Question:  Dear Greg,

            My family and I have been in the U.S. for the past two years and since our arrival we have experienced much self-centeredness within the church communities.  We are originally from South Africa.

            The commission to serve and spread the good news seems to be placed on the back burner—if it exists at all.  The emphasis seems to be placed on “our” stomachs, social activities and other things rather than leading others to Christ.

            My question is this: Am I biased in my view or is this a general pattern within the churches here?  We are living in the state of Georgia.  Could this be a cultural difference?

            Robert

Answer:  Dear Robert,

            On the basis of your experiences I cannot doubt the veracity of what you say.  I cannot, on the other hand, validate your comments and experiences by agreeing that they are normative for Christians in the U.S.—or any other part of the world for that matter.

            I do think it is generally true that Americans are selfish, greedy and materialistic—as much, if not more, than many other cultures on earth today.  That fact, combined with the military might and economic vitality of the U.S.A. accounts for envy and even hatred of America in many places in this world (September 11, 2001 being a case in point).  On the other hand, many studies show that Americans, both individually and nationally, are generous, having helped the world at large in so many ways.  When famine, earthquakes, war disaster, etc. occur, the U.S. government, churches and relief agencies are always among the largest givers.

            The world at large seems to believe that the United States is singularly corrupt and perverse.  It is true that the United States has much to repent of and for, but that fact does not mean that the rest of the world is “without sin.”  The fact of national wealth and a high standard of living in the United States creates many social evils, and of course those same circumstances would have a similar result in Ethiopia, Indonesia or the Ukraine should the same factors be present.  Human nature is remarkably constant—yesterday and today.

            Yes, Americans should be doing more to help the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and perhaps we should be doing more in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, etc.  Having traveled and lived overseas myself, I think that it common for a visitor from outside the U.S. to see our culture in ways that we do not.  While we should listen to observations such as your own, the observations themselves need to be tempered by walking in another’s shoes.

            These are my thoughts, for what they are worth.  May God bless you.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht