Some people are certain Christianity can only be formed into a rather specific image of their choosing. Any religious person or group claiming to be Christian is only found worthy of such when conforming to that image. Sadly I have encountered this type of thinking many times.
Last week, Cal Thomas’ editorial used this rationale to label Barack Obama as a fake Christian or as one “preaching another gospel” because the President used the Bible to support his view of marriage. In this article, Thomas fashions Christianity into the image of a certain view of biblical interpretation. He also makes it clear that those outside his preferred view are not true Christians.
So What?
With all due respect to the right of individuals to pursue and practice any form or fashion of any religion they chose, any declaration that such a path is the only acceptable one within that religion is both arrogant and ignorant. Christianity is the world’s largest religion and includes many traditions and tens of thousands of denominations. Additionally, for the record, biblical literalism peaked in the United States in the mid-1980s.
Christianity is bigger than any one person’s perspective or any one denomination’s understanding. The Christian religion is comprised of individuals and groups with varying approaches to Scripture and to many aspects of what it means to be church or to follow Jesus. Sociological groupings that highlight differences may be helpful, but only inasmuch as they recognize all such groups are Christian.
- In what way(s) are you tempted to remake Christianity into your own image (the image of the religion you know best or believe is right)?
- How do you define Christianity?