Robert Weber in his book Ancient-Future Faith asserts that future wars are likely to be cultural wars as opposed to wars between civilizations. He points to the rise of Muslims around the world as an example (keep in mind that he wrote this in 1999!) He states, “Muslims will always be Muslims before they will be Americans or members of any other culture of civilization.”

Well said.

The same should be true for Christians. Unfortunately, much of the traditional American Church wrongly equates true Christianity with the American culture. It’s always bothered me to see an American flag on the platform in church … or to sing the Star Spangled Banner in church … or to sing the praises of the American Armed Forces in church (and remember that I’m retired military.) Somehow I just can’t picture the early church singing some song about allegiance to Rome or in praise of the Roman Senate or patriotic Roman songs about the Legions in their worship services.

What-in-the-world does the Pledge of Allegiance (which I have heard recited by the entire congregation in some churches) have to do with the true gospel? Worse yet are the proclamations you often hear about America being “God’s chosen people/nation.” That’s arrogant poppycock. (While there is a nation named as “God’s chosen nation” in Scripture, it sure-as-heck isn’t the United States of America.)

I argue that the mistake of equating authentic Christianity with American culture does two deadly things:

1) it strips the gospel of its true power and,
2) it dangerously shifts the focus of the church from the true battlefield (i.e., sin in the hearts of men) to meaningless culture wars where we end up wasting valuable resources.

May God open the eyes of the blinded American church and shift our focus from culture wars to the real war for the hearts and souls of mankind.

Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum

__________________________
Bob Pratico
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
(my Sojourn blog)