A Critique of Polite Religion

Martin Luther King, who is no fantic, but a true Christian, writes a damning letter from Birmingham jail, saying that the churches have utterly failed the Negro. In the end, this is what the Black Muslims are saying too. And there is truth in it. Not that there is not a certain amount of liberal and sincere concern for civil rights among Christians, even among ministers, priests, and bishops. But what is this sincerity worth? What does this “good will” amount to? Is it anything more than a spiritual luxury to calm the conscience of those who cultivate it ?

What good does it do the Negro? What good does it do for our country?

Is it a pure evasion of reality?

Thomas Merton Cited in Christian Mystics

Matthew Fox gives us some further insight and asks us some probing questions…

“Merton is writing during the heart of the civil rights revolution.He supports King, who was still then controversial, but he highlights the spiritual necessity of action. What good is conscience if it is not expressed in works? Merton makes clear that even the sincere expressions of goodwill and concern on the part of Christians amounted to an “evasion of reality” if it didn’t lead to participation in the movement to justice.”

These critiques of how polite and conventional Christianity passively exists in our society are harsh but accurate! King’s Birmingham letter, Merton’s dismay and indicative questions brings the whole multi-layered question of what it means to be a Christian in the world under the microscope of both Scripture and tradition.

As I see it, one of Bishop’s Spong’s most enlightening and controversial books; “Christianity Must Change or Die”, sums it up! I think that the good radical bishop was entirely right! That many churches exist in polite status quo communities precisely because they have successfully evaded the Gospel; and replaced it with empty platitudes and ineffective piety as the excesses of capitalism go unaddressed, and the clergy have become CEO’s of badly run or corrupt non-profit congregations!

At one time, religious teachings occupied a central role and held on to a positive regard in how it could shape the direction of both consciousness and culture.

Where the rift or schism between Christianity and Christendom began can be attributed to many places; from Constantine or as any imperial, governmental affiliation of religion with secular power; With Luther and pietism, where faith became a personal, interior, reflective concern that centered almost exclusively on the personal purity of the soul.

Today’s almost totally impotent and dysfunctional church models have lost its ability to truly guide ethics and define morals based on the Biblical teachings; or in ways that are being seriously heeded and performed as acts of mercy, justice, and compassion.

Luther was recorded as having disdain for the Epistle of James because of its emphasis on both faith and works. This faith and works combination was held in high esteem in Catholic circles as one of the differentiations between Protestants and Catholics, even before the Social Gospel,

Liberation Theology and other prophetic movements that consciously included working for justice etc. as the central tenets of how one lives out a life of faith.

MLK observed that “[religion serves best when it is the conscience of government and society…]” My critique is along the harsher lines of exasperation… When Channing, Gandhi, and King etc., were looking for evidence of Christianity being truly and sincerely practiced, they wondered if they could find it anywhere!

My conclusion is similar to the query: IF Jesus came back, would he recognize his teachings? Where would he go? Where or with what group could he worship?