Good News…  

America’s “Cultural Christianity” is Dying

Christianity is fading fast from America’s public square and where it refuses to fade there are forced evacuations.  Christianity, as a cultural phenomenon was woven into the fabric of our nation at inception.  However, it’s unraveling and the diminishing of its significance, which began in the 60’s, has accelerated since.  Now, only vague and meaningless ideas concerning God are tolerated, and only if no one pretends that such ideas are consequential to how we make decisions or desire to live our lives.

This recoil from faith has for some time signaled alarm, but I say that believers who sincerely trust in Christ should rejoice.  This may sound strange, until one considers how this social phenomenon of casual religion has actually hindered the spread of the life-transforming power of the Gospel.  Our culture has been “vaccinated” with a harmless strain of Christianity that has built antibodies, which prevent the development of the real deal.  So, many Americans think since they removed their hats and raised a cold beer during the Lord’s Prayer at the dirt track that all is well with their souls.

Certainly, the moral decline of American society is cause for serious concern as the growing disregard of Biblical principles has left us in a profound moral squalor.  But this did not happen because we removed the Ten Commandments from the courthouse or stopped praying at football games.  Such were tokens and symbols of a religious heritage, which once gave great significance to attending services on special days, church weddings, swearing on the Bible, and having God’s name on our currency.  But symbolism without substance, or religion without life-transformation, is hollow and has never survived the secularization of any culture.

However, as the superficial and romanticized relics of pseudo-Christianity disappear, the opportunity arises for the Church to speak life into the death and disappointment that religion is leaving behind.  The legalism that brought heat without light cannot survive as broken souls are held in the grip of God’s grace.  The symbolism of public regard for some inoffensive deity is no longer necessary for those who have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe.  Even the sentimentalism of going to church will die as the understanding of being the Church is revived.  

So, to America’s romance with religion, I say rest in peace.  Secular progressivism no longer needs the support of the Church, but neither do we need theirs.  We can pray, preach and love others anytime and anywhere we like – not because we are Americans but because we are Christians.  Such will distinguish Christianity from the pantheon of world religions that have determined to reach God.  Instead, we can demonstrate how through Christ, God has reached down to us.  Sinners can find forgiveness instead of hollow validation.  The search for meaning can be found in worshiping our Creator as individuals come to know God through His Son.

So rejoice, again I say rejoice (Philippians 4:4).  

 

Pastor Mike