The American Jesus?. Douglas Johnson

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      The people of Israel eventually came to rule the entire land, but corruption sometimes accompanied this victory, often in the form of adopting the ways of the nations already there. Prophets arose to protest the faithlessness of the land. They were usually ignored, and sometimes persecuted. Eventually the nation was divided, and the southern kingdom of Judah was sent into exile in Babylon, for about seventy years.

      Allowed to return from exile, the people asked themselves why God had allowed them to be so harshly punished. Their answer was that it was because of their unfaithfulness. Their response: they would no longer allow themselves to be influenced by other cultures and their gods. Men who had married foreign women must divorce them. Strict adherence to the laws of God was to be assured by an extensive set of commandments that covered every aspect of life. Further, contact with Gentiles, or non-Jews, was to be kept at a minimum. Thus, Pharisaic Judaism was born.

      Yet they soon found that it is difficult or perhaps impossible to keep isolated from the inroads of other cultures. The new threat was that of the Greeks, or Hellenes, coming into their territory by the military inroads of Alexander the Great. He had inherited the Greek city-states, which his father had conquered. He himself loved Hellenic civilization. Even today we too are often amazed at what these Greeks accomplished: in architecture, in literature and the theater, and especially in philosophy. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are still admired and are read today.

      Alexander quickly proved himself to be a great general when he invaded and easily defeated the long-standing enemies of the Greeks, the Persians. From there he conquered much of the Middle East, including Israel.

      Alexander, as enamored as he was by Greek culture, intentionally left numerous cites around his empire as centers from which that culture could spread. They were all named, understandably, Alexandria. Upon his death his empire was divided up, with the family of the Seleucids receiving the share that included Israel. Its later ruler was Antioch Epiphanes, called the Enlighted One.

      He decided to spread Hellenism, Greek culture, as a gift throughout his kingdom, and to enforce it on all who would resist it. This included the Jews, who had recently decided to resist all foreign influences. He ordered all Jewish priests to sacrifice to pagan gods. One of these priests killed the messenger of the king, and the War of the Maccabees was on.

      One can only admire the faith and the grit of this small Jewish nation that held off the might of the powerful kingdom for about one hundred years, fiercely resisting Hellenic culture with its pagan aspects. Eventually, the Jews even recaptured Jerusalem.

      Yet success can produce division, and it did so here. Various factions arose, each vying for control. One of these groups decided to call in Rome for help. And where Rome comes in, Rome does not leave! Palestine became part of the ever-growing Roman Empire, which by the addition of that land now controlled much of the Mediterranean, which they referred to as mare nostrum, or “Our Lake.” They had already made Greece a part of their empire, and Greek thinking had its influence among the conquerors as well as the conquered.

      By the time of Jesus, Palestine was a cultural hodgepodge. Jews tried to maintain their identity while being ruled by Rome, in a world largely influenced by Greek thinking.

      Jesus himself seems to have remained faithful to the Mosaic Law, but insisted on applying it to the inner person, decrying those who were only interested in cleaning the outer rim of the cup while the inside remained filthy. He also broke through the isolated approach of the Pharisees, often dealing with Gentiles and welcoming sinners.

      For his troubles, Jesus was crucified by the combined forces of the two most powerful cultures of his world: Roman and Jewish.

      The biblical history is filled with cultural conflicts. So is the entire history of the church. As we shall see in further chapters, the early church was forced to deal with its surrounding culture, and so have Christians throughout history. Yet we now return to modern America to take a look at some of the cultural challenges the church faces today.

      Christians in America

      Every Christian lives in some culture. And every culture necessarily has some virtues to it, or it could not flourish. The question for Christians at any time is what aspects of their milieu are compatible with Christian faith and morality.

      What then are the major aspects of our American culture, and to what extent do they enhance Christian living or make it more difficult?

      A Question of Basics

      For any worthwhile examination of whether the American culture (or any culture, for that matter) is compatible with Christian life and teachings, it seems necessary to ask two questions: First, what are the irreducible basics of Christianity? And second, what are the basic beliefs and life patterns of that society?

      Grace

      It is not at all far-fetched to believe that the concept of the grace of God is central to the Scriptures and especially to the New Testament. The Greek term for grace is charis, is evidently derived from chairo, “to look favorably upon” or “to take delight in.” The concept in the New Testament is that God looks favorably on us, even when that favor is undeserved. It is an undeserved gift, an unearned blessing. It bestows on one what he or she has not deserved.

      Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,

that saved a wretch like me.4

      The concept of undeserved grace is also found throughout the Old Testament.

      The prophets continually scold the Hebrew people, who, although called and blessed by God without their merit, still remained stiff-necked and rebellious.

      In the exodus, God takes them out of slavery, although they had done nothing to deserve it. Even the Ten Commandments assume his previous activities. These laws are premised in the first word, which reminds them that he had already freed them from slavery, and so in response they must be obedient.

      When the Israelites became unfaithful and corrupt, the prophets continually harped on their sins, but in most cases they insisted that after well-deserved punishment, God would rescue a remnant. Hosea proclaims that God will take back his people, just as the prophet himself takes back his unfaithful wife.

      Those returning from exile saw that return as a gift from God, which placed upon them the responsibility of obedience.

      Throughout the Psalms there is the recurring theme of trust in God’s gracious forgiveness from sin and help in times of trouble.

      But it is in the New Testament that grace clearly becomes central. Charis in one form or another is used over 150 times, usually expressing the theme of God’s favor.

      Luke tells us that Mary “found favor” with God. The child Jesus “found favor” with God and man.

      Jesus himself stresses the gracious nature of the Heavenly Father, who forgives the sinner. Jesus dines with the Pharisee and the publican and welcomes home the prodigal.

      The prologue to John connects grace with Jesus Christ himself. He is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). “From his fullness we have received grace upon grace” (1:16) And, “The law came through Moses, but grace and truth through Jesus Christ” (1:17).

      Yet by far the most excited proclaimer of the grace of God coming in Jesus was Paul. Time and time again he expresses joy in his discovery of the grace of God in Jesus Christ, or better, that this СКАЧАТЬ