Jesus For President

According to Shane Claiborn and his co-writers, our allegiance to our country is incompatible to our allegiance to Christ. Christ asks that we be peace makers, but if we are to be peacemakers how can we perpetrate war and military occupation in 150 countries around the world. Jesus For President tells us by way of several church historians that early roman converts to Christianity gave up their positions of power both in the Roman military and regular political office. Claiborne makes a good point that these Christians could not take part in the imperial enterprise of Rome, however, the question as to whether America is Rome of its time is a tougher case to make. Is America's military presence in the world excessive? I think the clear answer is yes. Does that make us imperialists. I certainly cannot liken our presence in Japan to that of Britains in India or the Dutch presence in South Africa. These were clearly more oppressive. However, up until recently, our control over the Iraqi government did seem oppressive. When the democratically elected prime minister of an American liberated country has to ask America to leave I believe this means we have over-stayed our welcome.