From the NTJ, July 1997 (1.3)

We are not given to providential readings of United States’ history. Our editorial policy vehemently rejects the notion that America has a special place in God’s plan, or even that it was and should be a Christian nation. From our reading of the Bible only one nation ever existed as God’s chosen one, and that was Israel, the Old Testament church.Nor do we think it possible to tell what God is up to in human history. We know the broad outlines of the story, which is the movement from creation, the fall, and redemption (where we now are) to consummation. But how we get there apart from some special revelation to instruct us is anybody’s guess.

Having said all that, if we were to conclude that God was judging the United States through abortion, the AIDS epidemic and general lawlessness, would it be possible to say the cause of such punishment was the American church’s use of praise songs, overheads, hand held mikes and electric guitars in worship? After all, almost every time God punished Israel it was because God’s people was engaging in idolatry. So why is it that the Christians most prone to providential readings of current affairs are also the ones most  comfortable with rock ‘n roll in public worship?

As the punch line has it to a joke observing that there are twenty-four hours in a day and twenty-four bottles in a case of beer: any connection?