The goal of this blog is to develop a platform that speaks truth to the consciences of my peers in America. The timing is excellent since I recently moved to London. As such, I have the vantage point of some distance as I conduct my analysis. To add some color, I will integrate various readings and apply insights from these readings to the great issues of the day.
I planned to start with Carla Harris (Expect to Win) but instead I chose to start with the Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gray. Anyone familiar with the story knows that is loosely based on the life of Mary Boleyn. Mary was the mistress of Henry VIII and sister of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife. Anne is secretly the lynchpin of the story since it’s her ambition to be queen that contributed to a religious reformation resulting in the Church of England.
What I find fascinating about this are the peripheral characters, many of whom are seen as great Christians. One example is Thomas Cromwell, whose role in helping Henry dispose of his first wife is unseemly at best. He also helped Henry VIII eventually dispose of Anne in favor of a new bride, Jane Seymour. I found myself thinking about how even then, people used religion brazenly to further their own ambitious agendas. What has resulted is a secular country, weary of religion with church leadership chosen by the state.
Today, I see some interesting parallels to the US. Like the UK, many posing as Christians use their influence to serve the rich and influential. Instead of addressing the concerns of the fatherless, the widows, and the needy, they are staunchly in the arms of the wealthy and well-positioned. And others, increasingly disenchanted by this hypocrisy, have dismissed religion altogether. Is it no wonder when the very people whose theology commands care for the weak, walk away from that cause, people walk away from them and their seemingly self –interested god!
Perhaps a return to some of the preliminary teachings of this and many other faiths is necessary. As America tries to gain its bearings, religion need not be excluded from the discussion. Instead it should be evaluated apart from colonialism, capitalism, and the other “isms” religion has been misused to support.
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Religion is one of those topics that is so touchy- whether its in a conversation about politics, education, or even within the topic of religion. I agree and find it unfortunate that religion is too frequently used to promote people's political agendas; often straying away from the foundational principles of religion. Christians stand around arguing that our country was built on Christian principles, yet forget that many of the things that the US has done are far from godly; relocation camps, slavery, segregation, etc. I agree- it is no wonder that many people are so turned of by Christianity... well, the people that supposedly represent it. Even as a Christian, I find myself turned off at times...
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ReplyDeleteReligion and politics have always been intertwined. The pertinent point, I think, is that one's politics isn't a good measure of one's religion.
ReplyDeleteThe French Wars of Religion, for example, was as much motivated by Catherine de Medici's desire to preserve the authority of her son's Crown as it was about fighting the Huegenots (Protestant house): "building barns on earth with half an eye on heaven", as historian Green put it. Yet, Catherine was a devout Catholic all her life.
(Incidentally, I mention this example because the Wars of Religion was in many ways the first extended political explosion of a split church in Europe).
But back to your point. I am guessing (forgive me if I am wrong) who you are referring to when you point to Christians who are not being Christian because they serve the rich rather than adhering to the commandment to care for the orphans, the widows and the poor.
If so, I think that is unfair and it is wrong, my friend. As a largely political conservative, I'm personally a little offended by your stereotype here.
It is wrong to pander to stereotypes of people because they don't agree with you. For example, there are many good reasons to be concerned about the president's healthcare reform plan that are not related to preserving the status quo of the rich. Neither is agreeing/opposing the plan a good measure of how one is living out James 1:27 (since there are many ways of reaching the same ends).
Which was the point I started out with.
I think a better measure is to turn our eye on how people are living out their faith in their personal lives, rather than what they say in the public eye. Who are the ones serving in their local community, volunteering with the homeless, teaching underprivileged kids, feeding the poor? Who are the ones giving charity, tithing? Who are the ones adopting/fostering kids no one else wants? Who are the ones serving in the military?
Basically, who is walking their talk? Eye-opening if you start thinking about it.
But, I think the bigger point is that, ultimately, we are all hypocrites. Our motivations are simply not pure on this side of heaven. As Rico Tice often says, the mark of true christianity is that the closer you walk with God, the further away from Him you realise you are. It is simultaneously the most frustrating and the most rewarding aspect of Christianity - that there is nothing you can do to be a "good" person apart from God's grace manifested in Christ on the Cross.
Perhaps, in the name of regaining our bearings, as we continue to disagree otherwise, we can agree about this?
Ai Leen
I agree with Cinnamon. I find myself not only turned off at times, but scared of what people present as Christianity because so often it has nothing to do with Christ. Rox, DC was a mess last weekend, and our politics are increasingly exposing what is really revered here: money, privilege and power. I can understand the resistance to having someone in your pocket, or basing your political agenda on a few key issues...but a pastor praying for someone to die of brain cancer, in an actual church? On TV and proud of it. Leading other people. I know it's important to have a personal relationship with God, but what if that's all you're exposed to?
ReplyDeleteI moved to the USA from London about 8 months ago, and I have to confess that I was a little scared of what I had heard about churches in America. So I completely empathize with Cinnamon and Looking Up. There are a lot of false teachers and unbiblical teaching out there. Don't get me started on the tele-evangelists (I laugh at them mostly)...
ReplyDeleteI prayed for a solid evangelical church where the preaching was Bible-based and which exhibited discipleship and service outside the church. When I arrived, I visited a few churches before settling in one. Trusted friends are a good resource and I am very thankful for them.
One thing though. The search for a church depends largely on what you are looking for. What I mean is, Christianity is by definition counter-cultural. We are meant to be in the world and not of the world. So there will be things said in church sometimes that make you/me uncomfortable. Some of these are hard issues, but hardly new ones.
On the bright side, there are many good resources out there to keep us on the straight and narrow though! God promises that He will not tempt us beyond what we can bear, and He will always provide a way out. I think that Christianity is not just about being a consumer or armchair critic - the truth requires us to be diligent in reading our Bible, praying for wisdom and discernment, and exercising our God-given minds.
A few books I've found helpful:
- John Stott, The Cross of Christ
- John Stott, The Contemporary Christian (addresses some hard issues)
- John Piper, Desiring God
- J.I. Packer, Knowing God
Sorry for the long "preachy" post. I am incapable of short essays! It comes with all my love though. Roxanne - hope things are settling well in London. Are you going back to All Souls?
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ReplyDeleteI disagree with you on a fundamental issue...I believe that one's beliefs should affect how they respond in the public square...in the case of Christianity for example, I believe it has been most powerful when it was displayed in the civil rights movement, in the abolitionist movement, in fighting children from working, or in the women's movement..
ReplyDeleteI think the idea that one can walk the walk in private life and it not influence how they run their company, inter-act with their community, their neighbors, the poor, the needy is odd to me....part of power of the church in Acts is the fact that it was diverse, multi-ethnic, and walked across economic lines- that is counter-cultural...we disagree and that is ok..but one of my core issues is this, no we are not perfect, but I do beleive in being holistic. I am not sure about the CEO,who at work makes unethical decisions, but volunteers in church so that makes it OK.....but that has been a part of the American gospel... ...I never mind disgareement...what I am looking for are alternatives...whether in healthcare or other debates...what scares me is that there are people who feel comfortable using the healthcare debate to show obama as a witch doctor or to talk of his his harm in a religious context...certainly we can agree these extremists and those who fan their flames are using this for their political ends....that is where I am coming from....thanks for your thoughts
What you say is correct. Faith must be holistic. My gripe was with people and/or Christians who proclaim their ideology in the public square but whose personal lives do not match up to their talk. The point was that it is easier to talk than to walk your talk.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, there are extremists on all sides, conservative and liberal, secularists and christians etc. I don't think it is helpful to focus on extreme views, since they distract (and detract) from the real issues.
Perhaps you feel the caricactures of our president more keenly because you identify with him racially (he is half white too, you know), but let's not pretend it's not a two way street and hurtful universally, whether you are black or white (or yellow in my case!).
In any case, I wanted to say that I think there is a growing myopia in bipartisan politics of how the other side sees things, and I think your 'kumbaya strategy' is a step in the right direction. Let's continue to break down the barriers and take a step back when things get too hot, as you said!
Back in town and internet access, as you can tell.