While the word “Christianity” seems to refer to a single religion, the reality is that many cultures have succumbed to a process of syncretism where there are actually many, many forms of Christianity that look nothing like the original picture on the outside of the box.
The United States is no different. The powerful influence of United States culture has, for quite some time, seeped into the Christian faith to the point where, in too many instances, we have an entirely new product.
Instead of Christianity as it was passed on to the disciples and early church, we have a church culture that is a uniquely U.S. version– and one we’d do well to dissect.
Here are some ways to tell if your Christianity has "United Statesified."
The Early Church's Pacifism, Nonviolence, and Shared Economy Seems Foreign
From a U.S. mindset, original Christianity and the first Christians appear nuts: they were universally nonviolent (against capital punishment, abortion, military service and killing in self-defense), and rejected individual ownership of property in order to redistribute their wealth (Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:35).
Your Chief Concern With Islam Is Warring Against It, Not Being Loving Like Christ
If your initial posture toward all Muslims is that of viewing them as a threat to do battle against instead of viewing them as people Jesus has commanded we radically and self-sacrificially love, you're not operating out of the chief calling of a Christ-follower; to love others.
If You Want To Cut Programs Of Social Uplift/Justice In Favor Of Charity Only
A value of the political ideology of many U.S. Christians is small government and that taxes are wage theft. A Christian value is the elimination of poverty. Though those who subscribe to the aforementioned political ideology also acknowledge that poverty should be dealt with, they often express that it isn't the job of the government to deal with it, and that church-distributed charity could solve the problem. Even though that is empirically untrue, studies have shown that many average U.S. Christians don't give money to charity or even tithe to their church anyway.
You Say "We're A Nation Of Laws" About Immigrants vs Citing What Bible Says
The Bible has plenty to say on immigrants, and consistently lists them as one of the vulnerable groups of people that God-followers are to care for. While government does have a right to determine who can enter a country, the primary posture of a Christian should be that of radical love towards immigrants and refugees of every type.
If You Think Stopping Gay Marriage & School Prayer Are Most Pressing Issues
Culture war issues reliably drum up financial and ballot support for conservative candidates, but what of the primary admonition to Christ-followers to love our neighbors as ourselves. In a globalized society, every creature dwelling on the earth is our neighbor. 750 million people around the world don't have access to clean water. 805 million people are chronically malnourished. Human-caused climate change is harming the planet that we're called by God to steward.
Clearly, legislating marital opinions to achieve Christendom hegemony and attempting to enforce state-sponsored religion through school prayer - which is detrimental to both the state and to religion incidentally - are not the most pressing issues we face today.
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