Will the church mimic the growing "America First" sentiment?

Christians often voice great alarm over the church following the culture. Many are crying out for the church to influence the culture rather than to allow the culture to influence the church.

Ironically, the alarm itself may be evidence the church is following a powerful American trend toward isolationism.

Isolationism is a political foreign policy that avoids involvement beyond a country's borders. Most historians agree this was the prevalent foreign policy of the United States from the American Revolution until World War II. It is a powerful force in our culture that may be affecting your congregation.

INWARD POLICY

In 1796 George Washington promoted isolationism in his farewell address. His desire to keep the new nation out from under the influence of England and other European powers planted the seeds for a political foreign policy that became ingrained.

The 1823 Monroe Doctrine made informal isolationism official. President Monroe ...