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Temper your politics with a love for people
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Monday, May, 11, 2009
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by John Fischer
I got to thinking after last week's Catches on worldviews and the resulting discussion that cast things once again in a political light, that a lot of sentiment held by Christians today is centered around the desire for America to be a Christian nation. We long to see our faith more fully and freely expressed in public life. But sometimes I don't think we go far enough with this. To what end do we want America to be a more Christian nation? And if we could get everything we wanted, what would that be? Would it mean more people would become Christians? Would more people be saved? Would more people come to know Jesus? Does anybody care about this?
What if living in a Christian nation and knowing Christ were two different things didn't have anything to do with each other, or even more problematic, what if they were counter productive? What if a more Christian nation meant a more diluted Christianity? Actually a strong case could be made historically for this (see the Holy Roman Empire). A more current illustration of this would be the fact that one is more likely to find a vital Christianity thriving on a secular college campus than in a Christian college or university. The more Christian the environment, the more assumptions are made about everybody's Christianity, often resulting in apathy and disconnection when it comes to one's personal faith.
It could be that a less Christian environment might foster a more vibrant Christian community. The early church and Christianity around the world show us over and over again that faith thrives amidst opposition.
I'm not suggesting we let America go to hell in a handbasket, but I am suggesting we think through just how much time, money and emotional energy we should put into trying to make or keep this country "Christian."
My suggestion: whatever attention we are putting into trying to save America, double that when it comes to seeking to love and save those who are lost. I'm not even sure what a Christian America is or would look like, but I do know what a Christian is, and a real Christian will be a Christian anywhere.
…and that's where you and I come in.
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