#7 America Is NOT a "Christian Nation"

I'd like to make a proposal. I think we should all agree to remove the phrase "Christian nation" from our vocabulary. First of all, not everyone in the United States identifies as a Christian. It's insulting to them to call the U.S. a Christian nation. I'd certainly like everyone everywhere to belong to Jesus Christ, but I don't think using somewhat insulting terms like "Christian nation" is going to help that cause.

Second, the whole idea that the U.S. was founded on Christian principles is, to put it charitably, much less historically supported than we might like to believe. We spent a whole day of church history in seminary poking holes in this claim. For one thing, the constitution mentions religion exactly once, and there it says that religion cannot be used to stop someone from running for office. (We had about nine other points, but this isn't my main topic in this post. If you'd like to hear more, let me know in the comments, and I'll dig out my church history notes.)

Third--and I'd like to think most importantly--I think our whole concept of a "Christian nation" just doesn't really make sense. If you want to say Christianity equals the church, well, the church, the people of God, isn't national or even international; the church is transnational. If you want to change terms slightly and say Christianity equals the kingdom of God, well, Jesus says that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36); sure, the kingdom exists here and now, but it's about more than just the earth. Paul says that God's purpose is "to bring to unity all things in heaven and on earth under Christ" (Ephesians 1:9-10). God's people extend far beyond the U.S. American laws aren't the same as God's laws. And besides, nations are rightly designed to act for their own self-interests. But our Lord Christ emptied Himself to serve others, and He calls His people to do the same. Christianity doesn't put up borders, but nations really must have some kind of border, even if it's really easy to cross. Christian and nation don't fully go together.

In fact, I'd say that the new and shocking inclusiveness of the people of God in the new age of Christ is one of the more prominent themes of the New Testament. Jesus teaches Samaritans (John 4) and praises the faith of a Canaanite woman (Matthew 15) and a Roman centurion (Luke 7). Christ says that He has sheep from outside of the sheep pen of Israel (John 10), tells His church to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28), and prophesies that His church will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1). The book of Acts makes a big deal of how God's Spirit shows that Samaritans (Acts 8) and Gentiles (Acts 10, 11, 15) are now part of God's chosen people. Paul's writings are clear that salvation is for all people (Romans 1:16), that Jews and non-Jews are part of the one body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), and that the distinctions between nations are unimportant in Christ (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11). In fact, Paul says that creating one new humanity of both Jews and Gentiles was central to God's purposes in Christ (Ephesians 2). Finally, John envisions the people of God as "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language" (Revelation 7:9). I'm afraid that if we focus too much on the U.S. as a "Christian nation" we might start to think that Christians in other nations, especially those without a Christian majority, don't really count or aren't really the same as us. We might become blinded by our own U.S.-centric biases and start believing an "American gospel" instead of the gospel.

Additionally, I don't want us to get too worried about the current state or apparent future of the U.S. For one thing, the Bible is clear that, no matter what, Jesus Christ is King of all (for example, Colossians 1, Ephesians 1, Philippians 2, 1 Corinthians 15). No matter what our government looks like or how secure we feel, Jesus is in control. And even if the U.S. should become 0% Christian or sink into the sea, God's mission would continue. The people of God is the church, not any nation. God's mission and the mission of His people doesn't stand or fall based on how Christian the U.S. is. For another thing, the U.S. (or any other nation) isn't our true home. Paul says our citizenship is heaven (Philippians 3:20). Both Peter and the author of Hebrews say that we are foreigners here on earth (1 Peter 1:17, 2:12; Hebrews 11:13). Now, until Christ comes again, we live here on earth, and we might even have the privileges of citizenship in some earthly nation. We should use our rights wisely and carry out our responsibilities dutifully. We should submit to our governments (Romans 13, 1 Peter 2), pray for those in authority over us (1 Timothy 2), and pay taxes as required (Matthew 22). But when we give our governments their due, we must remember that God deserves everything we have, including our votes. Let's think about how we can honor God with our votes. And no matter the outcome, let's remember that Christ still reigns.

Finally, we need to realize, as the early Christians and their contemporaries in the Roman empire did, that saying "Jesus is Lord" means there can be no other. Caesar isn't lord. The president isn't lord. America isn't lord. Those of us who live in the heart of America, the modern-day empire of Babylon or Rome, need to be especially careful that we don't compromise for the sake of comfort. We need to watch out so that America doesn't become an idol for us, that we don't equate worshiping God with serving America or even hold up the U.S. as an alternative to God. Jesus Christ is Lord. He calls us to deny ourselves and our self-interests and follow Him, joining His body, the church, which transcends all national borders. Let's remember that our ultimate allegiance is to God: if ever there is conflict, we must obey God rather than human beings (Acts 5:29). So let's drop the whole "Christian nation" thing and get our priorities straight. We belong to God first and thus also to His people. Our true kingdom will one day put an end to all others (Daniel 2, Revelation 19-20), and then, when God is all in all, we will have our true and never-ending Christian nation, our Christian empire, our Christian world (Revelation 21).

Grace and peace,
BMH

#6 The End Is Not the End

Yesterday afternoon I was ordained as a minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church in North America, which means I have now officially become the pastor of Kanawha Christian Reformed Church. The day was a lot of fun. I preached in the morning; then the congregation celebrated with a potluck. During the afternoon service I pledged, with the Spirit's help, to serve Jesus Christ and His church. Pastor Frank, my classis-appointed mentor, led a time of prayer, and elders and pastors laid their hands on me. Tess and I greeted visitors and family and friends after church, and we continued celebrating over dessert. The whole experience was pretty surreal. I've finally reached the goal of my formal education. We even took celebratory pictures.

Tess and me in front of the church

My sister Molly, my parents, and my grandma came for the celebration.

Our friends Kathryn, Eric, and Lindsay also came out for the ordination.

But as fun as yesterday was, it was really more of a beginning than an ending. What I've been looking forward to all this time isn't so much the end of my time of preparation but the beginning of my career of ministry. In some ways I'm just continuing the work that I've already been doing here, but things have changed. Now when I bring a message from God's Word, my speaking is technically preaching and no longer exhorting. Now I am authorized to administer the sacraments of baptism and communion. Now I have been entrusted with the privilege of raising my hands and giving God's blessing to God's people.

As I enter the pastorate, I think that this is quite the calling. To be honest, I feel terribly unworthy. But it really doesn't matter what I think. This is where I have felt God leading me, and though His church He has told me that I am ready to take up this work. The time is now. When I made profession of faith, my pastor wrote me a note that included a few verses from 2 Timothy 1. Verse 6 always stood out to me: "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." That charge has never felt more real and weighty to me than right now. Thankfully, I don't decide if I am qualified, nor am I alone in this ministry. The very next verse of 2 Timothy says, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline." Like Timothy, I am a young man at the beginning of the adventurous journey of ministry, and like Timothy, I have the Spirit with me to lead me, comfort me, challenge me, and defend me. Praise God for that!

Grace and peace,
BMH

#5 Judgment Day

Today was my examination before Classis North Central Iowa. This was the last step in my journey to becoming ordained as a minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The exam had three stages. First, I was asked practical questions about my life, my sense of calling, and how I would respond to different situations in ministry. Second, two pastors reviewed an assigned Old Testament sermon that I preached a few weeks ago, as well as manuscripts for a New Testament sermon and a Heidelberg Catechism sermon that I chose to submit. Third, I was asked questions about my biblical and theological knowledge. After a number of general questions about some of the basics of our faith, I was asked some more specific questions about topics such as a Christian response to persons who identify as LGBTQ+, different views of creation, and how to handle this year's election as a pastor. Overall, the exam went really well, and I am really pleased to report that I sustained my examination.

Talking through the practical section of the exam

Receiving the results with Tess

So this is it. I've been actively working to become a minister for the past three years, and now I've fulfilled all of my requirements. It's all over except for the upcoming celebration of my ordination on Sunday. For the most part, I have really enjoyed this journey, but I am also pretty relieved that it's over. I've felt called to be a minister for eight or nine years, so it is very reassuring to have that sense of calling affirmed by both the local congregation and the broader church. Since I began seminary in 2013, I have learned a lot about God and about myself, about what we believe and about caring for others. God has been incredibly good to me throughout this journey, and I'm excited to see how He will use me as I begin a career of professional ministry. To God alone be the glory!

To close, I'll leave you with the text of the Classical Diploma I was given after the exam:

This certifies that Brian Hofman, having been examined by Classis North Central Iowa in the presence of the deputies representing synod, is sound in faith and qualified for the work of Christian ministry.

After a favorable decision by this classis and with the concurrence of the synodical deputies, the candidate is hereby declared qualified for and is admitted to the sacred ministry of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. In witness whereof we have caused this diploma to be signed by the president and clerk of this session of classis and have affixed the seal of this classis hereto on this 13th day of September in the year of our Lord 2016.

May the King of the church cause His servant to be a blessing--that the church may be edified, sinners may be led to conversion, and the glory of the triune God may be promoted.

Grace and peace,

BMH

#4 Janie and the 100K

Friday was a historic day for me. As of September 2, 2016, I have put over 100,000 miles on my 1999 Honda Civic. (Yes, those of you who haven't seen me in a while, I'm still driving that same car.) I understand that this isn't normal. With the help of a loan from my parents, I picked up a used car in April 2007, two months after getting my drivers' license, and that car is still going strong. When I think of my Civic, I must confess that God has been good to me.

Janie, my Civic, is old enough to be a high school senior. She's been a part of my life for nearly ten years, which is longer than I've known Tess. Clearly I'm much closer to Tess, but still, 2007 was a while ago. Janie and I have a lot of memories. Some of the best conversations I've had with a lot of my closest friends have taken place in my car. Janie was there the night of the great 2008 Waupun flood when I was worried she was going to be washed off the flooded road. I remember packing up my Civic to head off to college and have a heart-to-heart with Molly as we drove down to Trin. Tess and I had our first kiss in my car late in the fall of 2009. I was driving Janie when I got pulled over for having too many passengers--six girls!--in my car as a college freshman, and I dug Janie out after the Snowpocalypse of early 2011. My Civic was my companion when I fought sleep on the way back from visiting Tess in the summers during college, and I remember chatting with my dad as I drove the Civic over to Sheboygan Falls on my wedding day. Janie came with me to seminary in Michigan, trekked out to Washington and back with me last summer, and now is settling into her Iowa plates, the third set she's had since I got her. There have been times where Janie felt like my girlfriend or my child, and it looks like I'll still be driving her when I bring my first child back from the hospital. Janie might only be an inanimate object, but I think at this point owning a green Civic has become part of my self-identity. I can't begin to count the number of jam sessions Janie and I have had. At this point Janie is rolling towards old age. I'm not sure how much longer we'll be together, but I'm pretty confident at this point that she'll never have another owner, and I bet I'll bawl like a baby when Janie finally does call it quits. But for now, this post is for you, Janie. You're the best car a guy could ever have.

Janie in Waupun back in high school

Janie with window paint late in 2008

Janie with window paint early in 2009

Janie ready for the trip to Washington

100,000 miles together! (Tess took this picture while I drove.)

Janie with me in her new Iowa home

Grace and peace,

BMH