American Opposition to Christianity

I know. You think I'm going to whine about "Christian persecution in America." You will either be relieved or disappointed to learn that I am not. Instead, I'm going to talk about how the concept of "America" is in direct opposition to the principles of Christianity.

"Oh, no it isn't," some will say. "We were originally a Christian nation." Yes, that's (sort of) true. ("Sort of" because only individuals can be "Christian." Only individudals can receive Christ as their Savior.) Yes, it is true, but things have changed. Here, consider this. What is it that defines America? Well, of course, it is our freedom. We are "the land of the free." "Yes!" you will say, "and Jesus said the truth shall set you free. So that works perfectly." Yes ... sort of. ("What's with all the 'sort ofs'?")

What is freedom? We believe that freedom is the ability to do what you want. That is the definition we go by. Is it what Jesus was thinking of when He said the truth will set us free? Absolutely not! God's purpose was to make a people that are His own. He was looking to make sheep to follow Him. God's purpose was to make us like Christ, not like we want to be. Jesus specifically said, "He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me" (Matt 10:38). Paul said, "You have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor 6:20). Indeed, Paul gloried in being a slave of Christ (Rom 1:1; Gal 1:10; Titus 1:1). So did James (James 1:1) and Jude (Jude 1:1). In America there is no higher calling to be slave to no one. In biblical Christianity there is no higher calling than to be God's slave.

There is so much more, of course. We are saved for good works (Eph 2:10). We are commanded to "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you" (Col 3:5), to "Put to death the deeds of the body" (Rom 8:13).The freedom we are offered isn't the freedom to do what we want; it's the freedom to do what we ought. And that's a good thing because "what we ought" is what we were designed for and the only real fulfillment we will experience. The irony, of course, is that America does not offer the freedom we think we want. We do not have the freedom to do whatever we want. And more and more voices are seeking to more and more limit those options. But the truth is that that freedom is not something we should have. The freedom we need is to be Christ's faithful sheep following where He may lead.