Grant Overbeek

Okay. By God’s grace, I will write this to be constructive and helpful and not an empty rant.

There have been days where I feel embarrassed to admit that I am a Christian. Not because of what I believe or what the Christian faith teaches, but because of some of the words and actions that come from others who claim to be Christian, especially in recent months. It seems that it is becoming increasingly difficult to be a genuine Christian in America these days.

As I say that, there’s a chance you might be trying to categorize me into a specific political party or ideology. Regardless of which one that is, I am being placed there, and that is the thing that frustrates me. Christianity has become, to the eyes of many, a political label connected to a culture of arrogance and false righteousness.

“Christianity has become, to the eyes of many, a political label connected to a culture of arrogance and false righteousness.”

I am not writing this to talk about any one specific person or event in culture over the past few years. There has been plenty said on all of it. I want to talk more broadly about some things in western culture and the U.S. that have been on my mind, and what specifically I find so difficult about being a Christian in America right now. I’m not here to complain or try to make my life sound oh-so-terrible. I am very blessed. But what makes me so sad, angry, and frustrated right now is the hijacking of the Christian faith into a man-made, cultural lifestyle and human political movements.

The hijacking of Christianity is not at all new. From the very start, people have seen the grace, forgiveness, and blessings of Christianity and have abused it for their own gain. In the book of Acts, a couple is struck dead for lying about their financial gift that they hoped would bring them financial and social benefit. In another passage, a sorcerer named Simon tries to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit for his own gain. He was rebuked for it. And throughout the New Testament Paul and the other Apostles had to deal with false teachers who tried to control people through false or fake faith. History is full of people seeking selfish gain, declaring wars, marginalizing peoples, and abusing the earth all in the name of Christ and Christianity.

“The hijacking of Christianity is not at all new.”

In the U.S. today, there are many leaders and citizens alike who profess a Christian faith, and yet their actions are full of pride, greed, lust, gluttony, envy, anger, and laziness. There is little to know humility to be seen. On all sides, fear and hatred is stirred up. It’s hard to find any true love for God or mankind, and all of this is amplified thanks to social media, which only fuels the flames. It can take away our hope for anything good to come. And so, the perception of Christianity is tainted.  

This “Christian” faith that many in the U.S claim is nothing more than cultural, and is shaped conveniently to the personal values and desires of each individual or party. What you end up with is a whole range of false religions based in human efforts. You end up with Progressive Christianity, which makes an idol out of cultures, nature, and humanity, it finds its foundation in human effort and a false belief that humans are naturally good. On the other end, you get Christian Nationalism, which uses a very shallow, cultural version of Christian tradition to oppress and control people. It’s an arrogant, man-made attempt to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth. It idolizes power as well as cultural heritage. On both ends, these false faiths twist God’s grace for their own flawed sense of righteousness or selfish benefit.

“On both ends, these false faiths twist God’s grace for their own flawed sense of righteousness or selfish benefit.”

So, what am I supposed to do as a Christian? How am I supposed to live in a country that calls itself Christian but is full of empty religion and wickedness?

In the first book of Timothy, Paul writes, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, “There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and Humanity-the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.””  1^st Timothy 2:1-6 New Living Translation

This passage is challenging, because it calls Christians to pray for all people and thank God for them, including authorities. Even the ones who are doing evil! At the time of this being written, the Emperor Nero would have been in power: one of the most evil and oppressive leaders to live. Paul is asking the Christians of the time to pray and thank God for him. How is a Christian supposed to do that?

What this verse is not saying is to thank God for the bad things that people do. It tells us to intercede and ask God to help them. When we pray and intercede for others, we need to pray that their hearts would be repentant and submitted to God. That they would be saved the same way we were, and that they would lead in true wisdom and humility, standing up for what is just and good in God’s eyes. When we thank God for people, we are thankful for their purpose that God has given them and pray that they would embrace that purpose. As it is stated in 1^st Timothy, God has a desire for everyone to know the truth and be reconciled to Him, and the only way that true reconciliation comes is through Christ Jesus.

Now this does not mean Christians should turn a blind eye to evil and injustice. We are to speak truth and seek goodness. In Isaiah 1, God commands His people to reject wickedness, and to seek goodness and justice, to stand up for widows, orphans, and the oppressed. Christians are to do this peacefully, not stirring up anger but instead godliness and dignity. Through these efforts, we may live in peace.

So, what can I do except hold true to my faith and walk closely with Jesus, no matter the circumstances. I can’t let people’s perception of me get in the way of following Him. My politics are shaped by my faith. My actions are shaped by my faith. I urge every Christian to not be loyal to one political party or another, but to be loyal first and foremost to Christ who is King. Seek Him above all else and let your faith shape your politics. Do not turn a blind eye to injustice or wrongdoing simply because the offender professes Christ. Speak out in truth, protect the innocent, and pray grace over those who do evil, because as Christians, we have been shown immense grace.

“So, what can I do except hold true to my faith and walk closely with Jesus, no matter the circumstances.”

The U.S. is historically a nation of Christian values. It is a Christian nation in that sense. Because the U.S. is historically a Christian nation, I believe that there are certain morals and values that should be upheld. One of the key values being the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all peoples. These values treat everyone with the dignity that comes from being an image-bearer of God. While the U.S. has never been a perfect nation and has in many cases done the very opposite of those values, its peoples have had the ability to make change. Much of that change has been led by people of genuine faith. And through their push for change, justice, freedom, and flourishing have triumphed. I am happy to be an American. I am grateful that it is a nation founded in Christian values, and I very much want to see America flourish as a Christian nation.

But the Kingdom of God is not going to come by human efforts. It is the work of the Spirit in the hearts of people, and I pray that God would move in the hearts of Americans. The opening of Isaiah that I previously mentioned describes Israel of that time. It was a country that was full of empty religion, acts of oppression, and ungodliness, and God was disgusted by it. In the first chapter, God commands Israel to turn from their wickedness and hypocrisy, and instead do good, seek justice, and help the oppressed. I pray that Americans would do the same. I pray that there would be justice for the atrocities that have been committed and, I pray that people would wake up from their cultural Christianity and self-righteousness.

Thanks for taking the time to read. <3