Lessons From American Christianity

An African missionary friend was recently asked by a young black African what lessons can be learned from American Christianity.  I suspect the question may have had more than one meaning in the context but it is still a very good question.  As an American, I would answer this way.

We must always remember that Christianity is trans-national, trans-cultural and trans-temporal.  God's rules for us do not change with place, culture or time.  Just as God is the same yesterday, today and forever so are his rules.  There is not one gospel for Africa and another for America.  It is the same gospel that was preached in Galilee over two millenia ago.

The American millionaire and the barefoot Soweto prostitute must all come to God the same way.  And when they do come to God they become both brothers and sisters in the Lord and citizens of an invisible yet eternal kingdom that transcends their differences.  Their lives here on earth may be vastly different but one day soon, a snap of the finger in eternal terms, they will be equal not only in theological position before God but in every other way as well.

It naturally follows that no man made institution is Christianity.  Governments and institutions may proceed from Christianity but they are not the gospel.  Americans who confuse American nationalism with the gospel make the same mistake that third world citizens make when they embrace "Christian Marxism," liberation theology and social justice.  Just as there is only gospel for all there is also only one justice for all.  God's rules are the same for all.

American Christianity is incredibly rich by world standards.  And, it can be arrogant.  But, it is also generous, sometimes to a fault, and on the whole good hearted.  Americans love to help.  The accusations of hate, racism and bigotry that are heaped upon American Christianity are often a reflection of the evil in the hearts of their accusers.  This is not true for all American Christians any more than it is true for all African Christians.  But it is true enough to give American Christians the benefit of the doubt

If I could talk to the young man who asked that question, I would tell him that the American Church is in a bad place right now and it frankly needs the moral resolve that is coming from the Third World Church.  Because Third World Christians deal with evil on a much more direct basis every day of their lives and see its destructive effects first hand they are far less likely to accommodate it than their American or European brothers and sisters.  I would encourage that young man to hold firm in the faith and confront evil wherever he finds it because not only will he be doing the best thing for himself and his own people but he will serve as an example for American Christians who need to regain that kind of courage.