. The basic notion of American liberty & freedom for all is by a God-given birth-right & a non-secular view historically.

[musicappreciate]

I wouldn't want to line up with him on open theism, but his analysis of what a Christian should look like is right on. I think its a satanic ploy that he is wrong about God not knowing the future, which rightly discredits him in the eyes of conservative evangelicals, and then the same crowd won't give him the time of day on these timely observations. Only individuals can be Christians. Nations that have many individual Christians may well be blessed. I think that's closer to the US story.

[saadaya]

i thought i would never meet a truly intelligent conservative person, and i still think most conservative preachers are a fraud, but this preacher has earned my respect

[Zunile03scape]

the first amendment is our protection from a church gone government wild and from the government pretender churches.

our founders tried to ensure that we all had the right to our beliefs and had respect for everyone else's. this is the american people's nation, not a brand whatever church nation.

[timoteotime]

technically slavery was here BEFORE we became a nation...and not the brainchild of the puritans/pilgrims who were against slavery from DAY ONE of the constitutional convention... the bottomline IS:

Righteousness EXALTETH a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to ANY people.

Proverbs 14:34

The protestant forefathers they wanted freedom of religion, decntralized church authority and decentrlaized Govt authority in america so people could read their Bibles without fear and persecution.

[xLordOfTheFliesx]

And the founding fathers achieved their religious freedom by theft, abuse and murder. (Of Native Americans that is.)

[adambomb312]

Amen, to all of it. I believe we American Christians will one day fully understand what Bro. Boyd is talking about. I don't claim to have the gift of prophecy, but I believe persecution is coming to the church in America and I pray for it to come so that this lie of a Christian nation will be destroyed and we will finally realize our full identity in Christ.

[dmuziclady]

Holy God,

Thank You for giving us this message through Pastor Gregory Boyd. We needed to hear this to begin living it. Please help people to know that coming to conclusions from merely viewing these videos is not what is best; instead, they should take the time to read the book. It's about what it really means to BE like Your Son, Jesus, our Savior. Please continue to bless Pastor Gregory and help him to accurately spread the good news of Your kingdom. In Jesus' name.

[RadicalWhig]

Oh my God, it looks like Boyd is a Christian who actually takes notice of what Jesus said, rather than just shoving him down our throats!

[Providential1611]

Boyd says some very good things, BUT when it comes to American history, he is completely ingorant and does not know what he is talking about

[Bunnydancer777]

The US has been one of the most violent and genocidal nations in history. You can run away from the truth if you want to but the rest of the world can see the truth quite clearly...who is the only nation in the world to drop a nuclear bomb on majr civillian population centers despite the fact that the nation they were dropping them on had repeatedly tried to surrender for months?

That is a fact that has finally been brought to light with recent releases of documentation.

[Providential1611]

You mean, as violent as communistic nations? Muslim nations? Hamas?

Look, when the Founders laid the foundation for this nation, they looked to God and the Bible for wisdom, they honored Him and HE BLESSED THIS NATION LIKE NO OTHER. You can deny that all you will, but all people and nations see that America has been blessed above all others, and the reason is clear--in the beginning we honored the true God, and He honored us. We have drifted far away from Him and our heritage.

[Bunnydancer777]

Which foundation? If you mean the signing of the constitution, most of those men were DEISTS, not theists. There has been much mythologizing of US history. Most of the founders lived in a time when admitting atheism could get you killed.The reason our nation has been "blessed" has more to do with vulture capitalism and imperialism than God's approval.

Did God bless Constantinian Roman empire?

God deals with The Church (believers) not nations. The US is not Israel,

[sterlingrose33]

Bunnydancer777 is very correct on this. I'm a believer who was born in and grew up near Washington DC; it is very clear, when you go downtown, what this nation builds monuments and temples to, and it's not Jesus Christ. Let Christ take you to a level that transcends nationalism, where there is no Jew or Greek but human beings coming together in the Body. This is not about "ethnicities" or "tribes" - it is about being IN Christ.

[Bunnydancer777]

Meant to convey that if wealth is your measure of God's "blessing" then you should become catholic. They are the wealthiest nation/church out there.

Who controls wealth?

the only time Jesus got physically violent was driving the moneychangers from the Temple.(precursor of the bankers)

The righteous in this world are USUALLY OPPRESSED, that is because satan is the king of all governments including the US government.

[Cr4zylem0ns]

I wouldn't say that a man that educated is ignorant by any means...you may not like that he called some of the founding fathers deists but that isn't even a relevent objection to any of the points that he is making.

[sterlingrose33]

Cr4zylem0ns: Ben Franklin even *admitted* in his autobiography to being a Deist. I read it. The statement in the book is very clear. It's a good read. I recommend all Americans read it.

[Blackmailman]

Beautiful...

[vistacruiser59]

It will never be pretended that any persons employed in [the formation of the American governments] had interviews with the gods or were in any degree under the inspiration of Heaven, more than those at work upon ships or houses, or laboring in merchandise or agriculture; it will forever be acknowledged that these governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses ...

- John Adams, A Defence of the Constitutions of the United States of America, 1787

[seekHim1]

AMEN AMEN AMEN! I don't know how anyone can argue with anything Boyd said. I can't wait to read his book.

[frankeechecker]

This guy gives me hope that maybe people will quit trying to equate Jesus with ANY political party. Rock on Pastor Boyd.

[neurochem]

Truly amazing!! This is one of the very few individuals who I can honestly say represents Jesus.

Mahatma Gandhi onces said,"I like your Christ. I don't like your Christians because your Christians don't act like your Christ." I think a lot of us agree with Mahatma Gandhi on this topic, but I want to thank Dr./Rev./Minister/ or whatever his title he maintains/ Boyd for being a great role model for the Christian religion.

[mayartay]

I agree with you. It seems one of the problems is that speakers or demagogues can raise more money and get more fervent supporters by radicalizing their followers. Everyone seems to like controversy - just tune into talk radio if you doubt that. The many people who wish to see more Boyds should tune into and support people like this and tune out the shrill voices of judgementalism.

Thanks for your comment!

[sterlingrose33]

mayartay - don't know if you'll believe me or not, but I bought his book long before I even knew about the controversy surrounding it. I loved his book. Christians - Pastor Greg's book is very freeing! Once you digest what he's saying in it, you feel all the more free to follow Christ. Not bound by man's rules but free to walk in God's Love made real in Christ. But the only way to really "get it" is to buy Pastor Greg's book and read it, so do it.

[shadowgarfield]

@neurochem I completely agree. Kudos to Dr./Pastor Boyd. he is intelligent, eloquent and most of all, I believe, he is really a Christian, one that represents the Christ of the bible. Not the power hungry right wing, left, or no wing pastors and politicians who use the name of Christ for their political and religious agenda. That's why the bible is clear that Christian should beware of wolves clothed in sheep's clothing. Boyd exposes them. Politics and religion must be separate.

[AtheistCitizen]

as a radical atheist descendant of the radical christians who founded this country I say bravo Gregory Boyd.

[mayartay]

I'm happy that virtually everyone, whether atheist, Christian (here on YouTube - see their comments), or other, agrees with Pastor Boyd's message. I believe there is more common ground among people than we often realize. Atheists have a right to not believe in a God for whatever reason, but it shouldn't be based on stereotyping or prejudice toward Christians. Thanks for your comment.

[braino2000]

Hey man, America was founded by radical DEISTS! However, Goerge Washington openly admitted that America's Laws were primarily taken from theist morals.

[braino2000]

I think every Christian in America should read this book. People complain about "seperation of church and state" when they don't realize that if that policy had always been enforced, Christianity would be in much better shape.

[jdcaballero1]

i am so thankful for this book and this message. i wish every church in north america could read it.

[elvispresleyweeps]

love this man.

[jonbob100]

I think george boyd is showing an ocean full of spiritual discernment, compaired to this desert we call the Christian Church. Excellent, and very refreshing to hear.

[mayartay]

I completely agree, and even though it's not Christian to be envious, I envy joeskis for being able to attend Pastor Boyd's church.

[joeskis]

Gregory Boyd happens to be the pastor of the church I attend. In this interview and the number of times I've heard him speak on this matter he doesn't say people of God can't serve God in politics. He has said God may very well be calling you to a public office. He's saying don't claim your political view as God's political view. And therefore anyone who opposes your political view must be opposing the will of God as well.

[DeJayne]

Christians in power make no difference? Has he never heard of Lord Shaftsbury(the 7th Earl)or William Wilberforce to name just a couple? Will the 'power' of being a top selling author go to his head & cause him to lose sight of God's kingdom? Why does he presume that men of God are unable to serve God in the political arena? I don't mean the wishy washy 'only on a Sunday' kind of believer but true men of God who don't compromise on biblical truths.

[DeJayne]

furthermore... As for americas founding fathers; there is a ton of evidence that proves they accepted God's supremacy in all matters. Did they make mistakes? Don't we all!!

[mayartay]

I do not think Boyd is implying that individual Christians should not seek political office. Rather, I think he disagrees with aggressive "us vs. the world," "take back America," and "Christian nation" style of politics. America's founding fathers supported both religion and church-state separation. After all, they were familiar with religious persecution from the Anglican church.

[mayartay]

I don't know of any time when Christianity benefited from Christians imposing top down religious rule on a country. People tend to hate governments and taxes so why should Christians want take that over anyway?... To start a new crusade against Islam? Count me out!

I think Wilberforce would be considered a liberal today. I don't know of any conservative who care about social justice issues.