What is happening to American Christianity
I’m no expert on American Christianity and its many forms, from Roman Catholicism, Puritans, Evangelicals, Amish, Quakers, to KKK and Protestants. There are many forms of Christianity in this country.
We are all hearing about White Christian Nationalism in our news regularly. WCN, does not speak for my understanding of what Jesus taught.
I do not want to be associated with those professing a White Christian Nationalistic faith.
Jesus told the parable about the Good Samaritan. It got Jesus into trouble because the national mentality of Jesus day was that Samaritans were sellouts, half-breed Jews. And yet when Jesus wanted to tell a story about loving your Neighbor, he told a parable about the actions of a loving Samaritan, Luke 10:30–37. Jesus believed in something bigger than country.
Why would Jesus lift up an example of a marginalized outsider, a Samaritan, to express the importance of loving strangers? Because, Jesus was not concerned with National Identity, he was concerned with Human identity. Jesus saw a much larger common denominator in people that was not limited to their country of origin or their religious tradition. Jesus subscribed to the common denominator that all people are created in the image of God. All are children of God.
In United States today, White Christian Nationalists proclaim the opposite of what Jesus taught! How can this be? Is it based in fear?
In a few short decades, our world has gotten smaller. Some call it globalization. Globalization is the interconnectedness of economic, social, and political systems. Today in America, I can go to an American city, shop in a store owned by Indians, and buy products made in Vietnam, China, or England. Today, we all know much more about our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters, than 2-3 decades ago. I drive pass an Islamic center, a Hindu place of worship, and a Jewish synagogue, on my daily travels. I can speak to Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Jews on a daily basis. There was a day when I played racquetball at the Bethlehem Racquet Club, with a Muslim, a Hindu, a Christian, a Mormon, and a Jew, all in the same week! That was not possible in the 1980’s.
The world is getting smaller. We rub shoulders with people who are different. If only we could think of all people on Earth as, “Earthians”. Foregoing titles of nationality, religion or race.
The White Christian Nationalism movement desires to go back to a time they believe was more homogenous for America. However, don’t go back too far or you will have to include the Native Americans. Just go back far enough when European settlers where the major new arrivers to this land, we call the United States. Christian Nationalists believe that the United States was created as a White European Christian Nation. If only they would read about the lives and writings of some of our forefathers and mothers. They don’t know our history.
Religious freedom was important in the founding of the United States. Claiming that our culture and government would be Christian was repugnant. A hallmark of Western Democracy is the
separation of Church and State. The First Amendment proclaims, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
We don’t need to go back, we need to move forward, challenging all people to look into the eyes of those who are different and see a child of God. A child of the Earth. It will lead to personal growth individually, which will lead to prosperity for all, globally.
Thanks for reading fellow, Earthians! We are in this together.