Confession - American Christian Credibility and Why I Haven't Quit.

It seems to me, the church in the US has a major credibility problem. It’s not just the scandals, the partisan politics, or the popular histories demonstrating the church’s compromise with racism, sexism, or militarism. 

I think these are symptoms of a deeper ennui.  Chesterton quipped that Christianity had not been tried and found wanting, but that it had been found difficult and largely untried.  Perhaps he’s right.  But I doubt it.  

I suspect a good number of Americans sincerely ‘tried’ the Christianity that was available to them and have found it wanting.  Jesus didn’t give them the joy and peace they expected.  God didn’t fulfill them in their lonely singleness.  God didn’t keep their marriage from ending, spouse from dying, or child from atheism.  As our culture adapts around sexual and gender identity, would be Christians are confused about how the God who, “loves them and has a wonderful plan for their life,” would make people with desires for sexual identity and expression and then insist on their denial.  

It seems to me the normal response in the face of such a credibility problem is to resign. Who wants a God who can't help them? Who wants a religion tainted with racism? Who wants a God who plays favorites? 

Recently, a secular Buddhist friend pressed me on what value I found in Christianity.  “You believe that anyone can have a spiritual life,” he said.  “And, you believe Christianity has a credibility problem.”  I agreed.  “So, what, in your view, gets lost if we abandon it?”  

I didn’t have an answer.  I did have a story.  “I’m friends with some Christian monks in the Hudson Valley,” I said.  “They have developed good relationships with other religious communities over the years.  Every once in while there will be a knock at the door and a Buddhist monk will step through.  He will say, ‘In meditation I’ve encountered a… someone… sitting on the porch with me.  This is outside our tradition.  The abbot has sent me to you, because you think there is someone on the porch.’”

It’s this person on the porch I don’t want to lose.  The ennui of American Christianity seems to be, at least in part, the loss of a person.  An influential 20th century theologian said, “Christianity is Christ.”  Replace Jesus and his way with anything else and the collapse of Christian credibility is inevitable. 

The reason I’ve not resigned from Christian life is Christ.  I find Jesus, and his way, beautiful, compelling, generous, and healing.  The reward for this life has not included freedom from heartache and loss. It hasn’t fulfilled all my vocational dreams.  It hasn’t given health, wealth, and prosperity.  What I have is Christ.  He is enough.  

How do you experience American Christianity these days?  

What gives you hope?  

How would you respond to the idea that “Christianity is Christ,”?