I recently saw on TV a rerun of “Heaven is for Real,” a 2014 film about a child with a ruptured appendix and his near-death hospital experience in the community of Imperial, NE. The story centers on Pastor Todd Burpo’s doubts about his 4-year old son Colton’s out of body encounters at the operating table with things and people he was not supposed to know including a visit to heaven to sit at the knees of Jesus Christ.
Todd’s dilemma about determining the legitimacy of his son’s experience and his refusal to talk about it leads to a church crisis and questions about whether he should remain as pastor. The issue is resolved when he comes to believe in the experiences and takes to the pulpit to speak to the lessons in the everyday lives of the congregation.
It is true that those fundamental questions and feelings created by the divine have been the authentic occupation of true believers and their leaders. It is also true that institutional movement away from this search diminish its value.
In Jesus’ ministry there were many critics that tried to create contradictions in his teachings. One f the most famous was the effort of the Pharisees to have Christ answer the question as to whether Jews should pay taxes. After requesting to see a coin, Jesus asked and was told that it was Caesar’s image on it. Then the Master said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17)
From time to time, religions and their leaders tend to forget Jesus’ explanation and strive to become part of “Caesar’s” clan. This was certainly true of the European Christians that were successful in becoming the official Roman religion in 323 CE under the Emperor Constantine.
This is the type of push gong on today on the part of many Christian, especially evangelical church leaders in America. The sad irony is that in order to become the “official” church of the state there is also a requisite that the landscape be authoritarian.
The effort for political control goes against the practical foundations of democracy. This was proven right as religious activist were an integral part of the January 6, 2021 attack on the seat of democratic government as they sought to deny the results of an election the they had already lost.
However, the attempt to control the government by Christian leaders, their allies and followers is increasingly revealed to have soft underpinnings as they themselves admit the the new generation may not be with them. Almost two thirds of millennial born again Christians feel that there is more than one way to reach God or get to heaven and certainly more than one religion that can get one there.
While this one of the significant characteristics of the newly emerging majority generation, it creates a desperation on the part of the establishment types and a temptation to do something drastic. When one puts together the desperation of some current Christian leaders that want to merge the church and the state together with the despair of those that are fighting for what they perceive as continued racial superiority, the threats of America losing its founding principles of democracy are real.
While the arguments against a secular state and perhaps a diminished relationship with a Christian belief have value, God’s work is best expressed in the strength of a multi-religious, multiracial, and multi-cultural fabric woven by a diverse community working together.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of la Voz bilingüe. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.
