Every once in a while I hear someone who publicly states they are a Christian come out with an outrageous comment that raises serious questions for the discerning listener. Such was the case several weeks ago when presidential hopeful Michele Bachman stated, “You will not see me apologizing for the United States of America across the world, because the United States of America is the greatest force for good in the history of mankind, and we will be that again.”
Surely every Christian should know and understand that the greatest force for good in the history of the world is the church and not a nation. The church, instituted by Jesus Christ who on the cross defeated the powers of darkness, broke the bonds of sin and who today is reconciling the world to Himself.
While the United States may be a great nation in the modern world, it is still a nation of this world and as such is represented by the image of Babylon on the book of Revelation. It is no equal to the church and is, in many ways very similar to ancient Rome.
Rome brought great peace to the world in it's time. The result was that trade flourished and a strong infrastructure of trasportation existed. Of course behind that peace was the constant threat of a great military, "don't mess with us and our ways or we'll bring the full force of our military might down upon you." It was fine to worship any God as long as it didn't threaten the supremacy of the state. Indeed it was the very sense that Christianity was subversive to the state at led to Christians being persecuted. The early Christians would not pledge allegiance to the Caesar and the state, they reserved this for God alone.
Of course Rome eventually fell, as all empires in this world have done.
The United States has much to offer the world but please let's not be so arrogant, proud or wrong in trying to claim that it is or ever has been, "the greatest force for good in the history of mankind." Perhaps Michelle Bachman would consider, in the light of her Christian faith retracting this statement.
