Commentary by Bob Cornwall

A poster that once hung in the Lompoc post office lobby now resides elsewhere, all because Matt Hughes, a local atheist, requested its removal. Postal employees, bloggers, and letter writers from across the country have responded by calling for its restoration.

At dispute are questions of state-sponsorship of religion and the religious rights of the majority. It appears from the responses that the silent majority is no longer silent and it's demanding that its voice be heard. This majority sentiment involves a mixture of patriotism, fear, and religious zeal. Respondents ask Mr. Hughes: How can one person's feelings overrule the rights of the many who wish to publicly express their faith and patriotism?

The argument for removing the poster hinges on the definition of state sponsorship of religion; and, from what I've read, Hughes has a broader definition of state-sponsorship than most. Therefore, he believes a poster that proclaims God's blessing of America is out of bounds. From a strictly constitutional standpoint the challenge isn't very strong. “God Bless America” is hardly an explicit expression of any particular religious perspective. Besides, the post office is no longer a specifically governmental entity, and based on previous precedents it's unlikely that any court, including the Supreme Court, would rule in his favor. Truth be told, that court has ruled (or chosen not to rule) that such slogans are permissible on public property.

Despite Hughes's protestations, the statement “God Bless America” is not a threat to the separation of church and state. It does little more than give expression to a fairly benign civil religion that's been part of American life from the very beginning. Presidents regularly ask God to bless America, and immediately after 9-11 “God Bless America” even replaced “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch in many of America's stadiums. Whatever god (God) is referred to in the song and slogan is rather generic and not specifically Christian - except in the sense that Christianity (in all its many forms and factions) is the religious choice of a plurality of Americans.

That being said, I find the rhetoric of Hughes's critics a bit bewildering. Personally, I don't care whether the poster is in the post office. Its removal isn't a threat to my faith nor is its presence all that spiritually uplifting. What I find distressing is the uncharitable spirit of many of the respondents. These responses hearken back to the days when critics of the American status quo were told to love it or leave it, and are expressions of a reactionary sentiment that's afoot in our land, a sentiment rooted in fear of terrorism, cultural change, and economic instability. It's a sentiment that demands that a Christian majority have its rights respected. Remember, this isn't just about the poster; it's also about Christmas and Easter, and a lot of other issues.

As a Christian, I find this new aggressiveness on the part of fellow Christians out of character with the person and teachings of Jesus. Somehow I can't visualize Jesus demanding his rights and telling Hughes to mail his letters and packages elsewhere if he doesn't like the poster. Nor do I see him approving statements that Hughes might spend eternity in Hell or that he should leave town if he doesn't like the poster.

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Ultimately, my bone to pick is with the theology behind the poster itself. It may be a benign expression of civil religion at a time of confusion and uncertainty, but what makes us believe that God plays favorites with America? As Neil Young puts it:

Was he thinkin' about my country

Or the color of my skin?

Was he thinkin' ‘bout my religion

And the way I worshipped him?

Did he create just me in his image

Or every living thing?

When God made me.

If God created all things, then God is concerned about the welfare of all nations and peoples, not just America. And if we think we've been especially blessed, then we should be willing to bear the greater burden for the welfare of the world's citizens. Issues such as hunger, the environment, global warming, war, disease, all should be our primary concerns; that is, if we truly believe that God blesses America.

Dr. Bob Cornwall is pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Lompoc (www.lompocdisciples.org).

Contact him at lompocdisciples@impulse.net or at First Christian Church, P.O. Box 1056, Lompoc, CA 93438.

September 24, 2006