Luke Parrott

Christianity: On the Upswing or On the Decline?

There are 2 competing conversations going on today. 

Newsweek just released a cover magazine April 13, 2009 with a bold title, "The Decline and Fall of Christian America".  Meanwhile, the editor in chief of the Economist, John Micklethwait, along with Adrian Wooldridge, just published, "God is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith is Changing the World"

One argues that the Enlightenment has finally had a trickle effect into the secularization of America.  The other argues that we are becoming more spiritual and more pluralistic if anything.

One argues that faith is moving further out of the public square.  The other says that now more than ever, faith is becoming more political. 

I'm enjoying this 2 sided conversation.  And I just started reading, God is Back, which has laid out some fascinating viewpoints even in the first 2 chapters.  I encourage you to follow this conversation.  I think some startling truths are going to be revealed from both sides of the story. 

Here's an interesting view of the current landscape of Evangelical Christianity from a global view.

Or try this one on for size.   A little more in depth if you click here.
 

The World is Not America

The World is not America. 

Not economically.
Not politically.
Not socially.
Not culturally.

If you are blessed enough to grow up here in America, you have seen, tasted, and lived the life of some of the richest people that have ever walked the face of the earth.

Your hot shower is unheard of.
Your clean water piped right into your home is unthinkable.
Your personal car is a rarity.
Your glorification of individualism is not shared.
Your materialism does not consume most of the world.
Your easy access to education is not standard.

We live in a global village.  Isolation and ignorance is no longer an option for rich America.  But with great opportunity and wealth comes great responsibility.  That is the burden that every American must carry.  It is the burden that I carry back with me from my time in Rwanda.

By being American, you must train and teach yourself to constantly learn that the comforts of your life are not a global reality.  And you must come to grips with the fact that you have the ability to be an instrument of change in a world that continually widens the gap of the rich and poor.

But you must also understand that you are not some sort of Savior.  Just because you find yourself on the top of the ladder does not mean that everything American must now trickle down into the lives of the least of these.  Why?  Because the world is not America. 

Each culture has it's own beauty.  Each culture also has it's own darkness.  I saw beauty and darkness in Rwanda.  And I taste beauty and darkness here in America.  What if we were to taste the beauty that every culture had to offer?  What if we allowed ourselves to learn from the darkness that every culture has lived in? 

What, then, would this world look like?  It would not look like America.

It would look like the Kingdom of God.  Man living up to his created potential.  God as his number one.  And love for every neighbor of all cultures and skin colors.

The reason our team walked away from Rwanda longing to stay was because Africa seems to embrace the very cultural values that we in the West have lost. 

They value relationships more than time.  A question like "how are you?" leads to a 30 minute conversation.  But we hate that question in America because "how are you?" only means "Hello." 

They value life more than possessions.  That is why a picture of poverty can show the face of such joy in a child.  His life is not based on what he has.

They value togetherness and family.  They are a walking culture.  They see each other on the streets everyday.  They spend time with each other.  Kids walk each other to school hand in hand.  Even men walk holding hands.  Not because of their sexual orientation but because of their friendship.

The World is not America. 

The lingering questions is, "What values does America contribute to the world?  What beauty do we possess?  But we must also be aware of our own darkness.  What must the world take from Americans and what must they leave behind?

Can you help me answer that question?  Just click on "comments" below.

(The title of this post was inspired by Bishop John Rucyahana's words to our group on the Rwanda trip...you can see his speech if you go to the blog post titled "Bishop of Rwanda Personal Visit")

Pluralism on the Rise In America

It should not come as a surprise to read the title of this post.  I continue to see evidence of our nation furthering itself down the road of secularism and pluralism.  While spirituality remains important, it certainly does not have to represent itself in any sort of uniform manner.

People more and more prefer their own personalized version of their faith.  We prefer to cut-copy-paste our own system of beliefs.  We enjoy a kaleidoscope of ideas that suit our fancy.

This array of options is what we know as pluralism.  George Barna's new article is further support for the idea that we can no longer claim that we live in a "christian" nation.  See Link below.

Christianity is No Longer American's Default Faith

In a country where the lines are continually blurred when it comes to faith, it would behoove us to continue to dive into the life of Jesus.  To further understand who he is.  The better we can understand the life of Jesus, the more clearly we will be able to discern what it means to follow Him. 

That is what a pluralistic nation such as ours needs to see.  Christians who clearly follow Jesus.  Who have consumed themselves in the Gospels.  Who know of his life and teachings.  Who have felt the weight of his words and now live their lives in response to his life, death, and resurrection.

If you feel your faith becoming foggy then come back to who you are following. 

The person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

America is NOT a Christian Nation

Does anyone else feel the moral fabric of America unraveling before our very eyes?

Greed led us into a recession.  And it is greed that continues to drive us deeper into our financial woes.  From Governor's to CEO's to Wal-Mart Shoppers.  We are a nation the refuses to simplify our lives in a time of economic downturn.  Our greed drives us to maintain the lifestyle that got us into this mess.

Lust drives us deeper into disgrace.  We are a culture that worships sex.  We have products to increase sexual drive.  We include sex in most of our favorite songs.  We show it in many of our commercials and celebrate it in our shows and movies. We use it to sell our body odor and our new pair of jeans.  We act as protectors of human dignity but this is not valued above the disgraceful way we degrade each other as merely sex objects.  We are a nation that embraces lust.

Vengeance is our guide.  We retaliate when we are wronged.  We justify all of our actions without consulting our international audience.  We are aloof to others opinions.  Our path is already set.  We are already bent on revenge.

Power is our master.  And we have become it's slave.  Our foreign policy is governed by our own national interests.  We are unilateral in our demands.  We demand human rights where they are violated, but only as it pertains to where our fingerprints currently reside in the international community.  We will permit the violation of human rights in places where we prefer oppressive regimes to be maintained or in lands in which we have no vested interest.

Greed.  Lust.  Vengeance.  Power. 

How can one even attempt to lay claim on the label "Christian" for a nation such as ours?  That is blasphemous to the person of Jesus Christ and all that he represents.

Perhaps bin Laden actually had something profound to say when he wrote his letter to America on November 24, 2002.  It's worth revisiting if you have not had the chance to read his work.  Some of his observations are disturbingly insightful as he addresses the questions we were asking as to "Why are you attacking us?".  He is certainly not justified by his observations.  But he does offer some brutal truths to the blind eye of America today.

I have heard it said that corruption comes to a nation as a slippery slope.  What one generation tolerates, the next generation will see as acceptable.  And the next generation will see it as normative.

The moral fabric of our nation is unraveling before our very eyes.  From Horrible to Tolerable to Acceptable to Normative.  We are on a slippery slope.  Some would say we are more progessive, but we are actually becoming more destructive.

Those who resist the movement away from morality are seen as bigots.  

We live in some very remarkable times here in the United States.  We must be careful not to get caught up in a culture that now reeks of everything that is not Christian.  Although many Christians still reside in this country, we would be foolish to call ourselves a nation that represents Christ.

That is a label for this country that I reject.

3 of 4 Americans Scared

You and I are living at a pivotal time for the state of our Nation.  I clicked on the news today and the first headline I saw put it all into perspective.

3 of 4 Americans Scared about U.S. direction

The article says 72% of us are frustrated with our current President.

Only 32% of us are favorable towards the war.

Only 25% of Americans feel good about our country's condition.

We are 2 weeks away from voting in our new Commander-in-Chief.  Citizens of our nation are showing up in masses to rallies all over the country, looking for hope, looking for direction, searching for inspiration.

As we find ourselves in the mix of it all, let us think kingdom-mindedly (if that's a word). 

We are awaiting something much bigger than the next leader of the free world.  We long for the return of a King.

We are longing for something greater than just "CHANGE".  We are awaiting the renewal of all things, both in humankind and in creation.

We are placing our hopes not in a form of government, but in the Creator of all things.

While we sit among a company of fellow citizens who are fearful of the future of the U.S., let us be energized to engage in Kingdom work that brings the things of heaven to this earth.  Where justice is preserved.  Where peace reigns.  Where the poor are brought aid.  Where forgiveness is a part of our politics.  Where love is not withheld.  Where evil is challenged in the way and likeness of Jesus.

We live in a pivotal time.  What an opportunity to do what we can.

Grad Student Auctions Off Virginity

Capitalizing on sex. 

Not for reproduction. 

                                     Not for romance.

Not for love.  But for money.

            For education.  For...a noble cause?

Do Christians in the USA really follow Jesus?

The following conclusions resulted from a recent study revealing what 16-29 year olds really think about Christianity in America today.

What do you think of the following statements?

1. Christians have an "inflated sense of self importance".

2. Christians have become famous for what they are against rather than what they are for.

3. Christian lives are no different than the average American.

4. Christians demonize the people with whom they disagree.

5. Christians say one thing but live something entirely different.

6. Christians are insincere and concerned only with converting others.

7. Christians show contempt for gays and lesbians.

8. Christians are boring, unintelligent, old fashioned, and out of touch with reality.

9. Christians are primarily motivated by a political agenda and promote right wing politics.

10. Christians are prideful and quick to find fault in others.

UnChristian