American Christianity!

“I believe people on welfare should be drug tested!” 

“People on welfare are lazy and want a free handout!” 

“Poor people are poor because they choose to be poor!” 

“If immigrants want to become citizens of our country then let them do it the right way!” 

“Universal healthcare is Socialism!”

“Let’s carpet bomb ISIS and make the sand glow!”

When I hear folks making statements like those above I normally don’t respond—what would be the point. Their minds are already made up concerning such important issues as taking care of the poor, or being welcoming and generous to aliens, or making sure everyone has access to healthcare, or even war. I have found that arguing with those who make such outlandish claims is fruitless and does nothing more than elevate my blood pressure.

But when I hear confessing Christians making such statements I am inclined to think that they are either reading a much different Bible from the one I read, or they haven’t read it at all, or they have only read the warm and fuzzy parts (e.g., John 3:16). I wonder to myself: Do they follow the same Jesus I try to follow? Or, do they read the same Gospels I read?

 Now I don’t intend to be judgmental for thinking such things but really, what did Jesus ever say that comes even close to supporting any of the above statements (chapter and verse please)? I am not implying that those who make such statements are not Christian; I am implying that they are living according to a much different controlling narrative and it’s not the one Jesus spun!

In other words these kinds of statements do not originate from the movement Jesus originally inspired. The movement Jesus inspired was deemed illegal, its members were pacifists and were prohibited from serving in the Roman Army. They opted instead to take care of the poor, the widows and orphans, and the sick. They often lived in small faith communities that pooled their resources together for the good of their community (Acts 2:43-47). I challenge you to read this passage.

The early Christians, I don’t believe, would have never uttered statements like those cited above. So why are so many Christians applauding and even supporting the controlling narrative spun in today’s American culture?

The answer to this question I think (some of you aren’t going to like what I am about to say) is that American Christianity (especially the Evangelical brand) identifies with being an American as much as it does with Jesus. This blending together of faith and nationalism (God & Country) is what the Bible refers to as “Idolatry!” If you think I am blowing smoke then do a quick read of the following Gospel texts: Mark 12:13-17 or Matthew 22:15-22.

For example ask yourself if there would have ever been one Roman ensign (National flag) displayed in the place of early Christian worship. Would the Roman banner have been situated next to the cross as the American flag is in many of today’s worship spaces? Idolatry is often so hard to see when it is staring you directly in the face.

When the Apostle Paul told the Christians at Rome that they were to make the following confession, “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9-10) he was recommending a subversive and treasonous confession. Claiming Jesus as your Lord was akin to saying, “Caesar is not Lord!” Anyone back in Paul’s day would have immediately understood this dangerous implication. No one would have thought Paul was recommending a confessional formula for getting saved or getting one’s ticket punched for heaven (that’s an invention of modern day Evangelicalism).

No one would have thought for a second that being a good Roman citizen and a follower of Jesus the Christ were cut from the same confessional cloth? The early Christians fully understood the immanent dangers of making this Pauline confession. How, may I ask, have we missed this all these years? How have we allowed Christianity to become a nationalist religion adjusted not only to prop up our nation’s agenda but also support it as well? We have a lot to answer for on that great day of reckoning my friends.

So the big question for me is this: “Who provides the controlling and guiding narrative for my life?”  

My answer reveals the type of Christianity I have chosen to embrace . . . and you?