Laying Down Your Life
Laying Down Your Life
Imagined Communities by Benedict Anderson is such a great title to a book. I was excited to see this book on the reading list because the very title embraces two words I love. I wasn’t really sure what to expect diving into Anderson’s book but I went in with my imagination ready and curious to learn about community.
Whether it is Je Suis Charlie, Eric Garner, or issues in Ferguson, it is clear communities and nations are having very important conversations regarding ethnicity and race. I was really interested to read chapter 8 “Patriotism and Race” and was encouraged when Anderson reminds us by saying, “In an age when it is so common for progressive, cosmopolitan intellectuals to insist on the near-patho-logical character of nationalism, its roots in fear and hatred of the Other, and its affinities with racism, it is useful to remind ourselves that nations inspire love.[1]” I tend to agree with Anderson. The violent acts of a few have created all sorts of racial and ethnic tension but as a whole I think people want to love one another. The global display of solidarity in Paris a few days ago (the USA’s role is another conversation) showed a beautiful willingness by thousands to support and love others. In many ways the solidarity march was a symbol of nations and communities coming together to find common ground. Many of us don’t know how to best love those that are different from us but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to love one another. While many nations are still divided there are also many nations standing side-by-side, even though religious differences.
As a pastor I am often thinking about how the church can lead in some of these conversations. Anderson doesn’t give a lot of hope; “in Western Europe the eighteenth century marks not only the dawn of the age of nationalism but the dusk of religious modes of thought.[2]” I understand Anderson’s point of view and I can physically see more people embracing their nationality over religious convictions but Anderson underestimates the power of the Gospel. When talking about War Anderson notes, “the great wars of this century are extraordinary…in the colossal numbers of men persuaded to lay down their lives.[3]” The allurement of laying down ones life for their country is a noble call but dissipates with the destruction of a nation or rise of another. The call to ones nation can’t compare to the thousands of years that men and women have been laying down their lives for Christ.
The Church should have a powerful voice into the conversation of “imagined communities.” The Church has a unique opportunity to be the bridge builders of one nation to another nation. The call to love and lay down ones life should resonate with all people because of the loving sacrificial act that Jesus did for the entire world. That is an imagined community I hope for.
[1] Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections On the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, Revised Edition, Revised ed. (London: Verso, 2006), 141
[2] Ibid., 11
[3] Ibid., 144
About the Author
Nick Martineau
Nick is a pastor at Hope Community Church in Andover, KS, founder of ILoveOrphans.com, and part of the LGP5 cohort.8 responses to “Laying Down Your Life”
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Good to see your thinking again Nick, I strongly agree with you line, “I understand Anderson’s point of view and I can physically see more people embracing their nationality over religious convictions but Anderson underestimates the power of the Gospel.” I felt throughout the book, Anderson was trying to place nationalism as the ultimate grid for social order and organization. I think we are seeing a day that or nationalistic lines and commitments are going to be trumped by much deeper belief systems. I bit like Dave is bringing up through the real and raw thought of “are you really willing to die” for what you believe in, I think lives in our world today are going to go beyond their “national belief system” (and hopefully there is something there deeper) where I think faith and religion will come in to real play. Great post my friend and i think the Paris, Ferguson, and New York examples of our changing world are perfect points in case.
Nick, I appreciate your positive and hopeful reading of the text. I’m not sure why but from the beginning I kind of took it as an undermining of nationalism. I heartedly agree with your observation that Anderson puts religion in a fairly bad light (I’m sure much of which is deserved) and sees nationalism taking over a role that religion once played in unifying peoples into communities. May we live the gospel in such a way that our sense of identity with all its passion goes to Jesus over religion or nationalism.
Nick,
Great post! You mentioned the global display of solidarity in Paris..America’s snub of the rally has a scent of elitist nationalism. In fact, many news sources reported that Obama spent the day watching an NFL game on television. Wow! Are the priorities of Americans, in general, misaligned? What should the response be from American Christians?
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2905678/America-snubs-historic-Paris-rally-Holder-skipped-early-Kerry-India-Obama-Biden-just-stayed-home-leave-no-U-S-presence-anti-terror-march-joined-global-leaders.html#ixzz3P8uRaCrv
I’ve yet to find anyone who thinks Americas snub of the solidarity march was a good think.
It’s hard to fully define nationalism when there can be so much disunity with its leader. That’s the big difference with Christianity. Denominations might disagree on small things but there is great unity around our leader, Jesus.
“Many of us don’t know how to best love those that are different from us but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to love one another. While many nations are still divided there are also many nations standing side-by-side, even though religious differences.”
As one thought of many in Anderson’s book that you responded to, this one struck home for me. I just had a friend share with our small group how her son has “come out of the closet” recently. It was a hard conversation because one of the gals in the group recently left her denomination for the reason of ordaining homosexuals. The mom shared because she knew we loved her and loved her son. In many situations, both personally and globally, we don’t know how to share our differences, nor do we start with the hope of understanding. I think you are right in that there are nations making attempts at standing side-by-side, trying to at least start the conversation. I found the Wall Street Journal front page picture of national leaders holding hands fascinating, particularly with Israel’s Netanyahu on one side and the Palestinian Abbas on the other on. Maybe there is hope beyond nationalism.
Mary,
There is hope beyond nationalism…in Christ! It is Christ who unites everything under heaven and earth. In Him, nations have no boundaries.
“God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.”
Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation, 3rd ed. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007), Eph 1:9–11.
Great thoughts, Nick.
Your insight into our ability love was very insightful; “Many of us don’t know how to best love those that are different from us but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to love one another.” The realty is that we will make mistakes as we seek to express love, but that does not mean that we are not making progress and that God is not still at work. I also like your challenge that the church can lead some of the key conversations that need to take place.
God bless you brother Nick,
I am so in agreement with you on this. I never like to sound so ultra spiritual but at times its important to realize that we are nationalism begins in heaven. Being born again and speaking the language of the Holy Scriptures unites us just like language and national print languages connect nations and people. I praise God of knowing that we are here to preach our language of Christ and to let the world know that there is a community on high that is not imaged.
Blessings brother Nick