American Christianity

When one compares the spirituality of ancient Christians [say from the first to the eighth centuries], one finds them quite different in their understanding of Christianity from many Christians of 21^st century America. American Christians seem to dwell on private faith, want instant spiritual progress, feel the need for religion to border on entertainment, want a positive approach which tends to ignore repentance, and don’t like being told that they may be mistaken. This differs, significantly, from ancient Christianity, from the words of Christ, and from the New Testament injunctions. This difference I like to call "American Christianity" precisely because it seems to be unique to the United States and not to early Christianity.

What I call "American Christianity" tends toward what I also call "compartmentalized spirituality." This means that one’s Christianity is just one of many individual facets of his life, and is categorized along with work, politics, entertainment, sexuality, etc. In "compartmentalization," we keep each "compartment" of our lives separate from the others, and attempt to keep each from influencing the others in any significant way. For example, religion is viewed as a private affair, and should have little, if anything, to do with one’s politics. One’s career can be viewed as having nothing to do with one’s personal ethics, or one’s sexuality can be viewed as having no relationship with the ethical principles of one’s religion. This often results in one’s religious practices, or spirituality, being in conflict with his other activities, though people who compartmentalize seldom notice the inconsistency. Of course, compartmentalized spirituality is not what St. Paul advocated when he informed the Christians of Ephesus that their newly found faith in Christ required the liar to speak the truth, the thief to work and give, the angry person to show acts of kindness, etc. [Eph. 4:25-32].

"American Christianity" tends to desire what might be called "instant spirituality." This means that holiness needs to be quick, easily attained, and not too costly to the individual’s way of life. We American Christians tend to crave the newest spiritual fads, such as books and philosophies which inform us how to attain quick and easy sanctity. We usually change churches when pastors dare to suggest that believing in Jesus is a long journey which takes a lifetime. Instant spirituality doesn’t want to be told that the road to true and deep discipleship is costly or life-consuming. [Matt 10:22, 16:24-27]

"American Christianity" tends to want to be entertained in the spiritual life. Usually, this claim to Christianity judges spiritual nurture by the amount of Church programs, sharing groups and other Church activities which are available, all of which are supposed to produce feelings which are happy and good. It also requires Church services which render the Christians as an audience rather than active participants in praise of God. For "American Christians," it would be unfortunate, and contrary to our notion of the purpose of religion, if we were to leave Church exhausted from praying and interceding for this fallen world. Rather than embrace an ancient Christian concept that prayer means "work," ["liturgy", "offices"], we often embrace a posture that suggests that "Church" is supposed to be synonymous with "entertainment."

"American Christianity" doesn’t like to be reminded that repentance is a necessary part of the Christian life. Thus, we accuse the pastor of preaching hellfire and damnation or being too negative if he reminds us that there is a hell, or that repentance needs to be practiced in order to avoid it. Never mind that Jesus’ first words were "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. [Matt.4:17]" We "American Christians" prefer a more positive approach.

Finally, "American Christianity" demands constant affirmation. We want to be affirmed in our spiritual status without regard to what we believe or how we act on that belief. Today’s pastors have to learn to be back slappers and cheer leaders rather than spiritual guides. This is because many of us in the United States don’t want spiritual guidance; we want approval [2 Tm. 4:3].

Compartmentalized and instant spirituality, and the need to be entertained and affirmed mark the qualities of "American Christianity." They are qualities which claim to be "Christian," but the challenge has to be posed as to whether they are.

On the other hand, one can take an approach to the spiritual life which is the exact opposite of "American Christianity." He can recognize that our faith in Jesus MUST affect all aspects of our lives, that patience and consistency are the guiding virtues in any successful spiritual discipline. He will go to Church, not expecting to be "fed" but to exercise his faith in prayer and praise. He will spend his life daily repenting of his many and repeated sins [because he wants to offer Christ as pure a life as he can], and he will expect honest spiritual guidance from his pastor, even if it means the painful truth.

There truly is a choice here; one is costly and requires selflessness, the other is quite simple, and tends toward self-indulgence. It is a choice which faces each of us daily as we struggle with the temptation of succumbing to "American Christianity" or embracing a Christianity which is far deeper and much more life changing.