The American Jesus?. Douglas Johnson

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On my shelf is a book titled Americanism: The Fourth Great Western Religion, by David Gelernter.8 It puts forth the idea that Judaism was true in its way but was surpassed by Catholicism. In turn, Catholicism was surpassed by Protestantism. Finally, Americanism comes, which surpasses them all. It is truly the great religion.

      The question, of course, is not whether American beliefs and practices surpass previous incarnations of Christianity, but how the two are related. This brings us back to our original question of whether Christianity is the same thing as Americanism, or whether they are incompatible, or perhaps overlap in some ways.

      In order to deal with this issue, we must look at various expressions of the faith, as seen, of course, in the Bible. But it is also important to look at some of the most seminal theologies throughout time and place, and relate them to Paul’s “faith, hope, and love.”

      Faith is basic to all believers. Certainly, one of the great advocates of this is Martin Luther. It will be necessary to examine his experience of this faith.

      Christians have always clung to some manner of hope in the face of doubt and despair. Irenaeus of Lyon, from the second century, will be our guide here.

      Perhaps the greatest articulation of divine and human love in the history of the church is from Augustine of Hippo. We will look at his beliefs.

      In looking at them we can unfold for ourselves some of the depths and riches of the Christian faith and examine ourselves and our culture in that light.

      1. Augustine, Enchiridion.

      2. Herberg, Protestant, Catholic, Jew.

      3 Niebuhr, Christ and Culture. See also Carlson, Christ and Culture Revisited. Also: Penner, ed., Postmodern Turn; Baker and Smith, American Secularism.

      4. John Newton, “Amazing Grace” (1772).

      5. E.g., Osteen, Your Best Life Now.

      6. Moore, Onward, 64.

      7. Cox, Secular City.

      8. Gelernter, Americanism.