Eine ganz neue Welt

One of the first things I noticed when moving to the U.S. fifteen years ago was how different this country’s relationship to Christianity is from the one I had experienced back in Switzerland.  And since few things are healthier for our faith than to realize that not everybody does and sees things the way we do, I set out to explore those differences…

Since my readers are from both Europe and the US (and other places), I’m aware that this post will land in different places. I’m obviously writing from my perspective, which is thankfully not the only one, but for right now just bear with me.

My home country is deeply secular. Although two thirds of Swiss are still registered with one of the two State Churches, the percentage of those who call themselves “born again” lies at around 5%. Religion in general is out-of-fashion in today’s Switzerland, and confessing Christianity is as much a social faux-pas as it is considered a sign of intellectual defeat. After all, the Enlightenment happened all around our little country over three hundred years ago, and since then, the tiny group of Swiss evangelicals is pretty much the last one left with members among them who still believe the Earth to be 6,000 years old and all men to have originated from a man called Adam.

When Jesus entered my life at 16, I basically joined an underground organization. This being a modern western society, I of course didn’t have to fear physical persecution. But the social ridicule that went along with being known as a “Fischli” (for the tiny fish stickers some dared to put on their car) was almost as hard for a teenager to bear than physical persecution.

Ah, but the excitement for one of us to recognize another member of our almost secret society! It was like meeting a family member we didn’t know we had. And therefore, the sense of belonging I experienced with most Christians I met in my home country had shaped my life deeply. So did the almost second nature of many Swiss Christians to be a bit apologetic and embarrassed if questioned about their faith by an “outsider” (unless they were bold enough to try and evangelize this outsider).

Needless to say, I was in for no small surprise when I first came to the U.S. at the age of twenty-eight. Granted, my first impression of American Christianity was formed in Colorado Springs, CO, an exceedingly Christian city. I felt what I have heard Jewish people describe when moving to Israel:  I’m finally among my own people!

Everywhere I went, I was astonished by the implicitness with which the Christian faith was lived. Participation in faith conversations and activities were a natural part of my American friends’ everyday life, even those who weren’t particularly religious. Soon I discovered that in my new home away from home, people didn’t necessarily ask if you went to church as much as where you went… and talking about yesterday’s church service at Starbucks on Monday morning was done in a normal voice, not the shy whispers of the “Fischli” back home. Oh, and praying before your meal at the restaurant? Of course, and we’ll do it loud and proud, thank you very much.

I soon discovered that between 30-50% of Americans call themselves some form of Jesus followers. It might be hard for someone who grew up in the U.S to conceptualize my feelings toward this statistic. I started to realize why American Christians do not have the underground mentality I had grown up with. Naturally, I was deeply fascinated by the American Christian culture. My new friends lived their faith publicly, loud, and with great self-assurance, and I joined them with enthusiasm. And for several years, I thought this change in me to be positive.

Yet at some point, I started noticing something else. It was almost as if Christianity and American culture worked together too well. Jesus was everywhere – in form of Christian books at the grocery store, Christian preachers on television, prayers offered by the president, and church buildings on literally every corner in town. I discovered how hugely successful the Christian Brand was in this country, with a large number of millionaire Christian musicians, authors and preachers who, in some form or other, sold Jesus to the world through their products. Capitalism and Christianity seem to merge happily here, too – with Christians being in top positions of the biggest and wealthiest corporations in the country.

Although these public figures certainly had their critics, their influence reached far into the secular and official population without much concern. In the past, most American presidents from both sides have considered themselves Christian and prayed publicly while in office – something unthinkable for Swiss politicians and other officials. The Christian vocabulary flows effortlessly into American mainstream culture, and this observation finally produced a question mark in me.

By Kultur I don’t mean the arts and music and entertainment. Whether or not Christianity should try and fit in or stand out in these aspects of a society is a different question, and I don’t think this is even the right question to ask. My point is that a certain form of religious behavior has been absorbed into the current mindset of many American people. Being “Christian” is just as assumed as being a good neighbor or faithful fan of your city’s football team.

Yet the message of Jesus has always challenged, not lined up with, the prevalent mindset of any given age – whether it be first or twenty-first century culture. His message of humility, forgiveness and self-sacrifice has forever upset, confused and even threatened the strong, the rich and those with power over others. In short, the way of Jesus is in starkest contrast to the way every system – political, economic or religious – has ever worked.

The way the American culture has absorbed Christianity evokes the question of how much resemblance this religion still has with the message of its founder two thousand years ago. Does Christianity indeed collaborate with today’s empires of power and wealth? Might the U.S. be on a path to do what the Roman Empire did in its time – leveraging Christianity for the purpose of gaining power and control?

Over the years, I started to realize that the – albeit at times uncomfortable – minority position I had as a Swiss Christian reflected Jesus’ description of his disciples’ future in more ways than I had realized. While I in no way advocate for Christians to be weird and out-of-this-world, I do believe that a Christianity that snugly fits inside a culture has probably lost its rebellious truth.

Jesus upended everything the systems of this world try to uphold. Jesus’ Kingdom turns the world upside down – the mighty serve the powerless, the first will be last, and those who give up their lives will gain them. It isn’t a formula, but rather a mystery. One that is to be erlebte, not to be figured out. Experienced with wonder, often with doubt, but always with a hope that there is indeed more than what meets our physical eye.  It’s a humble, ginger approach, accompanied by contemplation and stillness and resulting in acceptance, not judgement, towards others.

Exactly this approach to something beyond our understanding, this quiet exploring of a reality more precious than words can express, is in danger of getting drowned out by America’s loud, self-confident Christianity. A successful, powerful, ever-smiling CEO-style Jesus holds no more lure for a world already tired of the lies of modern consumerism. Religious CEO’s we can produce ourselves. It’s a servant King we can’t.