I am talking, of course, of the polarity of Christianity in the United States, where parties seem to gather around a political spectrum that, while influenced by Christianity, it is nonetheless unChristian.
From this polarity emerges the oddity of western Christianity and its many manifestation that are normally categorized as "Conservative Christianity", "Moderate Christianity" and finally "Liberal Christianity".
These 3 parties of Christianity seem to be at odd with each other, with endless rhetorical riots directed at each other, schisms and a good measure of tribalism to go along the way.
The irony of the matter is that they all are equally guilty of the same sin: adapting and ultimately confusing, Christianity with culture. It is idolatry, pure and simple. Christianity is constantly being sacrificed to the gods of our culture.
Profiles of Conservative, Moderate and Liberal Christianity
These descriptions are going to be caricatured to make a point, and I understand that most individuals don't fit neatly into any of these three categories, but more likely than not, have a share of these three profiles.
It seems to me that to be a "good conservative Christian" one must adhere to a package of beliefs that are far from Christianity: patriotism and patriarchy, nationalism and the support of wars, the defense of our borders, and the right to bear arms. Love of Jesus is proclaimed in one breath, and nationalistic and xenophobic proclamations at the next, all with the most comical and tragic ignorance to the contradictions.
The Kingdom of God in conservative Christianity is about "saving souls from damnation" and evangelism takes center stage. Social justice issues are often ignored.
To be a moderate Christian is simply to choose a middle of the way road, an almost uncompromising stance on issues, and cherry picking from both conservative and liberal values. The moderate Christian views the commitment of both conservatives and liberals as pure "fanaticism" and is repulsed by their passions. Lukewarmness is the rule of the faith.
The Kingdom of God for moderates is about "live and let other lives, do no harm to others and mind your own darn business, we are here to have a good time and God wants us to enjoy our lives, so chill"
To be a "good liberal Christian" there is also a good and intimidating long lists of issues: you must fight for social justice, care for the poor (while at the same time creating a lifestyle that leaves no space for the poor in their lives), creeds and dogmas are at best softened or at worst disregarded as "superstitious" and "medieval". Evangelism is neglected, and what I like to call "the idolatry of justice" is prevalent. To be a liberal Christian is simply to be an activist with some religious language and practices. There is an almost desperate need to transform Christian values and ethics in a way that conform almost perfectly with progressive values and ethics.
The Kingdom of God in liberal Christianity is about "transforming our world around us and bring about the Kingdom through social and political reform".
The problems with these parties of Christianity are manifold. The biggest issue is how much these parties align with our political values. Christianity then, is heavily compromised and adapted by the culture you feel most comfortable with.
The Answer: The Gospel and the Kingdom of God
My question is: Where is the Kingdom of God in all of this? Where does the culture and values of the Kingdom of God enter in? Is the Kingdom of God Democrat or Republican?
I am going to use a Scripture passage that conservatives love to use against liberals, even though they are just as guilty of it themselves:
[Jhn 18:36 ESV] 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."
The Kingdom of God is "not of this world". As New Testament scholar N. T. Wright has pointed out, the best translation would be "My kingdom is not from this world". The Kingdom of God does not originate from this world, with all the diverse cultures and political values, beautiful as they might be.
Whenever we see the "Kingdom of God" being modeled by values of a particular political system, then it stops being the Kingdom of God and it starts being something from this world, with some religious values added to it for good measure.
This is not to say that the Kingdom of God is apolitical. If anything, it is extremely political. Otherwise, why would Jesus use political language to describe it?
What it is, however, is a culture not to replace all cultures, but by definition, a "counterculture" that is at times (but not always) in contradiction to our collective cultures. The Kingdom of God will never cease to be counter cultural. It is an endless revolution, and this revolution will one day be firmly and permanently installed at Jesus' return.
If the Gospel is not continually challenging conservative, moderate and liberal cultures and values, then it is no longer the Gospel. Making our values and culture bed partners to the Gospel is nothing short of idolatry.
Yes, Kingdom values sometimes resemble conservative and liberal values, but they do not originate from them.
We should care for the poor and social justice because we are Christians, and Christ cares for those things, not because we are liberals or progressives. We should care and do Evangelism because we are Christians, and believe Jesus is such a wonderful person that we can't help but share it with others, not because we are conservatives and duty bound to save others from hell. We believe the creeds, in Christ's incarnation, atoning death, and bodily resurrection not because we are conservative fanatics and irrational, medieval or spiritual neanderthals, but because we trust the witness of those who died to communicate this faith.
It is time for Christians to stand up and become what we are called to be: little Christs, imitators of Him, who offended both conservatives, lukewarms and liberals, and was at the same time attractive to them all.
It is time for us to die to ourselves: to our values and cultures, and be reborn to the counter cultural, always revolutionary, ancient and yet ever new, Kingdom of God.
AMEN!
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