Daily Bread

~~~ The Transformation of Christianity Part 2 ~~~

Coming to America:
Colonists first came to America for more freedom. Beginning in the early 17th century, colonists came because they wanted political liberty, religious freedom and economic opportunity. In Europe, some governments under the influence of the Church of Rome, punished people for practicing certain religions. But the colonists were free to decide many things for themselves even though governments in Europe ruled the colonies. ^[1]

Religious Liberty and the U.S. Constitution:
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The two provisions concerning religion: The Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The Establishment clause prohibits the government from "establishing" a religion. The Free Exercise Clause protects citizens' right to practice their religion as they please, so long as the practice does not run afoul of civil or criminal law.

The Moral Majority Movement:
The Moral Majority was an American political organization that was founded in 1979 by Jerry Falwell, a religious leader and televangelist, to advance conservative social values. Although it disbanded in 1989, the Moral Majority helped to establish the religious right as a force in American politics. ^[2] The Moral Majority portrayed issues such as abortion, divorce, feminism, LGBTQ rights, and the Equal Rights Amendment as attacks on the traditional concept and values of American families and tapped into a sense of societal moral decay that resonated with many evangelicals. Essentially, this movement wanted to compel their morality on groups they viewed as choosing lifestyles that did not reflect their own Christian values.

The Moral Majority and the Republican Party:
The Moral Majority significantly influenced Republican Party policies by pushing for a platform centered on traditional family values and social conservatism. The Moral Majority's ability to rally millions of conservative Christians transformed electoral strategies, as candidates increasingly sought support from this demographic. Although the Moral Majority disbanded as an organization, it is alive and well under the new guise of today's Christian Nationalism which is strongly linked to Republican party affiliation. ^[3]

Christian Nationalism is an ideology that is based around the idea that this is a Christian nation, that this was founded as a Christian nation, and, therefore, it should be a Christian nation today and should be so in the future. According to survey data, Christian nationalists agree with statements like the federal government should declare the United States of America a Christian nation. Our laws should be based on Christian values. Being a Christian is important if you want to be a real American. ^[4]

This belief, then, delegitimizes people of other religions basically saying they are not "real Americans". The United States of America is a land of immigrants from many countries and cultural diversities. Many identify as Christian but many also identify with Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism etc. There are also many who have no religious affiliation or belief. All of them have the same freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Jesus' Teaching On True Morality:
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others." Matthew 6:1-5

The Prosperity Gospel:
The prosperity gospel is a modern Christian teaching that wealth and health are God's will for those who have faith, which encourages followers to donate large sums of money, often believing that doing so will bring them personal wealth in return. Where does the money go? Rather than being used for humanitarian purposes, much of it ends up in the hands of the leadership and building ever more extravagant and grander churches. Today we have seen an explosion of the mega church whose pastors are multi-millionaires. Many of these churches are non-denominational in order to be inclusive and encourage membership.

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