Are there different versions of Christianity, influenced by cultural or political preferences? Based on a recent New York Times article, someone might think that is the case. The primary topic was about the faith of President Biden, which apparently had mixed reviews. While I’m not going to make a judgment on the President’s faith, I am going to discuss a different point that I believe is critical.
Since Christianity is established by God and understood from the Bible, we must guard against the influences of society.
POLITICS
Last weekend, the New York Times published an article about President Biden’s Catholic faith. The quote that caused some reaction is the following:
“Mr. Biden, perhaps the most religiously observant commander in chief in half a century…”[1]
That is a bold claim, even with the word “perhaps.” According to a Fox News article, conservatives ripped the New York Times, and pundits mentioned President Bush and President Carter as men outspoken about their faith.[2]
Since only God truly knows a person’s heart, is it even possible to attempt such a comparison? One approach is to consider whether a person’s actions align with the Bible. Jesus made this point regarding the actions (i.e. fruit) of false prophets:
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them...(Matthew 7:15-16 NIV, emphasis added).
Is President Biden the most religiously observant commander-in-chief in the past fifty years? As mentioned above, I’m not going to debate that topic. Each of us can compare his actions against the Bible and come to our own conclusion. Instead, I want to discuss the following quote from the same article:
“And with Mr. Biden, a different, more liberal Christianity is ascendant…His arrival comes after four years in which conservative Christianity has reigned in America’s highest halls of power,”[3] (underline added).
I underlined the word “different” because that word struck me. What is meant by “a different, more liberal Christianity?” Are there different versions of Christianity? I understand there are various interpretations of the Bible as well as multiple Christian denominations. But the article made a comparison between liberal Christianity versus conservative Christianity, as if political allegiance can lead to or justify “different” versions of Christianity.
Is this simply a case of Republicans focusing on certain topics and Democrats focusing on other topics? I’m skeptical. I’m concerned about the way in which people may arrive at certain differences. Are we all seeking spiritual truth through God’s Word, and maybe coming to different interpretations on minor issues (which is understandable)? Or are we deciding what we believe by filtering it through our political leanings or personal desires (which is unwise)? I’m worried that some people may be allowing their cultural preferences to form their own version of Christianity. That is spiritually dangerous.
RELIGION
There is an idea called Cafeteria Christianity. It’s when a person makes individual judgments about which Biblical teachings to accept, often based on personal preferences.[4] In other words, a person takes the things they like about Christianity, but leaves behind the things they don’t like, similar to a cafeteria. But if Jesus is our Lord, who are we to decide what to accept and reject? And at what point is our theology distorted based on the things we have decided to exclude?
Furthermore, it is dangerous if we decide what we believe about God based on our preferences, and attempt to interpret the Bible to fit those desires. In other words, to force our preference on Scripture rather then attempt to understand and follow the true meaning. I recognize that the idea of twisting the Bible to fit someone's preference is not new, but I feel it is important to offer a reminder of this danger.
Let me offer an example of a cultural idea influencing opinions about spiritual truth. Pluralism is the idea that all religions are true. Some people who profess to be Christians may embrace this idea. But does it align with the Bible? I would say that it not only contradicts Scripture (John 14:6), but it is also logically impossible.
Christians should be aware that the opinions of society can “invade” and “infect” our spiritual beliefs. I purposely chose the word “infect” because an infection can bring harm.
Let me be clear. I am NOT to say it is wrong to have some variety in the way we worship and serve the Lord, as long as we are in agreement on core doctrine and explicit teachings. Moreover, I’m not talking about people who are attempting to find truth, but might be mistaken about Christian doctrine.
Rather I am talking about the process we take to determine our beliefs. We must be careful not to choose our cultural preferences first and then fit our theology around it. The Bible provides spiritual truth and is our guide for following the commands of Jesus.
The important question is this: What is the primary source of our Christian beliefs? Do we read the Bible, pray about it and attempt to understand it with genuine openness? Or do our cultural preferences determine what we believe about God or how we try to interpret Scripture? It is critical that we not use the excuse of Biblical interpretation to justify our preferences.
My intention is not to pass judgment on anyone, but rather raise awareness of this danger. As followers of Jesus, we should reflect on how we have arrived at our beliefs. Let me offer two reasons why we must get spiritual truth from the Bible instead of society:
SOURCE: The source of the Bible is God, but the source of cultural preferences is humankind. Who is more inclined to be in error, God or people? Obviously people are fallible, God is not. This is not to say society is always wrong, but it is not reliable source.
STABILITY: Cultural preferences change over time, based on the whims of society, but the truth about God, which is revealed in Scripture, does not change over time.
If people are creating what they believe about God to fit their desire, that is idolatry, which is strictly forbidden. Again, we can have some variation in how we worship and serve God, but it must NOT slip to a different Christianity, one driven by the desires of society.
I want to conclude with a pertinent Bible verse. Jesus routinely referenced Scripture to respond to questions. In the verse below, He told the Sadducees (certain Jewish leaders) that they were mistaken about the resurrection because they did not understand the Scriptures.
But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29 ESV emphasis added).
The Greek word for “wrong” can also be translated as “deceived” (CSB). Jesus was telling the Sadducees that they were wrong (or deceived) because they did not know the Scriptures. We must guard against the same thing happening to us.
Summary Point:
For ALL Christians, it is a clear understanding of the Bible, not cultural or political preferences, that determines spiritual truth.
[1]https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/23/us/biden-catholic-christian.html [2]https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-new-york-times-religious-christianity-catholic [3]https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/23/us/biden-catholic-christian.html [4]https://www.dictionaryofchristianese.com/cafeteria-christian-cafeteria-christianity/
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