American Destiny and the Calling of the Church (Lutheran Voices)

In a post-Cold War, post-9/11 world the United States has been thrust into a position of global leadership with awesome responsibility. People of the church are called upon, not simply to accept but to help define the U.S. role. Based on biblical/theological/ confessional norms, the ideology our country adopts needs to be understood and critiqued by people of the church. It is urgent that congregations, in a bipartisan spirit of openness, subject this issue to debate in the public forum. The author's approach to the issue is based on a three-fold commitment - to the centrality of the gospel, to the ministry of the church, and to the responsible role of the nation in the world. Chapters of the book focus on: Reading History as a Community of Faith; America's Original Calling: The Puritan Legacy; America's Calling Today; A Lutheran Response to Imperial Claims; and Learning the Lessons of Historic Church Struggle and Resistance. Each chapter includes questions for reflection and discussion.