What Part is truly Christian? What is American?

One benefit of being an international traveler is that cross-cultural experiences provide an individual with the opportunity to discover what part of oneself is truely Christian, and what part is merely American. So much of what we take to be true is shaped by our culture, it forms of perceptions, shapes our values, and literally prepares us for the American Way of life. But outside of America, our way of life does not always work; nor is it understood outside of our American context. Such experiences are helpful, in that they prompt reflections: "Is the core of my personal identity essentually formed by American Cutlrual values (Pragmatism, optimism, individualism, etc...) or am I shaped by the Gospel of the Kingdom? Is the literal and figurative center of my world more about geography or a certain place, such as "the American Way," or is the center of my world more about a spirituality, a specefic way of living and loving? Is it not possible or even desireable to separate my American Identity from my Christian identity? What ever the case, it is certain that the later needs shapes the former, and not the other way around. Many Christians are unaware of how much culture has shaped their understanding of Christianity, and in turn, their view of the world. We are to be aliens and stangers in this world (1 Peter 2:11), so need to be firmly grounded upon Christ, and His Word. Wherever we go, as Christians and citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem, we should be aware of a "not-at-home feeling," that heightens our sensitivity to our surrounding culture; Just as we long for those "at home" moments with Jesus in worship, prayer and meditation upon his Word. The more we are at home with Jesus and His Word, the more we can view this world from an outsider's perspective, thereby being a witness of a better way of life -- a life that leads to eternal life with Christ in our heavenly home. (Based upon and paraphrased from an article I read at www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20010716JJ.shtml )

Romans 12:1-2: Not conformed, but transformed

Romans 12:1-2 is an interesting commentary upon how to motivate a congregation towards becoming active in evangelism. “Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Notice how the heart of the matter in verse two is NOT what we do, but the way we think, the way we understand the world. Too often, we seek to address the issue of evangelism by introducing a new program for people to become involved in; but if people’s way of thinking isn’t changing, if it isn’t being tranformed by the renewal of their mind with the Word of God, then any evangelism program is doomed from the start. In all we do as Christians, and especially as the Church, renewal of our minds through the Word needs to be foundational, so the way people think is changed, so they can begin to see the world anew – transformed by the Word, able to discern and follow God in his good, pleasing and perfect Will.