State of the Church

So, I have been thinking of the state of the North American church lately(today). This being a generalization of the mainstream church. I am not trying to lump everyone together, but I encourage you to consider what I have to say even though it is not nice and contrarian. I know my opinion is not immediately supported by facts and statistics...it's a goddam opinion.

I have been thinking of how much of the Christian subculture bothers me. The christianese, the fakery, the hypocrisy, the discontent, all the lying to ourselves. And while it's not a new or even substantial revelation, it is a huge 'duh' statement that we should let smack us upside the head. WE ARE MATERIALISTIC.

We have let the secular culture infiltrate us to the point we don't even see the problem with it. I'm not talking about health and wealth and all that crap, but rather basic day to day, keeping up with the Jones'. Looking at how we live, it seems to me that Christians by and large are not aware of how different they are meant to be. I don't think we'd know what true Christianity would look like because we have been so inundated with a warped mini-culture that draws more from Andy Warhol than it does Andrew the Apostle. Because America has been on top for so long (we're not anymore btw), we have 'safely' assumed that Christianity in North America must also be on top, and therefore best. News flash for the ignorant. We have not been the main exporter of missionaries in the world for some time now, maybe even as far back as the 60s (not sure when that changed). Today church growth within America is almost predominantly recognized as transfer growth, with conversions suffering like a cancer patient. There's hope, but they look like hell. The concept that 'West is Best' has been more than debunked in mainstream culture - it has been shunned by a large portion of people. Yet, we in the Church love to act as though we have the corner on 'right' Christianity. We'll never say this out loud, but the attitude I pick up is that 'We'll let them have Christianity in their culture's way, but honestly, our way is better.' Why? "Because America kicks ass. No ifs ands or buts" God forbid we should learn from any of those around us. The arrogance that has become a mainstay in cultural America (go freedom fries!) has filtered into the Church and colored how we try to reach those around us.

It's not that this is abnormal. I'm sure every generation and every culture has had their problems bucking the culture they were in and standing apart. Look at Corinth for crying out loud. It is an uphill battle to be sure. But, once we've had the revelation that our country's culture has so clearly infiltrated our ecclesial culture, don't we have an obligation to do something about it? Shouldn't we be desperate to have the Holy Spirit transform us into a family, a community that is counter culture, opposite culture, whatever, that it can't help but love us and hate us at the same time? What if we actually were a light instead of a shadow to the point that people began to persecute us because we were different and they didn't know what to do with us? Honestly, I've never heard of that in America. But I'd like to. It would be nice to see the government scratching their heads because a large group of people are transforming their cities, and the government can't control it for once. It would be nice to see the alienated and alone coming to church because it feels like home instead of flipping them off for the judging looks that cascade at them.

It seems to me that the Nature of God is truly the opposite of the fallen world we live in. We should be ashamed that we, as a large portion of the North American church, have so closely associated our culture and economic prosperity with the correctness and 'better-ness' of our way of doing Church. I think we should make a diligent effort to let the Holy Spirit completely rework how we consider Church and Christ's Body, and beg it to change us. I've seen this in some communities, in some areas, in some people, and I applaud them for it. For those being faithful in their daily walks, great. But if we have any intention of furthering the glory of God, shouldn't we try to stand out just a bit more?