I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the state of Christianity in America, specifically in the Southeast. Chattanooga, where I live, is commonly refered to as the Bible-Belt and there are many places, like Chattanooga, that are infiltrated with numerous churches. This may not appear to be a problem, but there ends up being a culture of Christianity that is promoted that is not necessarily consistent with true Christianity.
Over the past several months I have written a couple of posts that are each related to this specific topic. One was on the difference between morality and godliness and the other post was entitled Christless Christianity. Both of these posts touched on some of the problems that are created in this kind of culture. There is such a familiarity with Christian terminology that it is conducive to just go through the motions. I would even suggest that based on how Christianity and church is conducted in these kind of areas that this type of hypocrisy is passively encouraged. Let me offer an example.
I hear stories from new churches in areas like Miami and San Fransisco where new believers come up to mature believers and openly talk about their struggles with lust, pornography, and pride. In these areas where Christianity is not as openly practiced, it is much more real. There is honesty and openness…there is a sense of community and true discipleship that is not present in areas like Chattanooga. In fact that kind of openness is frowned upon in the Bible-Belt. We would rather hide our struggles and pretend that we are doing okay spiritually than have an open and honest relationship with a fellow believer.
Christians in the Bible-belt do not see the need for discipleship or accountability. There is such a focus on the external that the internal is ignored. This is often seen by an over-emphasizing of external holiness instead of inward. The focus is on outward conformity instead of inward reality. But this is also seen by a resistance, hesitance, and even a refusal to be open about the reality of struggles in the Christian life.
True discipleship will never happen with out real openness and honesty. True community will never happen without open and loving accountability. True Christianity will not be lived until we focus first and foremost on practicing biblical Christianity instead of regional Christianity.
October 28, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Jeremy,
I like this post. This is certainly a real problem. However, I wonder if this phenomenon is purely geographical or whether it also stems from theological perspectives as well. I tend to think this kind of Christianity coincides with one’s position on sanctification, in particular I am speaking of Keswick spirituality which is so prevalent in Dispensationalism. This was Chafer’s position and became (and still is) very popular among dispensational churches as well as the Bible conference and Bible church movement. As you know, this is very popular in Chattanooga and other areas in the Southeast but is also attested in the north.
Inherent in this thinking is a Wesleyan theology that presupposes the active role on the part of humans in their own salvation. This interaction between divine grace and human response, if not balanced, leads to something very akin to a works salvation. These people may state that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, yet they are quick to judge the reality of someone else’s faith based solely on their actions (or even their beliefs in peripheral issues, i.e. rapture, Bible versions, etc.). This, of course, suggests that they deem their own salvation based on how they live rather than what they confess.
I remember when I was in Chattanooga and a deacon at our old church (I won’t mention names) called me at home because his son had been out drunk, gotten arrested, and needed someone to talk to him. I asked him why he didn’t confide in one of his fellow deacons or a pastor in the church. I felt it was a matter they may be more equipped to deal with. He told me that he was afraid to do that because of the repercussions to him and his family in the church. He didn’t even want to go talk to his son. He wanted me to do it. He knew I was not judgmental about that kind of thing. I told him I thought it was a shame that we were a church, a group of sinners saved by grace, yet we could not discuss sin or bring up our troubles and struggles. We could not depend on one another to build up and encourage without the fear of reprisal. That’s not church, that’s sectarianism.
I could write scores and scores of pages on this and think it is a real problem. I don’s discount the genuineness of the faith of any of my fundamentalist brothers and sisters. I am not a fundamentalist of any sort. However, I do think they entrap themselves very much in a works salvation, something that they adamantly oppose. It’s kind of like, they say one thing yet do another. I don’t think they mean to, I just don’t think they realize they are doing it!
Good piece, I like this.
October 29, 2009 at 9:15 am
Mark,
I think you are right on. I think the problem is magnified in Bible-belt areas where there is a sense of anti-intellectualism in conservative circles. This is probably due to the fact that pastors don’t teach theology in churches. As a result most people are theologically ignorant. If you were to go to the average person, in the average Baptist church and ask them to explain their view of sanctification, they would just stare back at you. I really think that most people in churches just do what their pastor says. They adopt his theology without even knowing that is what they are doing. As a result they have no basis for what they do or how they live.
November 9, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I would also argue that this attitude of a lack of authenticity is not so much an issue in the south as it is with conservative, traditional churches and I think your experience with such comes as a result of you being in those types of churches. Some of the churches I was in when younger very much had the attitude of preaching against sin but never admitting that we do any of it.
I find the attitude of being real and open to exist more in casual ,contemporary, emerging churches where the leadership example and preaching ministry consists of practical, applicable topics that are real to the lives and hurts of the people rather than drowning the congregation in theological jargon. I read your post earlier where you argue that a sign of anti-intellectualism is mostly topical preaching and I could not disagree more. Being deep and living out the “christian life” does not come from having church member’s heads loaded with a denominations beliefs. Hitting people where they are leads to impact and growth.
I will be blogging later this week on “how to look spiritual” for anyone who would like to hear more about my thoughts on this.
November 12, 2009 at 11:53 am
There still must be a standard of absolute truth that guides our lives. Doctrine and theology is so much more than just stuff we study, it is the very truths of those doctrines that should guide our lives. How we should act and react and live should all be based on knowing God more. And knowing God is not an abstract idea, who God is and how God works has been revealed in doctrine.
But you are exaclty right in saying that “living out the Christian life does not come from having a church member’s head loaded with denominational beliefs.” What is needed is for doctrine to be made practical, defendable, and real…to the point that it changes a life.