I have so many thoughts related to these two points. But I think the first response is that the Western church - for this loss of focus is wider than just America - has disregarded the call to take up our cross and follow our Lord, who laid aside his glory to dwell among us. Like the rich young ruler, who went away sorrowing because of his great possessions, the Western Church so loves their comfort and privilege that they want to have Christ and the American dream, which has become the Western dream, too.
It isn't that I think Christians should live in self imposed poverty and obscurity - that would be an unnecessary 'voluntary humility' that Paul warns in Colossians is ineffective in actually curbing worldly desires. No, rather what is needed is the continual cultivation of a sense of being strangers and pilgrims, or in modern parlance refugees and immigrants, as citizens of Christ's kingdom left tlas his embassy in the world. The early Church understood this - the 2nd century Letter to Diognetus states it in nearly poetic phrasing:
"They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share all things with others, and yet endure all things as if they had been foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers... They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven."
But two millennia of religious and 'Christian' nations have bewildered the Church's concept of the location and loyalty of Christian citizenship.
“Women have been marginalized and treated as second-class citizens within the evangelical movement”
Sadly, very true. I’m glad to see it acknowledged rather than another attempt at gaslighting. As a lover of history, I cannot help but think of the ancient Spartans, so admired for their heroism in battle. The truth is that Sparta maintained its power by enslaving a neighboring group of people called “helots.” These were the people they forced to do all the servile work. Measures were taken to ensure that the helots never flourished so that they would never be able to rise up in rebellion. Of course, similar situations have existed throughout history, but this idea of a servile class of humans that exists to empower a ruling class hits very close to home. It is why ardent patriarchalists tend to be the greatest apologists for the antebellum South. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, came to being abundant life to all human beings.
When one steps back and sees it this way, it’s impossible to ignore. Christianity in America is so much more about the American empire and the American dream than the model Jesus gave and that Paul exhorted. Christians will always be part of and reflect the culture they are in. That can’t be avoided. But at some point, they no longer reflect much of Jesus.
I try to trace some of this history in The Evangelical Imagination. In fact, that’s essentially what the book is about.
I have so many thoughts related to these two points. But I think the first response is that the Western church - for this loss of focus is wider than just America - has disregarded the call to take up our cross and follow our Lord, who laid aside his glory to dwell among us. Like the rich young ruler, who went away sorrowing because of his great possessions, the Western Church so loves their comfort and privilege that they want to have Christ and the American dream, which has become the Western dream, too.
It isn't that I think Christians should live in self imposed poverty and obscurity - that would be an unnecessary 'voluntary humility' that Paul warns in Colossians is ineffective in actually curbing worldly desires. No, rather what is needed is the continual cultivation of a sense of being strangers and pilgrims, or in modern parlance refugees and immigrants, as citizens of Christ's kingdom left tlas his embassy in the world. The early Church understood this - the 2nd century Letter to Diognetus states it in nearly poetic phrasing:
"They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share all things with others, and yet endure all things as if they had been foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers... They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven."
But two millennia of religious and 'Christian' nations have bewildered the Church's concept of the location and loyalty of Christian citizenship.
This is exactly it and so well said.
Also this comment was in reply to William Everson.
That should be: religious *wars
“Women have been marginalized and treated as second-class citizens within the evangelical movement”
Sadly, very true. I’m glad to see it acknowledged rather than another attempt at gaslighting. As a lover of history, I cannot help but think of the ancient Spartans, so admired for their heroism in battle. The truth is that Sparta maintained its power by enslaving a neighboring group of people called “helots.” These were the people they forced to do all the servile work. Measures were taken to ensure that the helots never flourished so that they would never be able to rise up in rebellion. Of course, similar situations have existed throughout history, but this idea of a servile class of humans that exists to empower a ruling class hits very close to home. It is why ardent patriarchalists tend to be the greatest apologists for the antebellum South. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, came to being abundant life to all human beings.
That penultimate sentence:💯💯💯 It took me to long to see the connection.
*too! (stupid typing-on-phone-problems!)
Excellent! It’s a compelling and devastating read.
When one steps back and sees it this way, it’s impossible to ignore. Christianity in America is so much more about the American empire and the American dream than the model Jesus gave and that Paul exhorted. Christians will always be part of and reflect the culture they are in. That can’t be avoided. But at some point, they no longer reflect much of Jesus.
I try to trace some of this history in The Evangelical Imagination. In fact, that’s essentially what the book is about.