POSTCARDS from BABYLON: THE CHURCH in AMERICAN EXILE by BrIan Zahnd
Published by Spello Press in 2019.
Brian Zahnd is a pastor in Missouri and he is concerned with American Christianity. American Christianity is in trouble because it has stopped doing what it is supposed to do. For so many Christians, Christianity has stopped being a counter-cultural force preaching love and grace. Instead, it has become, at best indifferent to the flaws in American culture. At worst, it is a cheerleader for American culture, as though Jesus was born in America, drank Coca-Cola and ate Chick-fil-A at least twice a week.
Zahnd points out on page 34 that this is not a new thing - it has happened over and over again in history. "Rome. Byzantium, Russia, Spain, France, England and Germany have all done it. Seventeen centuries ago the Roman church got tangled up in imperial purple. In the 1930s, the German evangelical church got tangled up in Nazi red and black."
The problem is this: "A church in bed with empire cannot credibly call the empire to repent. The loss of prophetic courage leads to a pathetic capitulation."
The church finds itself with two masters - America and Jesus. "We need to make it abundantly clear that 'America First' is incompatible with a global church whose mission is announce and embody the kingdom of Christ." (p. 47)
Zahnd is concerned with the conflation of political goals and ideals with religious goals and ideals. "What I see among evangelicals - especially among some of the most prominent evangelical leaders - is an enthusiastic, uncritical, carte blance support of Donald Trump that has more than a touch of religious aura to it...I'm profoundly uncomfortable when I see enthusiastic support for Donald Trump impinging upon allegiance to Jesus Christ and what he taught his followers." (p. 138-9)
Later on the same page he quotes Pat Robertson saying that opposing Donald Trump is "revolting against God's plan."
Zahnd writes plenty of memorable quotes and also sometimes meanders around quoting old song lyrics and poetry that sometimes has only a tangential relationship to the topic at hand, but he has a point - the church serves Jesus, not a political leader (regardless of party).
The church's creation story has to be, at the very least, the one in the New Testament with Jesus, the cross, the empty tomb, the disciples and Pentecost. It cannot be the one with the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence and Benjamin Franklin. That is a fine story, but it doesn't offer the hope that Jesus does.
Zahnd has come to the conclusion that followers of Jesus should be non-violent and he works that in throughout the book. This is my second Zahnd book and he's starting to persuade me.
I rate this book 4 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: POSTCARDS from BABYLON: THE CHURCH in AMERICAN EXILE by BrIan Zahnd.
Brian Zahnd is a pastor in Missouri and he is concerned with American Christianity. American Christianity is in trouble because it has stopped doing what it is supposed to do. For so many Christians, Christianity has stopped being a counter-cultural force preaching love and grace. Instead, it has become, at best indifferent to the flaws in American culture. At worst, it is a cheerleader for American culture, as though Jesus was born in America, drank Coca-Cola and ate Chick-fil-A at least twice a week.
Zahnd points out on page 34 that this is not a new thing - it has happened over and over again in history. "Rome. Byzantium, Russia, Spain, France, England and Germany have all done it. Seventeen centuries ago the Roman church got tangled up in imperial purple. In the 1930s, the German evangelical church got tangled up in Nazi red and black."
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| A Christian flag at the January 6 riot. Is the place for a symbol of Christ on the side of rioters who attack their "enemies", smear feces on the wall, and threaten to kidnap and kill politicians? Is that the message he taught? |
The church finds itself with two masters - America and Jesus. "We need to make it abundantly clear that 'America First' is incompatible with a global church whose mission is announce and embody the kingdom of Christ." (p. 47)
Zahnd is concerned with the conflation of political goals and ideals with religious goals and ideals. "What I see among evangelicals - especially among some of the most prominent evangelical leaders - is an enthusiastic, uncritical, carte blance support of Donald Trump that has more than a touch of religious aura to it...I'm profoundly uncomfortable when I see enthusiastic support for Donald Trump impinging upon allegiance to Jesus Christ and what he taught his followers." (p. 138-9)
Later on the same page he quotes Pat Robertson saying that opposing Donald Trump is "revolting against God's plan."
Zahnd writes plenty of memorable quotes and also sometimes meanders around quoting old song lyrics and poetry that sometimes has only a tangential relationship to the topic at hand, but he has a point - the church serves Jesus, not a political leader (regardless of party).
The church's creation story has to be, at the very least, the one in the New Testament with Jesus, the cross, the empty tomb, the disciples and Pentecost. It cannot be the one with the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence and Benjamin Franklin. That is a fine story, but it doesn't offer the hope that Jesus does.
Zahnd has come to the conclusion that followers of Jesus should be non-violent and he works that in throughout the book. This is my second Zahnd book and he's starting to persuade me.
I rate this book 4 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: POSTCARDS from BABYLON: THE CHURCH in AMERICAN EXILE by BrIan Zahnd.
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