Christianity Is Not National: Against "American Christianity"
At the dedication, a few days ago, of a Y. M. C. A. building on Governor’s Island, N. Y., for the United States soldiers, one of the most prominent men of the nation said: “Every soldier who marches under our flag must understand and be taught that when he lands upon other shores, American civilization, American humanity, and American Christianity will be measured by the standard he establishes in that far-off land.” This idea that Christianity has become, or could possibly become, American, is one of the greatest deceptions and most mischievous things of these deceptive times. Christianity is not a national religion. To make it national is to abandon it in its reality, and is to substitute for it sheer human and national prejudices and characteristics. In Christianity “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,” Filipino nor American, Chinese nor British, Japanese nor Russian, French nor German, “barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” In Christ all are one. And if any profess to be in Christ, and yet are not one, then they are not in Christ at all; and such is not Christianity at all. National religions are always idolatrous, despotic, and persecuting; and “American Christianity,” once confirmed, will be nothing else.