Is America a "Christian Nation"? I think not. The United States was/is founded upon the principle of freedom (e.g., freedom of speech, thought, expression, to peacefully assemble, and yes, freedom of religion). True, North America is a nation that, at one time, was heavily influenced by Christian Thought. The founding of our greatest institutions for hiring learning is largely due to the influence of Christianity (e.g., Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, etc.). Nevertheless, the Evangelical Faith that spawned and developed the aforementioned universities has all but vanished. When will we learn the hard lesson that influence is intangible and fleeting, and conversely, that the concept does not lead to personal rights or entitlements! The United States is NOT a Christian Nation any more than it is an Islamic, or Hindu, or Jewish Nation . . . it is a nation that will be led and conditioned by the prevailing ideas in a free market place at any given time. The reason Christianity doesn't "hold sway" in North America anymore is NOT because of all "those dirty sinners out there!" It is because of all we dirty sinners in here (i.e., We professing Christians in all the local, legitimate expressions of the Church of Jesus Christ). We Christians would do well to stop living with a sense of nostalgia for "the good ole' days." Our influence is anemic and insipid because of our own sins of apathy and indifference! Let's stop whining about life not being what it used to be. Further, let's terminate our sinful tendency of blaming sinners for sinning (what a concept!), and let's start living out the supernatural life we claim lives inside of us! When people live in "darkness," they don't curse the darkness . . . they say, "Where is the light?" When the meat is rotten, and/or, tasteless, people don't curse the meat . . . they say, "Where is the salt?" Salt and light are the two basic metaphors the Lord Jesus used to describe his followers, and unfortunately, we have not lived up to his expectations. Shame on us . . . not the world!
I could be wrong, but I firmly believe that Hell will be overly populated with ministers! Too many of my colleagues will find themselves saying, "But Lord, we prophesied in your name, we cast out demons, and we performed many miracles," only to hear the reply of the Lord Jesus, "Depart from me . . . I never knew you" (Matthew 7). It's not what a minister says that's so important . . . but why he says it (i.e., the motive, the intention behind the action). Of course, content is essential as a true minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ MUST preach the Scriptures; nevertheless, the Apostle Paul made it clear that some preach Christ with wrong motives (Philippians 1). This is precisely why James (the younger, half-brother of Jesus) made it clear that those who teach, preach, and profess to offer spiritual leadership will "incur a stricter judgment" (James 3). Jesus said, "the first shall be last and the last shall be first," and I firmly believe he had more than the salvation of tax collectors and sinners in mind. Based on all I've seen, I would imagine that some who appear to be "first" (i.e., ministers), will in fact be "last" when it comes to the day when no man can hide from the powerful, all-seeing eye of God. Indeed, pray for those in ministry, as (oddly enough) we may be fooling ourselves right into hell via the practice of erroneous, phony ministry not built on the solid foundation, which is Christ.
When engaged in a discussion of religion, it is important to make proper distinctions lest you find yourself in an argument, discussion, etc., with little to no meaning. A "religion" is different than a particular "tradition" inside of a religion. For example, Christianity is a major world religion, but there are many different traditions (or expressions), such as Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc. These particular "traditions" are not religions, but simply expressions of the one Faith known as Christianity. I suppose other world religions (e.g., Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc.) contain the same phenomenon, but I am not familiar enough to say this with certainty.
Recently, the Westboro Baptist Church arrived in our city to protest several chosen schools, churches, military funerals, etc. What a pity. The God of Sacred Scripture has NOTHING to do with the misguided agenda of these ignorant, thoughtless, phony, and self-righteous individuals. The hatred of Jews, Catholics, Gays, and anyone else, is not the religion of Jesus. Jesus came to save US from our sin, and "All have sinned and fall short of God's glory," (Romans 3:23), a text W.B.C. should have memorized during vacation bible school! This so-called "church" is no church at all, but a "Synagogue of Satan." The Apostle Paul is clear in his second letter to the Corinthians, "Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." Indeed, if these self-proclaimed zealots want to deal with sin, then they better begin their campaign by looking in the mirror . . . Jesus said as much to the Pharisees in his day.
O.K. I've gone AWOL for a while, but I'll try to do better in the future. The life of a pastor is a busy one, and only God knows what we do (and do not) have time for. At any rate, I'll leave my time spending habits to my critics for review, etc. For now, I need to get back to living, thinking, and writing.
I spent time with a family who lost a loved one today. The man was a husband for 54 years, as well as a father and grandfather. He died today at the age of 84, and when I asked, "what time did he die?", his teenage grandson informed me that it was 2:46 p.m. (not 2:45 as I had speculated). It's amazing what a difference a minute can make. We never fully appreciate the people closest to us until they're gone, and subsequently, we mull over the years, months, days, hours, and yes, the precious minutes we had the privilege of knowing them. I imagine 2:46 p.m. will be seared in this young man's mind as long as he lives. Would that all of us would mark (and make use of) the precious minutes we have with those we love . . . don't wait until it's too late to do so.
What's it like to attend an Evangelical church in North America on a Sunday morning? Honestly, I think most people could attend a carnival or a fair and scarcely tell the difference. Personally, I would rather go through the "drive-thru" window at McDonald's and get a real "Happy Meal" instead of the spiritual/fantasy "fast food" (cleverly disguised as worship) served weekly in many a church in the U.S.A. Worship is not for our entertainment, nor is it a means to "conjure" up God (via The Holy Spirit) as if we were attending a séance. No, worship is giving God his due; nothing more, nothing less. Our level of happiness, or satisfaction, or approval of the whole is not the point; God's happiness, satisfaction, and approval is. Amazingly, when we focus on the Triune God seeking nothing more than an authentic encounter with him, we receive everything we need (via his presence) without asking for anything. Where will you worship tomorrow? More importantly, how will you worship? As one seeking to be entertained, or as one commissioned to entertain the presence of the Living God? The choice is yours, and be assured that the motive driving your worship will condition the outcome of the experience. Think about it.
The smell of urine and pureed green beans; comatose nursing aids pondering whether or not they have the winning lottery ticket for Saturday night’s drawing; numerous television sets with little-to-no reception blaring out a symphony of General Hospital, Lawrence Welk re-runs, and a Jerry Springer documentary about wife swapping with a touch of kinky sex. Welcome to the local nursing home anywhere in the United States; the proverbial “dumping ground” of the aged. Pity the poor, dumb, bastards who venture down these halls. Nevertheless, if you can get beyond the smells, the depressing sights and sounds, and the pitiful stuffed animals crusted with ancient saliva, then maybe, just maybe, you will catch a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. I go every Thursday to visit Mrs. V, a lady in her 90’s with no short-term memory. The visits are brief, but very much appreciated. There is no glamour in this context; no one is watching, no one notices, no one except the audience of one. Jesus said, “I was sick and you helped me; I was lonely and you comforted me; I was in prison and you visited me, etc.” Why does Father Keen visit? Because these gentle creatures (in the twilight of life) bear the image of the Living God. If you want to experience the Kingdom of God in a real and meaningful way, you will often find it in the most unusual places. More than the excitement of the mega-church, more than the sensationalism of the electronic church . . . this is the real deal; the Kingdom of God in the midst of a human waste land filled with those too sick to live, too healthy to die, and all hungry to witness a display of “true religion” according to St. James (1:27). Check it out.
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