it seems to me as though the Church in America has become extremely moralistic. Entirely in some pockets.
and i mean moralistic/moral/morality based approach as opposed to a focus on who a person actually BECOMES. who they actually are. their character. their raw, true, real self.
and the 2 focuses are VERY different. radically different. they produce 2 different types of people. 2 different kinds of "Christians" really.
Moralism is a SHAME BASED approach.
Moralistic Christianity doesn't really give a rip about WHO a person is. character doesn't matter as long as the person follows the moral code.
and that shame based system dies hard.
one is about being inwardly "good" - being a passionate and radical follower of Jesus.
the other is about conformity to a moral standard.
one requires a transformation of the heart.
the other only requires a fear of punishment or being judged.
maybe this is why the American Church has notoriously and vehemently opposed homosexual people, socialism (or should i say anything that's not capitalism), etc... in fact, Christians have made a name for themselves by specializing in opposing practices like these and condemning the people who do them.
BUT American Christians have been much less famous for opposing injustice, racism, and poverty.
WHY?
i'm not making a comment as to the right or wrongness of homosexuality and/or capitalism. i'm just asking WHY? why oppose those so vehemently but not the other things i mentioned?
because Christianity in America is pretty much just moralism.
not much emphasis on a for real transformation of the heart.
but when that happens you can forget the moralism. all that stuff takes care of itself in a much more organic and beautiful way.
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