Christianity in USAmerica - 10 Questions
These ten questions are from a post on Mark VanSteenwyk's blog, Jesus Manifesto. Mark leads a community called Imago Dei in the Twin Cities. I'm going to answer them... and encourage you to do the same. Then head over to Mark's blog and see what others have answered. I'm going to put my answers in the first comment, so it's easier for you to come up with your own answers, before you see mine.
- In the past 231 years of USAmerican history, which event stands out as the brightest moment for Christianity?
- In the past 231 years of USAmerican history, which event stands out as the darkest moment for Christianity?
- Which US president best demonstrated Christ-likeness? Why?
- What church or community in USAmerica do you think has the most positive influence?
- What church or community in USAmerica do you think has the most negative influence?
- What is the biggest challenge facing the church in USAmerica?
- What is the biggest gift that we can offer the global Church?
- What is the biggest gift we could receive from the global Church?
- Which part of USAmerican culture is the most toxic for the Christian faith?
- Which part of USAmerican culture is the most helpful for the Christian faith?
Posted at 9:20 AM
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I'm going to answer these questions "from the hip" so to speak. I don't claim to have any authoritative knowledge about American history, or Church history, but these are my impressions... feel free to debate.
1. Brightest moment for Christianity? Probably our founding. I think our Founding Fathers had more of a sense of making sacrifices to follow Christ than any subsequent group of leaders.
2. Darkest moment? 50s and 60s... an entire generation stricken with victory syndrome, nationalism, entitlement and affluenza. The door was left wide open for the rebellion that followed.
3. Most Christ-like U.S. President? Abraham Lincoln... integrity out the wazoo.
4. Church with most positive influence? That's tough... so I'll answer generally, not specifically. Any church that is constantly being shaped by God and His Word, not trying to do the shaping themselves. Any church that truly loves the community around it, and is not afraid of constant change at the behest of the Holy Spirit.
5. Church with most negative influence? My answer would simply be the opposite of number 4.
6. Amercian Church's biggest challenge? Complacency and Consumerism.
7. Biggest gift we can offer? Sadly... the biggest thing we actually HAVE, that we can give to the global church is money. I wish I could answer differently.
8. Biggest gift we can receive? A perspective on what it means to share in the sufferings of Christ, and live a life of sacrifice.
9. Most toxic element of culture? Narcissism and Vanity.
10. Most helpful element of culture? The re-kindling of interest in spirituality and Jesus.
Good questions, some of which I confess to being too ignorant to answer.
1. Brightest moment: It's a toss-up between the Great Awakenings and the founding. I would probably go with you on this one, Ryan.
2. Darkest moment: I would say the Native American genocide, although I don't have the hard facts on to what extent the church actually collaborated or neglected to resist this.
3. President: I am grossly ignorant of American history in general, and completely ignorant of Presidential history. I have absolutely no opinion on this one.
4. Positive church: As crazy as this sounds, I'm going to go with Bethlehem Baptist Church in downtown Minneapolis, because I believe John Piper has done more in the last 30 years to ignite a passion for the supremacy of Christ than any other pastor or theologian. I don't think the ecclesia of any church has had a very widespread, positive effect.
5. Negative church: It's a toss up between Willow Creek/Saddle Back and liberal churches as a group--for different reasons, obviously.
6. Challenge: Maintaining a distinctive, communal, and orthodox faith amidst social and economic pressures to live the American dream.
7. Gift to offer: This may be a copout, but "all of the resources at our disposal--financial, professional, theological, and authoritative."
8. Gift to receive: A better perspective on life and God, in light of suffering, contentment with less, cultural diversity, and the bigness of the missio Dei.
9. Toxin: The notion of allegiance to empire, which so often opposes the living out of the Gospel.
10. Help: The spirit of critical inquiry and free speech.
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