I started this article about 5 years ago when I was under the distinct impression that the Worldview changes happening in the United States were going to put leadership in the federal government that would be actively anti-church. I was preparing my own thoughts and actions to have lines drawn in the sand that a biblically sound church could not cross – and in failing to cross them, would have their status in the US changed.
I began to have to ask myself questions I had never asked myself before.
Then, things turned out very differently, and this article sat and gathered dust on my computer desktop for the last 4 years.
Now it is overdue, and I apologize for how long it has taken… and I also kind of apologize for its length, but this is a very important topic to me. This article is about the future of the Church in The United States… its doom or its flourishing.
This is strongly connected to my thoughts about the wordview shift that is ongoing.
Except for the consequences of government changes, this is not intended to be, in any way, a partisan article. In fact, it is quite the opposite.
America wasn’t founded to be a “Christian Nation” but it certainly was founded on the basic and fundamental principles of Christian and Biblical teachings integrated with Greek & Roman philosophy… and a little bit of everyone else they could learn from.
For 244(ish) years, American Christians have had an amazing blessing: It was relatively easy to be a good citizen of The Kingdom of Heaven and a good citizen of the United States of America simultaneously.
This has not been the case for many Christians anytime or anywhere in the last 2,000 years. In fact, it seems like it has been an incredible anomaly for a Christian to be an “approved of” member of their society or culture… much less to fall within the approval of their governmental system… all while living life as a Christian.
It is even more rare to imagine a society in which claiming to be a Christian was considered some kind of advantage! The idea that being a Christian offers some kind of “social capital” is certainly an historical oddity.
I don’t think we will get there in this series of articles, but that truth has created its own serious problems! It has made it difficult for many Christians to live as the third team on the field. They end up worshipping, or even just following, one side of the culture or the other. This is a mistake for Christians.
There is a dangerous, toxic version of Christianity common here in Tyler, Texas, that even transcends the lethality (and lethargy) of Cultural Christianity (“I am a Christian because I am named after an apostle or have a home church or wear a cross”) and that is Congregational Christianity (I am a Christian because I have been a member of several or one church and my uncle paid for the Fellowship Hall).
Congregational Christianity adds the false idea that being a Christian is some kind of Social Club to the toxic idea that God’s Church is something that we rightly “possess.” We steward God’s Church; it isn’t ours in any sense beyond that.
But I am digressing and need to get back to my topic… though false version of Christianity are worthy of attention for sure, but that is a tale for another time.
Historically for Americans, the gap between in the world and of the world has not been very great at the surface level. This is changing already in most parts of the country… and this change will create a crisis for many Christians, and the crisis is probably overdue. This conversation is meant to help facilitate that for some of you…
The sword is double edged dividing even bone from marrow! It is hard to watch, to be involved trying to seek the lost sheep and continually be ridiculed and put down but rather than dwell on it, changing the focus to being in company with Christ sufferings it becomes bearable ( not easy, this wasn’t easy for him nor his disciples how can it be this isn’t his plan for our home) and allows us to keep marching forward to our destiny! I am always trying to remember we are most the time just one of the knocks that is at the door it’s not our job to change others hearts, just to share Christ and guard our own as God is the one who can change a heart he uses people but people are not the ones on the hook for that person’s change that’s up to them and God! Reality is most find the gate that is wide and leads to destruction though our prayers be different! So much reference of the soldier in the Bible and as one you must be ready for the battle always preparing and training for it because if this looks hard now buckle up you haven’t seen anything just yet, there’s been signs, there’s been talk of legislation to silence but here nothing yet maybe a little persecuting of the faith but this is real around the world China, N.Korea Africa, you can die because of your faith today! That said nothing will stop the blowing of the Spirit, China believe it or not is the largest Christian nation in the world, there are 300 million Christians worshipping underground under constant threat! We haven’t seen anything here in the U.S close but we must prepare for the time will come and remember what Luke warm gets us!
I read in Tabletalk magazine that as the culture grows hostile to Christianity, “cultural Christians” will fade away. The author said about that “good riddance.”
It made a big impression on me and helps me cope with growing cultural hostility to Christians.
I think it has been a wonderful experiment in a culture friendly to Christianity… and it has been amazing! That being said, there are muscles we aren’t likely to grow without pressure and I feel like they are atrophied in my own faith as well.
I think you brought up some of this in a Womenary class… It makes sense, and I look forward to reading more. I agree that Christianity is a category all its own—meant to influence the surrounding culture with the beautiful message of Jesus Christ. The church in America has enjoyed singular freedoms and sometimes favor of a rare sort in the framework of our culture and government. But (according to Scripture) as long as the church is in the world, the believer may expect opposition. As the coming of Jesus our Lord will surely be soon, it seems Christians in America are going to witness a rapid increase not only in opposition but also persecution because of our God-ordained principles and sought-after way of life.