Tuesday, 2nd Week of Advent

Amos 7:10-17
The Daily Office

Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, followed in the tradition of "court prophets," who presumably spoke the word of God directly to the King, or did they? Amaziah seems more concerned with preserving national morale than telling the King the truth. There is great privilege in being close to the King, so long as your sugar-coat your prophecy.

Fortunately, we have the separation of church and state in this modern, enlightened country. But how enlightened are we. Remember Billy Graham? He's in his 90s now. But he was an unofficial chaplain to presidents from Eisenhower to Johnson, from Nixon to Carter, officially ending that ministry with President Obama. There is probably no man who has preached the Good News to more people than Graham. But what a price Graham paid for his access to the powerful.

A few years ago, some more of the taped conversations of Richard Nixon were released. On one of those tapes, Nixon warns Graham that "anti-Semitism is stronger than we think, you know. They just--it's unfortunate, but this has happened to the Jews. It happened in Spain, it's happened in Germany, it's happening--and now it's going to happen in America if these people don't start behaving." To which the Rev. Graham replied: "the Bible talks about two kinds of Jews. One is called 'the synagogue of Satan.' They're the ones putting out the pornographic literature."

There are other instances of Nixon spewing anti-Semitism and Graham essentially playing along with him. To be fair, it isn't so much that Graham is endorsing Nixon's views, as he shows himself unwilling to speak truth to the power he is counseling, much like Amaziah.

Particularly in a country which possesses a great Christian heritage, it is tempting to confuse the well being of the Church with the well being of the country. But the first loyalty of the Christian is to the Kingdom of God, not to kingdoms, or political parties of human making. It's easy to oppose the people you don't agree with, and consequently spend little time with. But what of your allies? Can you see their faults? Can you speak clearly to them of those faults? If you can do that, then you are Amos, not Amaziah.