Christian or American
On a wintry day in 1618 René Descartes rejected tradition, the church, and the Bible as the source for authority. In his famous conclusion “I think, therefore I am,” he revolutionized the quest for authority. Following Descartes declaration, a new day was sprung. It was called “the enlightenment.”
Deeply influenced by enlightenment thought, John Lock provided the world as well as the American colonists with his view of government and religion. In short, Locke’s defense of laissez-faire liberalism centered on the concept that there was no authority above the individual. Therefore, authority of leadership is by consent of the individual alone.
Does “government of the people, by the people, for the people” sound familiar? Does Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg ring a bell? How about “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” Aren’t these the words of the Declaration of Independence?
Deeply influenced by enlightenment thought, John Lock provided the world as well as the American colonists with his view of government and religion. In short, Locke’s defense of laissez-faire liberalism centered on the concept that there was no authority above the individual. Therefore, authority of leadership is by consent of the individual alone.
Does “government of the people, by the people, for the people” sound familiar? Does Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg ring a bell? How about “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” Aren’t these the words of the Declaration of Independence?
In America we believe that God has given every human the individual right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What verse is that again? I thought that it was God who ensured the death of Adam and Eve by expelling them from the garden. Adam and Eve had earned the “right to death” because of their disobedience, not the “right to life”! Liberty? I thought that Paul continually called himself a slave, a bond-servant of Christ. The God-given right to pursue happiness…yes, I’m sure that concept is in the Bible somewhere. Keep looking, but it will be a long search.
One of the biggest struggles facing the church in America is that church has become American. The fact that you probably don’t have any idea what I mean by what I just stated is evidence of this fact. Therefore, let me pose this issue in the form of a question. Is the Christian faith that we have been taught here in America distinctly Christian or is it distinctly American?
While there are many truths in our American Christianity which are distinctly and correctly Christian (e.g. salvation by grace through faith, substitutionary atonement of Christ, etc.), there are just as many beliefs which we hold dearly that are nothing more than the product of our western mindset which has its roots deeply embedded in the enlightenment. The problem is that American Christians have no idea where one begins and the other ends. In order to address this problem, American Christians must attain a solid understanding of not only the core essentials of the Christian faith, but also of the history and origins of American thought.
Why is it that switching churches in America is becoming more and more common? Christians are switching churches in larger and larger numbers because they believe that they have the right to have their needs met in church. They have the right to be happy. They have the right to be served. (Let’s forget for a moment that Jesus taught that “the greatest among you will be your servant.”)
Why is it that church discipline is non-existent in American churches? There is no church discipline in America because Americans whole-heartedly reject the notion that there is authority above the individual. However, was it not the author of Hebrews who wrote, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” All scholars agree that the church leadership is in view here.
One of the biggest struggles facing the church in America is that church has become American. The fact that you probably don’t have any idea what I mean by what I just stated is evidence of this fact. Therefore, let me pose this issue in the form of a question. Is the Christian faith that we have been taught here in America distinctly Christian or is it distinctly American?
While there are many truths in our American Christianity which are distinctly and correctly Christian (e.g. salvation by grace through faith, substitutionary atonement of Christ, etc.), there are just as many beliefs which we hold dearly that are nothing more than the product of our western mindset which has its roots deeply embedded in the enlightenment. The problem is that American Christians have no idea where one begins and the other ends. In order to address this problem, American Christians must attain a solid understanding of not only the core essentials of the Christian faith, but also of the history and origins of American thought.
Why is it that switching churches in America is becoming more and more common? Christians are switching churches in larger and larger numbers because they believe that they have the right to have their needs met in church. They have the right to be happy. They have the right to be served. (Let’s forget for a moment that Jesus taught that “the greatest among you will be your servant.”)
Why is it that church discipline is non-existent in American churches? There is no church discipline in America because Americans whole-heartedly reject the notion that there is authority above the individual. However, was it not the author of Hebrews who wrote, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” All scholars agree that the church leadership is in view here.
Why is it that you don’t think that your pastor has any authority over you? The reason that you don’t think that your pastor has any authority over you is because you are American. However, reality could not be further from the truth.
Why is it that there are more denominations than fast-food chains in America? By most accounts, the number of denominations in America exceeds two thousand. Why so many? The answer is simple. When the principles found in the Declaration of Independence are applied to the church the document would read, “ Churches are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Church becomes destructive of these ends (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Church, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” You don’t think that this is exactly what is happening? Take a look at this list of beliefs that John Locke held concerning the church:
1. The church has authority of leadership only by consent of the individual.
2. The church has no power to enforce religious faith.
3. “Everyone is orthodox to himself”
4. The individual is his own judge and has supreme and absolute authority over himself.
The truth is that switching churches is becoming the norm in America. The fact is that there is no such thing as “church discipline” in America. The truth is that you don’t think that you pastor has any authority over you. The reality is that protestant denominations in America number in the thousands.
Here’s the fact of the matter whether you like it or not. Our country was not founded upon “Christian principles” but on Lockian philosophy and enlightenment thought. In fact, if Christians believe in the Trinity (i.e. the Divinity of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit), then most of our founding fathers were not Christian but Unitarian Deists. This is an undeniable fact, not opinion.
The challenge of the American Christians is to become less “American” and more “Christian.” After all, these terms are not synonymous. So, what is it that you Christians believe again? Hmmm, that sounds awfully American to me. Do you know the difference?
Why is it that there are more denominations than fast-food chains in America? By most accounts, the number of denominations in America exceeds two thousand. Why so many? The answer is simple. When the principles found in the Declaration of Independence are applied to the church the document would read, “ Churches are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Church becomes destructive of these ends (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Church, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” You don’t think that this is exactly what is happening? Take a look at this list of beliefs that John Locke held concerning the church:
1. The church has authority of leadership only by consent of the individual.
2. The church has no power to enforce religious faith.
3. “Everyone is orthodox to himself”
4. The individual is his own judge and has supreme and absolute authority over himself.
The truth is that switching churches is becoming the norm in America. The fact is that there is no such thing as “church discipline” in America. The truth is that you don’t think that you pastor has any authority over you. The reality is that protestant denominations in America number in the thousands.
Here’s the fact of the matter whether you like it or not. Our country was not founded upon “Christian principles” but on Lockian philosophy and enlightenment thought. In fact, if Christians believe in the Trinity (i.e. the Divinity of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit), then most of our founding fathers were not Christian but Unitarian Deists. This is an undeniable fact, not opinion.
The challenge of the American Christians is to become less “American” and more “Christian.” After all, these terms are not synonymous. So, what is it that you Christians believe again? Hmmm, that sounds awfully American to me. Do you know the difference?
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