PeterS

Actually, the myth had been exposed long before this, but hey, I'll welcome anyone--even if they are playing catch up.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jaysondbradley/2020/05/how-a-plague-exposed-the-christian-nation-myth/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=share_bar&utm_campaign=share_bar_facebook&fbclid=IwAR1UYAxEUYRbGuWIJ5A8T19XzHqjpKPNZW7E9GxGIMK-H8uGlrrhZkYmu64

The evidence is in. The United States can finally abandon the pretense that it is a Christian nation. For most of us, this isn’t news. Since its inception, America has demonstrated many of the same strengths and character flaws as other colonial western nations.

But if C****-** has done anything, it’s revealed that the U.S. brand of Christianity doesn’t look anything like Jesus.

Take up your cross

There’s a point in the gospels when Jesus reveals he’s going to die. Peter promptly rebukes him. After all, Jesus can’t die. They’ve put all their hope in him as the Messiah and they expect him to deliver them from Roman oppression.

Jesus tells Peter to can it, but then follows it up with these words, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matt. 16:24–25).

Christians sum up Jesus’ words here with the phrase “dying to self.” They love the term and use it often. But for the most part, it’s a poetic abstraction, a form of spiritual idealism. It’s a difficult conviction to hold when your cultural ethos focuses on your individual right to pursue happiness.

In the Incarnation, Jesus laid aside his deity to identify with humanity (Philippians 2). And at Calvary, he laid down his human life to make reconciliation possible. In both actions—laying aside his deity and taking up his cross—he renounced his rights.

In a culture and economy that operates on consumption and acquisition, it’s difficult to convince Christians to renounce anything. In fact, quite often when American Christians are asked to give up something for the sake of others, it’s interpreted as persecution.

One doesn’t have to search hard for stories about churches who continued to meet against the recommendation of authorities, even when it put people at risk.

Don’t tread on me

Christianity in America is so entangled with patriotism and exceptionalism. When asked to shelter in place, Christians don’t think it’s odd to deck themselves out in G.I. Joe cosplay complete with AR-15s to storm a government building and demand their rights.

But at the same time, they’re unflinching in their support of authority being misused against others.

When an unarmed black man or woman is shot and k**led on camera, they instantly make excuses on behalf of authorities. That can look like trotting out an old mugshot to prove that person’s terrible character, or simply pointing out that they got themselves k**led by not being obedient enough.

But when asked to stay home, patriots have no problem grabbing their guns and defying orders. The mixture of Christianity and Americanism is a troubling tincture, enabling people to cite Romans 13 to get others to obey authority while they stock up weapons to fight off a potentially tyrannical government.

Any religion that demands that others take up their cross while we take up our sword is not Christianity.

Failing the mask test

It’s strange, but nothing reveals the rot at the center of American Christianity like the response people have had to wearing masks. It requires zero sacrifice to put a mask on—but that’s still too much of an ask for many Americans.
Mask wearing is really the perfect litmus test for self-denial. It’s something we do for others. My mask protects you, and your mask protects me. It’s not only a legitimate way to stop the spread of germs, but it also communicates our care for others.

So when a store like Costco or Trader Joe’s refuses to allow someone in without a mask, it’s to protect their employees (who aren’t getting paid what they deserve) and other shoppers. They’re asking people to take the health of others seriously. Because the choice not to wear a mask doesn’t communicate that you’re OK with getting sick; it communicates that you’re OK with getting others sick.

It’s such a low bar for denying one’s self. And yet, there are people all over the country who refuse this small act of solidarity. Their discomfort and inconvenience is too big of an ask.

Following Jesus requires sacrifice

Jesus asked us to take up our cross and follow him. Following him looks like self-sacrifice. He is our model and we are his followers insofar as we follow him.

I can imagine many American Christians reading this and saying, “Jesus chose to make a sacrifice. I’m being expected to. I should have the freedom to choose how to carry my cross.”

Let’s not forget that Jesus suffered the indignity of an unfair trial in a kangaroo court. The Sanhedrin was looking for any excuse to k**l him. His life was taken from him. His attitude of self-sacrifice was a pr********n for a final act of genuine sacrifice he was prepared to make–but it wasn’t like he walked into Pilate’s office, slammed three nails on the desk, and asked to be crucified.

He was ready for the ultimate sacrifice, but he didn’t want it. He prayed for God to spare him this fate (Matthew 26:38-40).

Following his example, every one of the disciples stoically endured horrible treatment from officials and their countrymen. But they had renounced the expectation to be treated fairly. They didn’t take up swords and demand their rights. They modeled themselves after their king.

American Christianity makes salvation a personal commodity. It’s something you acquire through invocation–say the right prayer and you’re in. It places certain social and moral expectations on us, but it doesn’t infringe upon our liberty. No one can place expectations upon us. It’s an insurance policy we purchase that allows us to pursue the American dream without fear of our eternal future.

We like to identify ourselves as a Christian nation, a city on a hill. But think about it a minute. What is it that separates America from every other nation on earth? We’ve become an epicenter for a disease that has k**led more than 80,000 of our fellow citizens. And we’re the only country that would rather go to war with our local government to protect our individual freedom than make sacrifices for the greater good.

It’s taken a p******c to see the gulf between historic Christianity and its American counterpart. All it took was an expectation of community responsibility to tear off the mask and reveal its true face.

Carol Kelly

Spoken like a true, university educated atheist. A lot is wrong in churches today, but we, the people, are Christians to our core. We attend church to be with other Christians, not because we agree with the direction our church has taken. We donate our money to help those who need help as good Christians have always done. You’ve been h*****g out with the wrong crowd.

Liberty Tree

Just more of his Christian hating dogma.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

I bet that you were ecstatic when your ISIS brothers were murdering Christians by the score.

P.S.....I hope that you crash your walker and total it...no offence.

Seth

son of witless

This is a long version of the Liberal calling Christians hypocrites. It never works for this specific reason. Hypocrites calling others hypocrites look like fools.

SWMBO

You are absolutely correct, at least when it comes to NPP and me

SWMBO

ldsuttonjr Loc: ShangriLa

R****t!!!!!!

peg w

Christians did not love their neighbor enough to wear a mask in public to spare them from a deadly disease. SAD!

John Meoff

He is a true snob.

JW

Pete, Pete, Pete... I don't know who wrote this crap ( I'm not willing to have the site disable my ad blocking) but he really has no comprehension of Christianity or Americanism.

The USA is a Christian nation whether anyone likes it or not. The basic ethos of our government come straight out of Christianity. The fundamentals of social interaction are Christian. It's true that not everyone in the country is a Christian but the national behavioral demands woven into the overarching social fabric are Christian to the core.

The concept of repentance is a Christian concept. Out of that comes the idea of a lighter sentence if a criminal admits his guilt. Out of that comes parole, rehabilitation, and the willingness of society to readmit the offender. That is just one example of just how far-reaching and engrained in American society Christianity really is.

As to Americanism; we are the only nation on the planet that honors the concept of individual liberty to the point that assembling freely, arming and the joining together in front of our seats of government is even a possibility without a fire fight. The uniquely American aspect is the peaceful nature of the protest as mounted by those constrained by their Americanism. Those who brazenly smash, steal and destroy blindly are unfortunates lacking in American idealism. Our institutions of higher education are responsible for that failure.

There is no gulf between Christianity and Americanism and no response to a p******c can define either concept. Being a Christian nation is not about going to church or emulating Christ. It is about gut level social reflexes and intuitive decision-making and in that, Christianity and Americanism are inseparable... for now.

PeterS

Oh, come now, simply because I realize that CC's behavior is anything but Christian doesn't mean I h**e the religion. Anything but liberty tree, I believe Christ to be one of the world's greatest prophets. You CC's just mangled the meaning of what he tried to say...

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

So tell me Petey boy, what makes your definition of a TRUE Christian? And what makes Jesus "one of the world's greatest prophets?"

son of witless

So what did Jesus ever say that you liked ?

Carol Kelly

Im sad for all those who deny God. May your eyes be opened.