I always find myself quite challenged by my good friend Tyler Akers’ site, and since New Wine’s next event will be about a collapse-proof Evangelical Church (June 15th), I was delighted to see Tyler posting some of his thoughts about Christianity in America.
In his post titled, The Death of Americanity, Tyler suggests that Christianity in America is:
a mix of American nationalism–and all that it implies (consumerism, materialism, isolationism, arrogance and apathy, zenophobia, historical and cultural ignorance, missionization by Americanization, simple, propositional faith claims with no new way of being, etc)–mixed with anywhere from a semblance of the Christian message to a fetishization of some of its most obscure and useless dimensions…
While in my opinion Tyler correctly describes the state of affairs concerning what he calls Americanity, his post is not a cynical rant that leaves you in a state of despair.
And perhaps this is why Americanity will fail, too, because it has tried as it may to cover up the radicality of the event of the Incarnation, Crucifixion and Resurrection, the events that change everything and leave nothing in tact as it was, except as a new order of love, constituted by charity and community and zeal.
Here Tyler is trying to turn things back to the reality of Christ, and all the implications that come with Him. Whether or not you agree with his assessment of Christianity here in America and the urgent need for change, I am sure you agree with having Christ at the center of our faith.
I for one am looking forward to June 15th. It will be interesting to hear how Dr. Metzger and other panel members address this issue.