Historically, American society was dominated by Christian influence. Although America was never a Christian nation, it might have been called Christian for many values in its context. Much of Christianity was assumed in the first centuries of the colonies and states, but eroding in a pluralistic age. There is no official statement that identifies the nation as Christian. Muslim nations work at identifying themselves as Muslim. Violation of Islam incurs legal action, perhaps execution. Separation of Church and State precludes any identity of a nation relative to such a context. Historically for American Colonies and States, Christianity has held primacy, which is gradually dissolving to favor the pluralistic context. America was largely influenced by its clergy, and eminent church persons. In recent decades the emergence of celebrities in various fields, shallow or substantive, has made strong inroads, and multiple influences have driven every orientation into minority status. We need to be reminded that Christian in its primary meaning (denotation) relates to individuals, not to a nation, or society, or institution. Institutions may choose to affirm the exclusiveness of Christian (connotation) orientation for their meaning, but that is a secondary meaning for the term Christian. Strictest definition is only for persons of effective faith in Christ, with the definitions of theology and application that clarify details.
American society was once somewhat discreet and fairly well mannered. It is now casual. Carnality, formerly somewhat secret in conduct, is common in language (often crude and gross), and in many entertainments, styles and open contexts. There may be less hypocrisy. There is embarrassment of hypocrisy in national history. The open standard changed to accept much of private conduct, with God assumed among most citizenry but with no cohesive theology. The former outward discretion has given way to permissive beliefs and performance. Style becomes the interpreting word, shown in casual living, and programming, even for churches. Many new church structures do not look like churches. The times, they are a changing. Sternness about change may deny the unchangeable. Maturity discerns between competitive factors.
The Church gathering place was born in a corner of the Temple property in Jerusalem, until the Jesus believers segregated out even from Gentiles. Early in the era Christians met in homes, on hillsides, even in catacombs, among the dead. As numbers grew they built simple structures. With the growth of city centers, the cathedral movement was born. Following the Reformation, the churches became less ornate. The Tabernacle movement grew from frontier tent meetings of evangelists. Both tabernacles and tents were plain. Increasingly, churches have become a combination of business and entertainment centers. There are striking differences, noted in the white temples of the Mormon people, or in special contexts like the Glass Cathedral in California, even a stadium for many thousands in Houston, Texas. In the twelve or so churches in which I have been engaged in capital planning, congregational questions related to parking, restrooms, multi-purpose/food service, and youth centers. I believed, at first, they would be on the worship center. Following the course of history and Scripture we learn that the forms of worship centers will impact the quality, perhaps substance, of beliefs and conducts. We wait for the results from the modern idiom. Our concern in change is that we do not lose primary factors. Changes are usually modest at first not revealing slippery slopes away from primary focus. Solicited, I gave $100.00 to a church for a new organ. A few months laster, I visited and discovered the organ removed and stored. The new approach lacked some music quality. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020