Americanized Christianity might sound a bit like “weaponized uranium.” If it doesn’t, it probably should, because it’s just as dangerous.
Lately I’ve noticed far too much racism, bigotry and especially partisanship in the church to even call it Christian. I am not picking on the church I lead in particular; however, I am picking on the American church in general.
Really, I’m picking on those who cannot separate their politics from their religion. That is not to say that religion shouldn’t affect politics, it most certainly should. Too many people, however, let their politics affect their religion (i.e. they cannot divorce their political persuasion from their interpretation of the teachings of Jesus).
Case in point: I have a Facebook Friend whose “friends” are discussing the merits of taking up arms in a bloody revolution against the US government. These “friends” are all Bible-believing Christians (so to speak). I know they are having a rhetorical discussion that is full of false bravado; but still, the fact that it’s an item for discussion betrays a great deal of ignorance regarding the teachings of Christ and His earliest followers.
If I sound arrogant here, I apologize; but working in a fairly-urban environment has taught me a number of humbling truths. Of utmost importance: There are a great deal of faithful, Bible-believing Christians on either side of the political aisle.
Those who focus on justice for the unborn are generally conservative. Those who focus on justice for the poor are generally liberal. Those who focus on the independence-aspect of freedom are generally conservative. Those who focus on the community-aspect of freedom are generally liberal. Those who focus on individual morality are generally conservative. And those who focus on social morality are generally liberal.
Ironically, and in regard to the above-mentioned issues, they all tout biblically-based, Christian principles.
One significant problem in Americanized Christianity is that the extremists on both sides would prefer to put a bullet in the head of those who disagree with them than to walk “two miles” with them; and this is surely not the way of Christ.
I’m not calling for political moderation. Nor am I calling people to come together and just “get along.” I’m asking Christians to study the teachings of Christ and consider: Would Jesus, in our context, be conservative or liberal; would He be capitalist or communist; would He be Republican or Democrat; would He be all-of-the-above or none-of-the-above?
Frankly, I’m not sure He’d have anything to do with any of us!
