I often wonder what America looked like back when it belonged to God. Without a memory that extends much beyond 1981, I can only assume that there must have been a time in its relatively short history when America looked more like Christ. It couldn't have been too long ago. It seems every good fundamentalist preacher has in his repertoire at least a few references to the days when God was feared, the church sacred, and the Bible respected. I'll avoid the rant, but ask the question. What would America look like if it really was dedicated to the things of God? I'm guessing we wouldn't recognize it. What do you suppose has had the greatest influence on the other? Christianity on America, or America on Christianity. Some would say that Christianity has shaped America into the great nation that it is. Maybe so. You cannot argue that we are blessed. But I can't reconcile the brand of christianity I've become familiar with to the one preached by the Gospel and the Cross. Consumerism, capitalism, excess? May work for the nation but not for the church. Unfortunately each could be used to describe much of the American church. I'm not down on America. Just not to pleased with what it's done to Christianity. I get a little bothered and then a little embarrassed by both the truths and untruths of articles such as this one from the Huffington Post a few days ago.
What do you think? Is this an accurate caricature of American Christians?
This in my mind is a complex issue. The first question we must ask is are we really a christian nation. There is no doubt that are country was founded on Biblical Principles, but what I question is were all of the americans in the 18th and 19th century really true believers or the chaffe amongst the wheat. However, that being said there was still a great "christian culture" in those times that you cannot argue. But were the Christians of those day any different than the christians of today? Where our Christian Culture may have slid to the side of liberalism and Cheap Grace most christians of the past could be accused of severe legalism and a false sense of True Christianity. When I compare them or us to the early church I have to say that neither compare.
ReplyDeleteYes, there were some that took up their cross as we see many risked life and family to take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, but the majority I would say were as off in one way or the other for we would have never reached this point of secularism that we are involved today if those in the past were truly following Christ.
Secondly, we must look at the worlds distorted view of what it expects from Christians. Although I would agree with some of the observations made in the article it is like asking a fanatical muslim of his opinion of Israel.
That being said on the socialist side of things, although I am against socialism, it doesn't mean that it is evil. Any system of government is going to have its Pro's and Con's just like Capitalism has its greed and corruption. If you look at Norway they have seemed to make it work somehow. And let's forget about passages of the NT for a second,(as people seem to dismiss them so easily for some reason) but the OT is steeped in the Government helping the poor. Besides the law set forth for Israel Isaiah 10 and 58 speak about such things. We as modern day American Christians have taken on the mantle of "Give a man a fish feed him for a day, Teach a man to fish and feed him for life". Besides the fact this is not taken from the Bible, we can see played out in reality this does not always work. We as modern day Conservative Christians seem to think if anything can be abused by some than we should erradicate it from the possiblity of existence. I look at the teaching about the Holy Spirit as a prime example...because many charasmatics abuse it to the point of ridiculousness we stay as far away from Holy Spirit teaching or spiritual gifts as possible.
I guess the main issue of this article is that America is a place of freedoms that protect people from other people. So in the instance of Torture or Weapons, (Which Jesus never spoke against in the area of Self defense) even if christians wouldn't own a gun themselves it doesn't mean we don't want to protect the rights of others to do so. And as far as miltaristic action he can read Romans 13:4. America is about freedom to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness so the real question in my mind is "Should Christians be living the American Dream?" Jesus said that he who finds his life will lose it and he that loses his life for Jesus sake will find it.
OOPS, Sorry I just reread that and I meant tares amongst the wheat.
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