Dear Friends in Christ, 

Tonight we end our summer worship series with a meditative style reflection on the words that Jesus taught us to pray when we say what we call “the Lord’s Prayer.”  (Of course, we ought to call it “Our Lord’s Prayer” because Jesus is Lord for only some self-identifying Christians.)

Since there’s a controversial “Christian nationalism” movement astir in our society these days, I decided to “google” this term and examine the AI (artificial intelligence) definition of it.  Here’s a bit of what I found: 

The Lord’s Prayer and Christian Nationalism

The Lord’s Prayer is fundamentally at odds with the ideology of Christian nationalism according to many theologians and critics of the movement.  While Christian nationalists may use religious language, the prayer’s focus on God’s transcendent kingdom, challenges a nationalism that exalts a particular earthly nation. 

Theological Contrast Between the Lord’s Prayer and Christian Nationalism

Lord’s Prayer Element	Rejection of Christian Nationalism Ideology
Our Father, Hallowed be thy name	Refutes national idolatry by emphasizing a universal spiritual kinship over national identity.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.	Challenges earthly authority: This plea for God’s kingdom arriving on earth subverts any national claim of ultimate allegiance.  It affirms that a follower’s highest loyalty is to God’s universal reign, not any earthly nation.
Give us this day our daily bread.	Emphasizes reliance on God: This petition for daily provision reinforces that followers are sustained by God’s provision, not by the military might or economic success of a nation.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.	Promotes universal mercy: This line stresses universal mercy and forgiveness. It clashes with the xenophobia and exclusion of outsiders—particularly immigrants and non-Christians—that is often promoted by Christian nationalism.
Deliver us from evil.	Warns against political temptation: This final request can be interpreted as a prayer for deliverance from the temptations of worldly power. It stands in direct contrast to the Christian nationalist quest for political and state power in the name of Jesus.

A “Google AI” footnote states: “AI responses may include mistakes.”  Well, of course!  Nobody and nothing are perfect, not even AI!  And its truth, like beauty, is certainly “in the eye of the beholder.”   

But, I find a lot of this AI content to be “on the mark.” – or the opposite of sin which is about “missing (divine) marks.”  But, what about you?

Blessings of Love’s Respect and Compassion Amidst Truth-Seeking and Truth-Telling,
Pastor Ed