The Epistle to the Americans

People have joked, "If St. Paul were still around, we'd be getting a letter." And I wondered what Paul would say in a letter to the church in the US. Then, in my most recent re-read, it occurred to me that one of his canonical letters seems like it was almost written to us.

In his essay "Christian Apologetics", CS Lewis observed,

"the doctrines which one finds easy are the doctrines which give Christian sanction to truths you already knew. The new truth which you do not know and which you need must, in the very nature of things, be hidden precisely in the doctrines you least like and least understand."

And that is the key to finding the "epistle to the Americans." There are many different forms of Christianity in America today, but they all have one problem or another, and most share others by virtue of our all being Americans. Those issues are our need, the place Paul offends us. And it turns out one letter is just one of our errors after another.

I submit that an "epistle to the Americans" would look very much like 1 Corinthians.

Paul begins with an appeal "that there be no division among you" (1:10). Drive through the South, and you'll find towns of 400 people with four Baptist churches. Inevitably, someone at the First Baptist Church got mad, then went down the block and started a new church. Twice. American Christians can divide over worship music, preaching styles, and the color of the carpet in the sanctuary. Literally.

Then there's the issue of celebrity pastors. People who are more loyal to their pastor than to Christ, who will follow him anywhere. These are the people who will protect their pastor no matter the indiscretion. Or they don't actually go to a local church because no pastor in their area can preach as well as this guy on TV or YouTube.

Some churches need to hear this: "Where is the wise person? ... Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1:20). How many of us have allowed a philosophy from the world to change how we read the Scriptures? Modernism, progressivism, feminism, the masculine revival, patriotism, and chronological snobbery are all hermeneutical methods we find in churches today. "But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (1:23).

The most stunning thing this letter may say, from an American point of view, is "Judge!"

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate. ... you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. ... “Expel the wicked person from among you.” (5:1, 11, 13)

We're supposed to kick people out of the church for living their best life? Who does he think he is? He then says to "flee" all sexual immorality, that we are God's property, "bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (6:20). Could there be a sentiment more offensive to today's Americans?

Yes. This one: "The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" (6:7). He then says we should be willing to give up our rights for the sake of another and for the gospel. He spends three more chapters on that un-American topic!

He says your body belongs to your spouse (7:4) but being unmarried (read, "celibate") is good (7:8). He then dares to say you shouldn't get divorced, but if you do separate from your spouse, you must stay single (7:10-11). Apparently sex isn't the summum bonum of human existence.

If that wasn't bad enough, Paul insists different rules can apply to men and women (11:4-5). It's a controversial passage. Is it a cultural issue that no longer applies? Doesn't matter. The fact remains that at some points, different rules are appropriate.

Let's speed through the rest of the book: Make sure your worship doesn't have class divisions (11:18).

Spiritual gifts are real. But they're not meant to make you look spiritual. Tongues are real, but if you're speaking in tongues, which is a sign for unbelievers, and no one can interpret, you should stop talking. And any spiritual gift is worthless without love.

A word for the seeker sensitive folks: Church is for believers, and if an unbeliever should come into your worship, he should be convicted.

A word especially for the modernists: Christ really rose from the dead, and so will his people. If he didn't, let's pack this thing up and go home, because we're wasting our time.

And you need to be giving money to support the poor among God's people. Yes, we're supposed to help family first.

Whether we're conservatives or liberals, charismatic or nominal Christians, this book has something to upend your way of thinking about things. If you'll let it. So spend some quality time in this epistle. Not looking for things someone else needs to do. Not looking for verses to put on the fridge. Ask it where you need to change your attitude, your approach, or your theology.

Read it until it begins to read you. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12). Let the apostle remind the American church what it ought to be.


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