Читать книгу The American Jesus? - Douglas Johnson - Страница 4

Some personal thoughts: For many years, certainly by the time of my doctoral dissertation in 1969, one question has continually bothered me: the relation of my faith to my culture. To put the matter somewhat crudely: I want to be a good Christian. I also want to be a good American. Are they the same thing? Are they basically opposed, at odds with one another? Do they overlap? And if so, where, and to what extent?

I believe that many sincere persons have struggled with similar questions, and likely reached many differing answers. But there are also many holding on to both intentions, who may go on their merry way without being aware that they have a problem!

So this book is autobiographical, but it also intends to serve as a kind of guidebook for those who might be dealing with the same issue. I have not come to any earth-shaking conclusions for myself or for others. Yet I do hope that by giving both a historical and a theological treatment of the matter, I may be of some help in at least guiding others through the thicket of faith and culture.

An underlying assumption of this book is that faithful Christians throughout the ages have already been struggling with this issue, and some of them have come up with answers that, although not absolute, can be helpful to us in our own journey through this thicket. So in this journey, we may find, hopefully, a number of faithful believers who can be helpful as we look at our own assumptions and our own culture. Persons from other cultures may find much that is presented here applicable to their own, and helpful also to them.

This endeavor should not be and need not be an abstract enterprise. The issues are too existentially important for many of us. First, because many may have lost sight of what is at the heart of our faith. A review of the basics of that faith and how it has been understood and embraced by some of the great saints and thinkers who have gone before us might well reorient some of us who have lost sight of what is and has always been essential.

Second, it is crucial for Christians to realize that we are under increasing attack, often from some individuals and forces from within our own beloved culture. A review of the essential views and attitudes of that culture may enable us to see exactly what forces are arrayed against us. And even more, it may enable us to begin to see which attitudes of that culture have become part of our own thinking and are having important influences on the patterns of our faith and are affecting us unawares.

Third, and more positively: our becoming aware of the true bases of our Christian beliefs is particularly important in a world where believers and denominations within the body of Christ are divided and sometimes at each others’ throats. It can help us to begin to overcome our narrow parochialism and work toward that unity for which Jesus himself prayed, when he prayed that his followers might all be one.

A thank you! to all of those who have given me good advice on this book.

Special thanks to Nathan Rhoads and Dr. James Aydellotte, whose careful reading and sound scholarship have been very helpful in this endeavor.

An even more enthusiastic thank you to my patient wife, Ann, whose support has been invaluable to me during this project.