Coram Deo

thesweetermelody:

Since I am very much hoping to get to the US of A next February, I thought I’d do a bit of homework on the spiritual state of America. So, what is the spiritual condition of America? I’m up for book recommendations too. 

I guess I want to be prepared, in case it’s completely different to Australia (I’m sure it is). No religious-shock for me.

 I know that the spiritual condition varies from region to region. In general, America is extremely nominal. Speaking from my experience on the West Coast (I live in California), people are wealthy and materialistic. It is a very “me-centered, consumer, feel good” culture. They do “good things” like donate money to shelters, wealthy banquets and golf tournaments to fund raise money and make their name known to the community. Most people would say that they are a “Christian” because their parents are. It is common to go to church, check it off the list, and then live the way you want the next 6 days of the week. Most people don’t love and serve the body of Christ (the church) in terms of bearing fruit in serving, tithing, giving, etc.  It is rare delight to find someone who is theologically mature and doctrinally sound. Churches that preach out of the Bible are also hard to find. People are nice but they are also passive, sleepy, nominal, and lukewarm in terms of their spiritual condition. They don’t realize that there is no such thing as a middle ground: you are either dead or alive, unregenerate or regenerate. Many are indifferent or think “everyone should believe in whatever they want to believe and you should respect that.” Another thing is that people do seek after “spiritual things” like yoga, philosophy, experiences, existentialism, etc.  Still, there are good things happening in America. We have great Bible teachers, conferences, blogs, resources, seminaries, Bible colleges, service opportunities, etc. 

College students- I know that in Australia, students usually commute to their campus. Australians don’t have dorms or live on their university campus.There is a statistic that 2 out of 3 college students “fall away” from the faith when they go to college. Students move out of their parents homes at around 18 years old. They are free to do whatever they want. They have no curfew, no rules, no parents to give them responsibilities, no one to watch over them and tell them to go to church. Many students join sororities or fraternities, a social club where you party and drink (there are Christian ones though who do not). When I go to school and look at my campus, the majority of the people would be non-Christians. On the other side, there are very brilliant, intellectual, and intelligent students who study  hard to obtain good grades to get a well paying carer to fulfill “The American Dream”  after they graduate. 

People are very politically active and vocal about tolerance, human rights, feminism, equality, etc.  In America, the citizens are outspoken when it comes to politics. Most people think that “the government is for us, it works for us, and we have the right to change the government if we don’t like it. We can change people and laws and get rid of things we don’t like.” As much as “American Christianity” saddens and burdens my heart, the light exposes the darkness. I know that I am called to be here presently and I pray for Revival. 

I know there is no black and white answer and it really depends on where you live but this is speaking from my experience living on the West Coast in America. I hope it helps! 

Does anyone else have thoughts for Susie? I’m also interested in the spiritual conditions of different states.