This seems to be the critical question that American Christians have overlooked.  The conversation has primarily been based on the belief that Jesus would vote, and he would either vote democratic or republican.  But is this based in theology or patriotic tradition?

Jesus taught that his followers should subvert the military of their government by going above and beyond when the military enforced labor on them.  His primary sparring partners were Pharisees, Sadducees and the Sanhedrin whose offices were often both religious and political.  He referred to King Herod as a fox.  He questioned the authority of Pilate, and thereby, the Roman government.

For the next ten month the news, air waves, and social media feeds are going to be focused on the Presidential election.  Both sides will do everything they can to garner the affection of segments of the population, especially those with religious affiliation.  Conversations will take place at work, at bars, coffee shops and on-line.  People will expect you to pick a side.

The most important thing Christians can do this election year is decide what they trust in: is it the powers of government?  Business? Media? Military?  Themselves? Or is it in the kingdom of God?

And if the power is in the kingdom of God, how does that effect how we will live for the next 10 months?

America is officially a Post-Christian Nation.

Just a few decades ago, it would have been unspeakable to mock someone for a public act of faith.  But the severe reactions that have been inspired by Tebowing show just how uncomfortable America is with the Christian religion.  Not that long ago, declarations of faith were a required part of the school day.  But just a few weeks ago, the New York supreme court decided to kick out churches that rent school cafeterias on Sundays.

There’s no denying it-

American Christendom is dead.

Here’s a rough history/definition of Christendom:

• Constantine begins to make Christianity a national religion with the Edict of Milan in 313.
• With the fall of the Roman Empire, the structures of Roman Church try to hold Europe together.
• Catholic/Protestants further the Christendom model by carving Europe, and eventually the world in to state run religious kingdom.
• In the US, Christendom is more subtly spread through civic institutions use language that propagates the idea of the U.S. as Christian nation.
• In short, by Christendom, I mean the idea that the Church is a ruling socio-political entity, whether by official statement or unofficial social expectations.

So, for a very long time this “Christianity” has been the litmus test of one’s American-ness.  But recently, a combination of forces including everything from post-modernism to birth control to globalism has knocked Christianity from it’s position as the bedrock of America.  Europe got there about 40 years earlier.

And while it spells the death of Christendom, it could very like be the best thing that could happen for the movement of Jesus in the US.

An Guide to Advent For Us Ahistorical Evangelical Types

Advent is about waiting.  Waiting isn’t fun.  But it’s important.  Enjoy.

Re-Imagining Theological Education | 3DM from 3DM on Vimeo.

The danger of an echo chamber is that the only voice you hear is your own.  The inevitability of the political echo chamber began with cable TV and exploded with the internet.  Now, you can completely cater your media experience to consist only of things that you already agree with.  You’ve met people who only listen to radio, read blogs, and communicate with others who share their politics.  Some days, all I want is to hear a few jokes from John Stewart, a story from Ira Glass and an episode of Doctor Who.  The internet makes this customization not only possible, but normal.

I find this sad.  I’m a full believer in a classic “liberal arts” education. I believe that, even if I don’t like it, having an understanding of algebra, art history and biology will make us better human beings.  It breaks my heart to meet someone who doesn’t know what Tale of Two Cities or a quadratic equation is.

When it comes to theology, an echo chamber isn’t just sad, it’s dangerous. A key tennant of the Christian faith, which the western church struggles to articulate, is that everything we believe is rooted in mystery.  We believe in a God-Man and a wind-like Spirit and a living lifestyle rooted in a future we have yet to see.  Everything we do is rooted in mystery.  This is not to say that there are not key, identifiable marks of orthodoxy.  But the fact is there’s a lot we can’t know, and a lot of room to disagree.

Theological echo chambers allow you to create systematic theologies and take them to logical yet dangerous theological and practical extremes.  This creates Reformers  more calvinistic than Calvin, Wesleyans who become universalists and Anabaptist that withdraw to farms where no one can bother them.  Practically, this creates religious arrogance.  The tradition I come from (like many) is often mocked for assuming everyone else is going to hell.  There might be some truth to that.

I believe in humbly seeking to hear from a multiplicity of voices.  This means more than being open to hearing the arguments of the people that you disagree with.  It means finding approaching life with a learning posture, assuming that even those that there are thing you can respect and emulate in everyone. And while you may come away believing what you always have, you’ll know better than ever why you believe it.

Here’s how I practice this:  I attend seminary with people who have some elements of theology I disagree with.  I work with a parachurch organization that trains leaders from a diversity of denominations.  I listen to podcasts from Tim Keller (reformed/presbyterian) and Bruxy Cavey (anabaptist/wesleyan), Catalyst (seeker sensitive/event driven) and Iconocast (Christian anarchist).  Don’t get me wrong, I have my favorites and I definitely have my opinions.  But I’m better off because I learn to love and respect others.

Have you broken out of the echo chamber?  Why or Why not?