not that i’m not aware of the recent movement to distance ourselves from the established religious instition (and be Jesus-followers), i do think that leaving one’s own country and observing or experiencing the Christian faith in a foreign country is an enlightening experience; it helped me to see more distinctions between my faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and my cultural heritage; as a korean-american, who grew up in thailand as a MK, my cultural is pretty confusing. still, i can see how those ’stuck’ in each of those cultures have difficulty seeing that some of what they do to express faith is more an expression of their cultural value using biblical prooftexts, and how they see different behaviors among Christians of a different culture and are quick to point out their syncretistic faith. usually, i view my own korean church from the american or western perspective.
but i ran across this article that helps me to see how americans may also have our cultural values mixed in with our faith. below’s the first paragraph, but take a look at the whole article i just linked.
New York – I’ve attended church weekly all my life, and virtually every congregation with whom I’ve worshipped displays an American flag. It often stands close to the communion table, probably a church’s most sacred spot. Some denominations even recite the Pledge of Allegiance – multiple times. One church I visited in the Midwest began Sunday School with the Pledge but apparently lacked faith it would stick. We interrupted morning worship with another recitation.
