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Losing Our American Soul


Take a break and enjoy this vintage clip of Jim Wallis on The Daily Show.

One of the worst aspects of recent American Christianity has been its privatistic core.

  • Gettin’ saved
  • Born again
  • Righteousness by faith
  • Personal relationship with God

Strangely, it’s all about my individual problems.

The disaster is that this language completely misses the actual example
of Jesus who changed the world not only through his passion, but through his actions toward the social
situation of his time.

The reality is that humanity needs both personal and
community change. 

Nothing could be more clear to believers after
living through the last five years of Katrina, 9/11, and Iraq. These
disasters reveal serious problems in the social fabric of this world –
now ripped apart by decades of me-first racism clothed in
anti-government rhetoric, get-rich-quick-at-any-cost globalization, and buzz-off-world-and-half-of-America unilateralism.  

“Gotta get myself saved” is causing us to lose our
souls.

It’s time for a new, balanced understanding of American faith – one
that draws upon the traditions of social action for the common
good. Just saying a quick prayer of acceptance will not change the
world – but turning that faith into action will. Faith is a community
experience and the future of humanity rests not just on what we believe,
but will be determined by how we actually live and vote.

How can we change the basic definitions of our faith so that we follow the
living example of Jesus? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

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