American Christianity

Ryan and I have been talking a lot recently about how American ideals have affected and influenced the church, which largely started during the election and continued into one of the classes Ryan took last semester. It's something we've been trying to identify in our own lives as well.

Since I like lists, I've made my top 10 (in no particular order). What do you think I missed?

1. Noise
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." - Ps. 23:2-3
"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" - Mark 6:30-31

The Bible calls us to silence, solitude and rest; American culture is focused on stimulation, entertainment and noise.

I won't rewrite Mazvita's fabulous post about this, but you should read it: http://iamabbaschild.blogspot.com/2009/05/noise-destroying-our-souls.html. She makes some excellent points.

2. Busyness
"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'" - Luke 10:38-41

Our culture tells us that it's important to have obligations, that our schedules define our worth. We have little competitions over who is busier and who has the harder schedule and life. But Jesus calls us to quiet our lives before him, to give Him space to speak to us and to lead us. If we cram our lives full with schedules, even good things for the work of the church, we are prioritizing America's culture over God's priorities.

3. Consumerism
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." - 1 Tim. 6:17

As American Christians, we have Christian bookstores that sell more trinkets than books; we throw cliches on t-shirts and call it witnessing; we even look for churches by "church shopping." We're entrenched in a culture of consumerism that is directly counter to the Scriptures.

4. Authority
"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." - Romans 8:6-8

Christianity calls us to submit every day -- to God, to each other, to our husbands, our parents, the church and the governing authorities of our land. And while that certainly does not mean that those entities have the right to rule in domination or sinfulness, we are consistently called to submission. In America, authority is mocked, purchased and disgraced. Christians in America begin resenting submission to the church; we find it offensive to talk of submitting to each other.

5. Autonomy and independence
"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." - Acts 2:46-47

In America, we so value our independence that we sacrifice real relationships, even though our soul longs for them. We reject responsibility to each other. We don't want to be tied up in each other's junk, and we're terrified to share our own. But when we let America's culture dominate our thinking in this area, we give up one of the most beautiful things God has given us -- a community modeled after His in the trinity.

6-10 coming soon...