American Christianity
What America Needs Is Kingdom Patriots
To be a Christian is to know freedom; it is to stare evil and death in the face and say, you have no hold on me! Tragically, Christianity has been reduced to being American. This mentality has flooded our churches, and pervaded our minds—even the terrorist feels this way. Simply American citizenship is thought of as being “Christian.”
The reality is American Christianity, in many ways, is similar to any cult or deviation from true Christianity. It is so bad that it is difficult to gather whether or not an individual actually knows and understands the gospel within the church.
Some of the most ungospel like conversations can be heard in churches across the nation. Things like, ‘Muslims deserve to die’ or ‘Nuke’em all!’ Recently I heard a man say as he was talking about interrogation of terrorists, something to the effect that he would prefer a terrorist suffer torment during the process. I guess, loving your enemy was simply not an option for him. I’m certainly no pacifist, but clearly there is a difference between just retribution and pleasure in the death of the wicked—something The LORD takes no part in (Ez 18:21-23; 32).
What America needs is less “Christians” focused on their American citizenship and more Christians living out their Heavenly citizenship. If that were to happen, possibly we would see a better America.
We need the older generations to lead the younger, equipping them for service in the Lord’s army. It’s no wonder why the church is lacking in discipline, spiritual growth, unity etc… The younger generation needs to hear less war stories and about more spiritual battles. They need to be taught how to live Christian lives in any circumstance, not be guided by arrogant American Facebook statuses. Unfortunately, the only council given from many “supposed” leaders in the church is how terrible our President is.
Where is the council to pray earnestly for our President, and actually mean it (1 Tim 2:1-3)? Where is the exhortation to live honorably among the wicked, to remain faithful in showing love and compassion to others (1 Pet 2:11-12)? The truth is the older generations are simply doing the younger a disservice spiritually.
The point is our young people are not being challenged, taught, or equipped because the ones who are suppose to lead us can only relate to America and its military. They have reduced Christianity down to being American.
If American Christians were to embrace their Heavenly citizenship, remembering how it was granted to them allowing it to determine who they are, rather than the all to often arrogance of American idolization; then potentially the gospel would permeate this country, which ought to be our goal as Christians in America.
What America needs is Christians who are less patriotic about America, and more about Heaven. For many that is extremely offensive, but the reality is while we can certainly be grateful for America and the freedoms we share, we ought to be looking forward to a city not built by human hands (2 Cor 5:1-6).
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” -Phil 3:20
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” -Col 3:1
I am not suggesting Christians ought to be Anti-American. Being patriotic is ok—to an extent—but its just like anything else, it can become an idol and it can certainly misconstrue the gospel.
