New Frontiers in Patriotic Blasphemy

If you attend church, especially on the Sunday before a national military appreciation day (Memorial Day, July Fourth, & Veterans Day), you have probably seen the blasphemous Christian cross and American flag or Christian flag and American flag lapel pins that some men wear to church on their suit coat. Although I have never seen one of these “God and country” Christians wear one of these pins anywhere else, I suppose that some men do wear one on other occasions when they wear a suit coat.

I have never come across a Bible and American flag lapel pin, although such a thing may exist. What I did discover recently, thanks to an observant reader, is something far worse—a Bible with an American flag cover.

It is called the God’s Glory Bible. It is the “Holy Bible Honoring God and Country” that is “Made by Americans for Americans.” It is “a symbol of God and Country united.” It “looks like the Holy Bible wrapped in an American flag.” But “along with symbolizing God and Country,” it also has “many other components that make it a unique Bible for every patriotic American.” First there is the cover:

On the front cover one gold star shines above the golden words, “Holy Bible”. Its deep blue field has thirteen stars in total: 12 white stars representing the 12 disciples and one gold star representing Jesus. Together, the thirteen stars represent the 13 original colonies of the United States of America. The blue field, the white stars and the red and white stripes continue around the spine and back of the Bible. “God’s Glory Bible,” “King James Version” and “Holy Bible” are written on the spine in gold. The edges of the entire cover are stitched with thread to finish the fine details of the cover.

At the beginning of the Bible is a presentation page followed by family records pages, including a page to record military or public service.  A “full page is devoted to listing the name of each state and the date each was admitted to the United States of America.” There is an inspirational section with testimonials from “four good-hearted Americans who committed themselves to making a difference in the lives of fellow Americans.” Then there are pages “designated for you to enter your own goals to serve others.” The pages for family records pages and the inspirational stories “are on stock paper with a watermark in the red, white and blue design of the cover—stars and stripes wave across each page.” The text is “large print” and the paper is “of a high quality.” The New Testament “features the words of Christ in red.” At the end of the Bible are “eight full-color maps.” The Bible is “packaged for presentation in a Flag-red two-piece box highlighted with gold foil lettering showing one star. “God’s Glory Bible” is printed on the front and sides. “One Nation Under God” is also printed on the front of the box.

The God’s Glory Bible is the ultimate in patriotic blasphemy. It is even worse than The American Patriot’s Bible and The KJV Military Bible.

The Bible is a holy book; the United States is an unholy nation.

The Bible says to care for widows and orphans; the United States makes widows and orphans.

The Bible is God’s book; the United States is not God’s country.

The Bible says not to be a busybody in other men’s matters; the United States intervenes all over the globe.

The Bible is the hope of the world; the United States is the scourge of the world.

The Bible says that Christ died for our sins; U.S. soldiers die in vain in senseless foreign wars.

The Bible speaks truth; the United States speaks lies.

The Bible says to do unto others as you would have them do unto you; the United States does unto other countries what it would never tolerate them doing to America.

The Bible changes lives; the United States destroys lives, at home and abroad.

The Bible says that God knows the secrets of the heart; the United States spies on its citizens to discover the secrets of their hearts.

The Bible lauds the Prince of Peace; the United States applauds the god of war.

The Bible says to trust in the Lord; the United States trusts in its military might.

The Bible reveals God to us; the United States sends people to meet their god.

The Bible says “Thou shalt not kill”; the United States replies that it is okay to kill if you are wearing an American military uniform.

The Bible is settled in heaven; U.S. drone strikes make the earth a hell.

The Bible says to love thy neighbor as thyself; the United States prefers to bomb its neighbors.

The Bible is food for the soul; the United States is a sugar daddy for defense contractors.

The Bible says that God will not give his glory to another; the United States says to salute “Old Glory.”

The God’s Glory Bible brings glory to the United States, not to God. Why would any Christian want his Bible wrapped in an American flag? In some cases it is just ignorance or naïveté. In other cases it is a result of willful ignorance or blind nationalism. But whatever the reason, they stand instructed and corrected. Give glory to God, not the American state. Cursed be “God and country” Christianity.