The God You Have: Politics and the First Commandment

by Patrick D. Miller Jr.

Book Overview

In this bracing call to serious thought, esteemed biblical theologian Patrick Miller looks to the First Commandment in the fight against the misappropriation of theological themes for political ends-''the coalescence of God and country, the takeover of the language of faith in the speech of politics, and the confusion of loyalty with obedience.''

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800636627
• ISBN13: 9780800636623
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishing
• Length: 81 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 4.3" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

great

great! all about how the 1st commandment is actually a political statement. interesting...

Caught up in the Chaos

It's so very easy, and perhaps, expected, that among our worldly heroes, deference and admiration will be shown by overriding evidence of loyalty, and advocacy, too often anticipated to come before anything else. The first commandment, however, long ago set the priorities of humans, even those for whom life is little more than a 365 day daily highjump of hurdles to overcome. While we might imagine that this is not a healthy way to live, many people do life in that manner, rarely taking the time to determine if that is their best use of time with respect to God's purpose for their lives, and in tune, with the priorities gleaned from their understanding of God as maker, guide, and devotee. Anxiety that arises from our man-made failures, or what might be considered failures, is rarely consistent with those that God and we might devise between us. For some reason, the birth of a child always acts to restore a sense of inner confidence that men and women so often lose in the negligence of the humans with whom they share their lives, or in whose business of life they are involved who place themselves in a position of becoming the judge and jury that should be reserved for God and ourselves.