American Christianity has distorted the gospel and become spiritually bankrupt

[FightingFat]

*But in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.
—1 Peter 3:15

I remember a conference in New York City. The topic was social justice. Assembled for the meeting were theologians, pastors, priests, nuns, and lay church leaders. At one point a Native American stood up, looked out over the mostly white audience, and said,*

“Regardless of what the New Testament says, most Christians are materialists with no experience of the Spirit. Regardless of what the New Testament says, most Christians are individualists with no real experience of community.” He paused for a moment and then continued: “Let’s pretend that you were all Christians. If you were Christians, you would no longer accumulate. You would share everything you had. You would actually love one another. And you would treat each other as if you were family.” His eyes were piercing as he asked, “Why don’t you do that? Why don’t you live that way?”
*There was more sophisticated theological and political analysis per square foot in that room than most places. Yet no one could give an answer to the man’s questions. He had put his finger on the central problem we face in the churches today. Our Scriptures, confessions, and creeds are all very public, out in the open. Anyone can easily learn what it is supposed to mean to be a Christian. Our Bible is open to public examination; so is the church’s life. That is our prob¬lem. People can read what our Scriptures say, and they can see how Christians live. The gulf between the two has created an enormous credibility gap. *

somareview.com/betrayingjesus.cfm

 

[rciadan]

I would think that this is a problem with all of Christianity, especially “western”, which would include those living in England and Europe, North and South America, and even Australia; not just “America”

 

[NotWorthy]

The gospel message has been molded to suit an increasingly narcissistic culture. Conversion is proclaimed as the road to self-realization. Whether through evangelical piety or liberal therapy, the role of religion is presented as a way to help us uncover our human potential—our potential for personal, social, and business success, that is. Modern conversion brings Jesus into our lives rather than bringing us into his. We are told Jesus is here to help us to do better that which we are already doing. Jesus doesn’t change our lives, he improves them. Conversion is just for ourselves, not for the world. We ask how Jesus can fulfill our lives, not how we might serve his kingdom.

The author has just described Joel Osteen and his ilk of preachers pretty accurately, but I’ve never heard this preached in church either by the ministry or the laiety.

Notworthy

 

[NotWorthy]

An insidious characteristic of narcissism is that it causes the loss of a sense of the past and of the future. There is no history to draw from and no concern for future generations. There is only me and now. My satisfaction today is the only important thing. So it is with narcissistic conversion. The richness of the history of the people of God is lost, as is the future of the kingdom.

I’d like to buy the author of this article “Triumph” or “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic”.

Notworthy

 

[Fitz]

Don’t you mean to title this “Western Christianity”, or do you think Eurpoeans are not gather wealth for themselves? Just wondering why the title?

I think that we still face the sample problems that the early church faced. It is human nature. People still follow false gods- money, sex, abortion- all of these things still exist. I doubt that this will ever change.

Being truely Christ like is our goal.

 

[Flopfoot]

The guy is seeing the side that he wants to see - not because he hates the church but because he wants to challenge. Still, he is looking at the church in a bad light.

Christians have no experience of the Spirit? What would he know? Each person is unique, we are all in different spiritual stages, etc. That’s just a broad sweeping statement with no basis.

Christians are materialistic? I don’t think so. Look at how many Christians do volunteer work (time they could be using to make more money but choose not to). Look at the priests and religious, who are happy to have just a little bit of money to live. Look at the Christians who have large families they have to support instead of keeping all the money for themselves. Etc. Christians are a lot less materialistic than the secular world.

Christians have no experience of community? Actually, Christians meet up in parishes and in all sorts of groups which are Christian groups, ie, a community of Christians. There is no hobby, devotion, interest, or anything like that in this world which has as many and as large groups about it than Christianity. What’s more we are also united on a worldwide level - well, for Catholics at least, we have a world leader, the Pope, and we have rules that are for the whole world of Christians. Tell me, is there a world leader for say, D&D enthusiasts, who is the final judge in making sure all people play D&D the same, the world over? Point is Christians are very much a communal people. We pray together, we talk together, we work together, we can often agree on a hell of a lot of things.

Christians don’t share? Um? Collection plate goes around every Sunday at Mass + Project Compassion + many other Christian initiatives for helping the needy? Christians probably account for most of the charitable work that happens in the world. Not to mention, on a smaller scale, Christians do a lot of work at the local community level and also within their immediate and extended families. Christians tend to have much better family bonds than secular families and we will always help out our uncles, aunts, cousins, our parents in their old age, etc.

Christians don’t love one another? That’s a complete load of trash. Not only do we love our fellow Christians but we even love outside of our community. As Jesus says, even the pagans love their fellows, so of course Christians do.

Treat each other like family? Enough said above.

Now, if only he would look at things in a better light, he wouldn’t make such accusatory and kind of judgmental remarks against us.

 

[FightingFat]

Fitz:

Don’t you mean to title this “Western Christianity”, or do you think Eurpoeans are not gather wealth for themselves? Just wondering why the title?

It’s just the title used in the article!

Personally, I think US Christianity is broadly different.

 

[pbaylis]

Flopfoot:

The guy is seeing the side that he wants to see - not because he hates the church but because he wants to challenge. Still, he is looking at the church in a bad light…

I don’t think defensiveness gets us anywhere. We just need to take the portions that apply to ourselves and improve. Personally, I think there are definitely areas on that list I need to improve on. Love is one thing I’m sure most of us need improvement on, compared to Christ’s love. I think we love until we lose patience or stop getting a return on our “investment”. God wants our love to be unshakeable.

I don’t know how many of you have read the Dialog of Catherine of Siena, but God supposedly gave her a test that can be used to see if your love is the kind of love God desires. The test is: If you give love to someone and they reject you or they prefer the company of someone else. How does this make you feel? If it stops you in your tracks or sours your feelings towards that person, your love is imperfect. If you can keep your love steadfast, you’re on a good track.

 

[Catholic29]

NotWorthy:

The author has just described Joel Osteen and his ilk of preachers pretty accurately, but I’ve never heard this preached in church either by the ministry or the laiety.

Notworthy

Osteen’s, as well as Robert Schuler’s and Billy Graham’s brand of feel good Christianity is what I think characterizes much af what American Christianity (not just Protestantism in general) is all about. Much of American goes to church to be entertained by music and by funny stories of some dude in a expensive tailored suit on a massive well-lit stage.

And typically no word from them about bearing one’s cross to make up for what is lacking in Christ’s passion, essentially Christ did it all for us, all we have to do is believe and be entertained…

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

NotWorthy:

The author has just described Joel Osteen and his ilk of preachers pretty accurately, but I’ve never heard this preached in church either by the ministry or the laiety.

Notworthy

Maybe it needs to be​

 

[NotWorthy]

## Maybe it needs to be ##

What needs to be??? “Jesus wants you to be financially successful”??? I don’t get it.

Notworthy

 

[Walking_Home]

But in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.
—1 Peter 3:15

I remember a conference in New York City. The topic was social justice. Assembled for the meeting were theologians, pastors, priests, nuns, and lay church leaders. At one point a Native American stood up, looked out over the mostly white audience, and said,

i]“Regardless of what the New Testament says, most Christians are materialists with no experience of the Spirit. Regardless of what the New Testament says, most Christians are individualists with no real experience of community.” He paused for a moment and then continued: “Let’s pretend that you were all Christians. If you were Christians, you would no longer accumulate. You would share everything you had. You would actually love one another. And you would treat each other as if you were family.” His eyes were piercing as he asked, “Why don’t you do that? Why don’t you live that way?”

*There was more sophisticated theological and political analysis per square foot in that room than most places. Yet no one could give an answer to the man’s questions. He had put his finger on the central problem we face in the churches today. Our Scriptures, confessions, and creeds are all very public, out in the open. Anyone can easily learn what it is supposed to mean to be a Christian. Our Bible is open to public examination; so is the church’s life. That is our prob¬lem. People can read what our Scriptures say, and they can see how Christians live. The gulf between the two has created an enormous credibility gap. *

somareview.com/betrayingjesus.cfm

If anyone read the posts by “Giver” over in Apologetics, the above and stuff that Giver wrote coincide.