@YvetteWithJoy, just before I saw this thread, I was in prayer about this very matter. To answer your question, I cherish my walk with Christ. At the same time I defend against "Americanity" which disguises itself as a form of Christianity. Americanity uses the Bible and Christian lingo to manipulate people into serving it rather than serving the true and living God. The focus of Americanity is on the blessings, not on The One who blesses although He is mentioned quite frequently in the discussions. Tithing is an extremely important part of Americanity, how else will the buildings get larger and the leaders of those buildings maintain comfortable or even extravagant lifestyles? The biggest problem with Americanity is that it creates a bunch of lazy followers who would rather write a check to clear their conscious and put a checkmark on their to do list for the week. True followers of Christ study His Word for themselves and follow Him even if it goes against what is taught in Americanity. I believe that God is bigger than all of our divisions. I believe that He places each and every one of us into the society and the time slot in history of His choosing and that we are to make a difference where we are planted and with the tools He has given us. I believe small groups of people meeting together to read and study God's Word and to pray and do His will is way more effective than warming a pew each week, but never making an impact for Christ. I believe our greatest weapon against the enemy of our souls is prayer. I believe that it is The Holy Spirit who brings understanding and interpretation of the scriptures when we are ready to receive the revelation of same. God has been faithful enough to preserve His word these many generations and it is He who raises the messengers of His own choosing to carry His Word forward. I believe that God does allow us to ask Him questions and that He provides the answers whether we like them or not. I believe "Americanity" a term I coined to describe what I see as a system which has allowed for the oppression of the masses for the benefit of a few, has run it's course. It is now time for the remnant to stand in the gap to pray; to build disciples of Christ; to be willing to sacrifice all for Christ; to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness; to share God's word and to encourage one another in the faith and in love.
I didn't mean to write a book, but this topic has no end.
I really love your post. I get a LOT out of it. EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT term: Americanity.
Our church just raised $21.7 million in one weekend. It will pay for colleges in Africa, homes in poor countries, church planting, etc.
The spending process is transparently shared. Our preacher is far from rich, and a large committee of many people oversee the money. I say that to say our preacher isn't pocketing these funds, as much as we can tell (you can't put anything past anyone, of course). But, we see the land purchased, colleges started, buildings built, etc.
There's a healthy way to collect money for the purpose of doing godly work. I have no problem with that. I don't even have a problem with nice church buildings.
I'm concerned that Christianity is getting a bad rap for many, many reasons.
Roy Moore and his followers look like brainwashed people who believe Jesus exists to be on their side instead of the other way around. We don't get the sense that they love others and go out and volunteer and help and uplift.
Scary: They talk about their God-given rights while complaining that they gave out too many rights awhile back. Well, which is it? Are rights God-given, or is YOUR GROUP the distributor of rights?
People see this and find "Christianity" unpalatable.
Another example, for me, are Christians who can't let others accept the peace that God gives us when we give our lives to Him. I lived this for 30 years and could have easily lost my mind over all that Christians asked me to be scared about all the time. Some Christians have decided that you are not serious about the Lord if you aren't worried up and ever self-condemning.
It got to the point where I could barely function. Of course, that didn't stop them from heaping more worry and anxiety and suggested tasks on me. Thank God he rescued me from those people and beliefs. I met a sweet Christian who lived like a child of the King who chose to allow God to shape her thoughts, feelings, emotions, actions, behavior, and life. The way she lived made God appear effective, loving, empowering, helpful, life-changing, good. My new journey started from there.
There is a Christian experience that has nothing to do with any of this evil I have described. That is not getting the limelight enough, for my taste. Hypocrisy, doomsday obsession and/or fear(mongering): This is all some folks know of Christianity.
The real, simple, victory-giving Christianity is joyful, simple, peace-instilling, and wonderful.
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