An American Christian

An American Christian

I have for some time wanted to write. These wonderful ideas enter my mind and I think they are worthy of being written down. So I do. They are scattered far and wide in multiple notebooks, loose-leaf papers, and various Word documents saved on the computer.

Recently, I realized that I had to create a place to share my thoughts, views, and musings for me to commit to stating clearly the pondering of my heart.

As you can see in my profile, much of what I have been processing has to do with reconciling my identity as an American with my identity as a Christian.

Most of my friends, peers, and colleagues don't see a need to do this. They have no problem being both an American and a Christian as easily as you and I breath air. I am wired differently.

I lived in another country, Costa Rica, with my family for four years. While there I realized that many of my views of life were locked in and limited by my upbringing as an American.

Much of what I was taught was, of course, a huge blessing. I actually don't take much issue with how I was raised. I am not writing as some revolutionary trying to free you and I from some corrupting American culture.

What I did realize from my time in Costa Rica is that it was nearly impossible for me to view politics, economics, religion and morality issues through anything but an American lens. A lens that amplified all that agreed with what we, the people of the United States, emphasize as truth and declares as wrong anything not promoted in American culture.

It is now time for Christians in the United States to honestly evaluate how we interpret and live our faith in Jesus.

Will you travel with me as I write about this process?

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