The Harmful Effects of Dualism: Today's Patriotism and Christianity

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I think we need to focus less on "separating the sin from the sinner" and focus more on the spiritual battle occurring in the cosmic realm. 

As Paul says,

"This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world."

Dualism causes us to view worship as separate from the rest of life and when we combine this part of our worldview with the compartmentalizing of being an American as separate from a Christian, then patriotism will dominate. Sometimes we will wear the hat of Christ, but mostly we will wear the hat of Caesar.

As a result of this Caesar oriented dominance, Christians become afraid of being branded an ungrateful traitor by advocates of the state, when in fact, Jesus was crucified by the state and by His own countrymen who viewed Him as a traitor to their nation's worldview. 

As John says,

"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did."

Do we? 

Or have we inherited an admixture of the state and church that we will find it harder and harder to justify the more the world becomes globalized? I do not mean to cause the crony capitalism of central banks to come to mind when I say this, but Christianity has sought to globalize the world for 2,000 years.

Like the teenager who gets involved with organized crime and learns too late that they never let you out, has this happened with organized statehood and Christianity?

Can today's patriotism and Christianity co-exist? 

As Amos asks,

"Can two walk together if they are not in agreement?"

Patriots can ignore the killing of innocent people in war with little pangs of conscience. At least, not enough to actually say its wrong and repent (though many do when they return from the theater of war and after having witnessed its horrors). How can innocent people being killed in war be justified into a national, or patriotic, mindset? Because dualism allows for wearing two hats. Christ's hat on Sunday and Caesar's hat during the "rest of life."

The hierarchical military allows for those within its confines to avoid responsibility. The General gives the order, he doesn't actually do the killing, and the soldier is simply carrying out the orders he is given. No one is completely responsible for his own actions. The two, typically, work in tandem. Even if current officers were former field soldiers the system was the same.

Women's Rights Advocates can ignore the killing of innocent children in the womb, can Christians?

Dualism can cause highly harmful, even culturally delusional belief systems that seem normal, but how can two kingdoms which seek to advance themselves in the world one by killing its enemies and the other by loving its enemies, be mixed?

Which one is diluted, or should I say, deluded, when they are?

"Does not even a little leaven permeate the entire loaf?"

How much leaven has entered the church in the last 2,000 years from the state mentalities of men--that all come and go over time? Salvation does not come through any political party or ideology of man.

Instead of blaming the other political party and other nations of men, why don't we come out of them all and be a separate nation of all peoples?

Why don't we stop giving away our personal responsibility to representatives who are controlled by the establishment bureaucrats, special interest lobbyists, big banks, and big corporations? None of which are elected officials.

What prevents Christians from maturing into Christ, or "walking as He walked" as God commands? (Eph. 4:11-16; cf. 2 Pet. 3:18; Rom. 8:29).

I think not being aware of the above realities that exist today caused by dualism is a tremendous hindrance to Christian growth and maturity.