The Americanized Christian

 

 

Introduction

Have you ever heard someone say, usually when things aren’t positive, that “God has a plan for you”? The idea is that even though things are in their darkest moment, God will turn it around for you. You’ll come out of this negativity as a stronger individual than you went in.

Most of the time this is true; even if you aren’t a believer in God. However, this type of thing is uttered by those here in America making things seem so much easier. There is the issue at hand; when being a Christian in America takes the forefront for all things.

 

I Have a Plan for You!

If you look at scripture, God did indeed say something like this. In Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (RSV) You might find this verse used in a greeting card given to someone who just graduated, got married, received a promotion, or some other event.

This is where people get that Monty Hall attitude and announce that God is going to shower you with many blessings; usually material blessings. “Everything is going to go your way if you hang on for a just a few more days.” “Say your prayers, take your vitamins…” Sorry, that last one was from pro-wrestler, Hulk Hogan. But you get my point.

There are a lot of people out there who believe this to be true. When things go their way: promotion, new car, new house, pay raise, etc. they attribute it all, not only to God, but the fact that they are Christians; Christians in America.

But what about Christians in third world countries? Those who struggle to grow crops, barely have money to put food on the table, encounter problems with neighbors and co-workers. None of those “blessings” seem to happen to them, yet aren’t they children of God as well? If they obeyed the gospel in the same way; according to the word of God, they will get the same reward when this life is over.

 

What does the Bible Say?

The problem with this interpretation of this text has God showing partiality to certain people and the scriptures say that He doesn’t! In Acts 10 when Peter is sent to the house of Cornelius, he comes to an understanding that the Gentiles are also included in the salvation of Christ. He says so in verses 34 and 35, Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

The actual context of Jer. 29:11 has God talking to the children of Israel (who were in captivity); as a group (not an individual), that although things look bleak now, they will get better. He hasn’t forgotten His children and soon they will return from Babylonian Captivity and inherit their own land once again.

Conclusion

We are very fortunate to live in the country of America where opportunities always seem to be bountiful and the liberties of living in the ‘land of the free and the home of the brave.’ But a Christian must remember this one key fact; in Ephesians 6, the description of the Armor of God, verse 17 tells us, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Arm yourself with the ‘sword of the Spirit’ not the U.S. Constitution. As a Christian, the bible must come first before the law of the land. That’s true of any nation. When you put your ‘rights and liberties’ ahead of God’s Law, you WILL disqualify yourself from your eternal reward. As the apostle wrote in 2 John 9, Anyone who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. (RSV) You must follow God as He won’t follow you!