My Grandma has a subscription to Harper's Magazine, and I get her issues when she is done with them. Harper's is in my opinion a relatively liberal publication, but you can read what wikipedia has to say about them. They do not shy away from tackling big issues like abortion and cloning, and their writing is both scientific and pleasing to read (from an literary point of view).
I've been especially interested lately in the articles that have focused on Christianity in terms of US culture. Two articles I read in the summer dealt respectively with the Megachurch mentality in the states, and the issues that arise with dominionist Christians. These are very interesting articles, scary in some ways, but mostly striking because they are written by non-Christians. I must warn you that the articles are long, but worth it.
Soldiers of Christ I (Megachurches)
Soldiers of Christ II (Dominionists)
What I really want to talk about here is an article I read this week (published in September) about the self-professed American Christian nation, and it's apparent lack of understanding of real Christ-like values. The article is titled The Christian Paradox. America is daily moving towards being a more Christian state, in case you didn't know, and the article tries to show how the American mentality is one of self-obsession, and not one of self-giving, like Christ. I tend to agree that this is true not only of Americans, but of the North American church in general. How many sermons and Christian literature is there out there that has to do with self-help, self-improvement, and ultimately self-obsession?
There is of course some merit to self inquisition. Much of the letters of Paul are regarding self-improvement. And it is also true that there is a certain amount of selfishness that is inevitable in life. But don't you think we are missing something here? Isn't it time we moved from looking inward to looking outward? Where are the Poor? Where are the Sick? Where are the Imprisoned?
My church in St. Catharines has spent the last year plus on self, as a church. We are now branching out (timidly, I imagine at first) into a brave new venture outside ourselves. That's all we really know right now. Our city, our country, the world.... who knows. I'm excited to see where this goes, and where it will take me as an individual as well.
My hope is that as a church, as a kingdom of believers, we can be more counter-culture than we have been lately. Eliminating self-obsession is one way to show we can be different.
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3 comments:
I made it through the first of your two articles. Interesting stuff, but I'm out of time to waste.
The concept of spirituality as a commodity, and this as the free market system takes some thinking about. It would seem to me that the concept of the spiritual war and the consumerism of the religion would be at odds. If one should expect a life of being at war with demons, the fact that that becomes an easy, attractive commodity which can be "sold" on the open market is mind boggling in some ways.
The descriptions of the worship service, the flash and smoke and "show" of the whole thing has always been problematic for me. Our society has such short attention spans and demands entertainment at every moment that church has to end up looking like a Broadway show for people to be interested. Oh, and what's the deal with singing praise songs being designated as "worship" anyway. That's one I've run into in my own experience, and it would seem to me that the definition of worship is something a bit broader than just that. But I suppose that's mostly semantics.
It's interesting that some Christians would think of GW Bush as a Godsend in his current position, whereas I wouldn't vote for him if you paid me to. It would seem that having conservative values and a socialist conscience leaves you stranded in the politial world.
I hope your church does well in moving out. Evangalism is a hard thing, something my own background doesn't really encourage in the way it's done in Colorado Springs, or even St. Catharines, and I put some of my own attitudes towards it down to my upbringing. But I hope that in whatever Mennonite way we are connected you do well what my church does poorly; somehow make up for each other.
I think that's about it for now... man I've written more on your blog than my own!
hey nathan,
i came upon your blog through embassy's blog. anyway i just wanted to say i just read that article, "The Christian Paradox", today! My dad photocopied it and gave it to my whole family at Christmas. Usually I don't look at the articles he gives me (he always has one for me!) but this one was pretty good. I don't feel Canadian Christianity is much different than the American Christianity the article described. It gave me much to think about, especially being a part of a church like Embassy - it's always really good to think about how and why we do things.
well, say hi to Rose for me. I'll see ya monday!
Kat
hey james. i think you should preach this sermon in church sometime in st. catharines. maybe i'll mention it to vic. i think you could teach us a thing or two. love you, mom k.
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