In taking a class about the so-called Restoration Movement, I have come to realize to a new degree how Christianity has been hijacked by a different faith. The two most famous fathers of the Restoration Movement, namely Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell, were, by orthodox standards, heretics (Stone rejected the Trinity, as well as the eternality of Christ; Campbell held a view similar to baptismal regeneration, where the Holy Spirit was completely uninvolved in conversion). However, the movement, despite its unprecedented theological laxness, grew extremely quickly throughout the early to mid 19th century and easily became accepted among the mainstream denominations. Why?
For an answer, I direct the reader to the American Revolution. The attitude that sparked the Restoration Movement was the same attitude that inspired the Declaration of Independence. The United States of America was founded upon strong ideas of individualism, egalitarianism , free will , antiestablishmentarianism, and primitivism (for example, the strong classical Greek and Roman influences upon the United States Government). As Americans, these are our greatest values. This American sentiment was so widespread that it could not be escaped—even in the Church. Hence, the Restoration Movement became a religious echo of the Revolution, characterized by a much wider range of acceptable religious beliefs (individualism), a push for unity (egalitarianism), an increase in Arminian theology (free will), a distrust of denominational authority (antiestablishmentarianism) and the drive to restore the church to its New Testament ideals (primitivism).
With this understanding, it is clear that the spirit of the age—the cultural values of early 18th century America—easily crept into the Church, virtually undetected. A few schismatic men decided to break from tradition, and many followed them. After all, they, too, held the ideals of the Revolution close to their hearts. This was the beginning of the sneaky interweaving of Christianity and Americanism. “God and country” became more closely tied to one another than ever before, and the American civil religion—a patriotic, individualistic, freedom-loving twist on traditional Christianity—soon flourished throughout the land. Before long, it was hard to separate so-called Christianity from Americanism, and the two have since often been confused.
Today, we can see the destructiveness of this trend. American Individualism has reared its ugly head in Christ’s Church and in many ways conquered it; the value of Biblical authority has decreased yet the value of individual free-will has greatly increased. A fake sort of unity, stemming from radical egalitarianism, has developed into what we call unitarianism. New ideas which go against the truth of the Scriptures have taken us by storm, and the Church has become increasingly tolerant (and, eventually, accepting) of such ideas. First, there was feminism. Then homosexuality suddenly gains validity as a “Christian” behavior. Even our views of many good things, such as community, social justice, and church government, have been influenced by Americanism more than the Scriptures. The Bible has been minimized, and the self has been maximized.
This is not Christianity at all. Paying lip-service to a God who demands you take up your cross is absolute worthlessness, not to mention absurdity! Yet even as professing Christians, we value American concepts of freedom and individualism more than the very Word of God. I once thought that those blinded by this false way were merely the conservative, patriotic flag-worshipers who feel America is God’s chosen nation. Yet I now see that the liberal, postmodern, “to each his own” crowd which so greatly values individualism and freedom of choice is equally deceived! Both crowds love ideals over the Most High God, pridefully worshiping themselves rather than His Christ. Those who claim to be Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, and Pagans have all been ravaged by this mindset. This is the Great Religion of America, the greatest enemy in our personal experience of faith, as well as in evangelism. And it is a mighty, hellish force.
To do battle with such a monster, we must become conscious about what we do and directly attack the false doctrines of our American culture. We mustn’t become a subculture which takes up Christianity as a mere interest or hobby, remaining slaves to Americanism. When we are presented with an idea, we should be sure to evaluate it Scripturally before anything else (after all, in a society that despises authority, it is often difficult to do this). We must expose this Great American Religion for what it is: a lie, a false way leading to destruction, a mind-controlling and brainwashing sedative, a trap from which none of us can escape save by the blood of Jesus, the Gospel of Truth, the Creator of the Universe who breathed life into us in the beginning.
Like the Israelites, who paid lip-service to God but served also Baal, we must be careful not “go limping between two different opinions.” As Elijah said, “ If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:20 ESV). There is One God, One Way, One Spirit, One Truth, One Gospel. Let us not whore after false ways but instead become disgusted with our sin, asking Christ to open our eyes and save us from this wretched, self-centered, false religion which has consumed our country under the guise of “freedom,” “unity,” and “tolerance.”
