I was thinking about all the things Christians have on our laundry list of what is wrong with civilization these days. While it differs slightly from country to country and from culture to culture, there are some things that I think most Christians agree make a country a Christian country. Some would argue over how sweeping the changes should be, the role of the church in setting the standard and although we are not quite there yet, which church should take the lead role in the design of the country we live in but, I still am comfortable saying that there is a list and it is, for the most part, the same for all Christians. Let me take this a step further. In some countries the list is close to completion, we’re almost there!

Abortion.

In the United States abortion is no longer legal. There are some exceptions in some states but the main plank in the Christian political platform was and is abortion and the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade. We’re almost there.

Transgender rights.

In Europe you are seeing many countries backing off gender affirming care for minors and reconsidering the implications of addressing what might need to be returned to its original category as an issue to be dealt with through therapy called Gender Dysphoria. The United States is also looking at revamping the way they approach this issue, however, often the focus turns from puberty blockers and surgery to bathrooms and change rooms. All need to be addressed. Things have moved forward considerably in the last few years. We’re almost there.

Gay marriage.

Not sure that this is a big one. Most people have accepted that one way or another gay people will be recognized by the government whether it is called the same thing, marriage, or something different, civil union. The hot topic is the introduction of what could only be described as pronogr**phic literature disguised as educational. The school system and the libraries have been forced, in many districts, to remove this type of literature. While it still may be accessible, it is limited to a much older age group. We’re almost there.

Welfare and immigration.

There is some change. You may not agree with some of the concepts when they are fully carried out but for the most part there is a common goal to make people make their own way and not use the system. Don’t sneak in, don’t steal jobs, don’t rely on the government to fix your problems; be responsible. It seems that message is getting across, the bible message of, not quite sure where it is but I know that Christians are against charity. We’re almost there.

Openly we talk about Christian values.

We stand up and tell people that they are wrong in their views, their desires and their choices. We have become an immovable force that fills up on Sunday and expels throughout the week. If we are personally too shy we can still hear our ideas and values on podcasts and on stages around the country articulated well or even poorly but definitely loudly. We are daring to believe that we are winning the hearts and minds of others or at least the next election. We’re almost there.

We’re almost where?

We haven’t even begun. You can make it illegal to do most anything that you disagree with morally, functionally or structurally. You can outlaw all sorts of things and create a society and a culture that mimics the Christian values that many of us hold dear. You can even take it one step further and enact laws that favour your flavour of Christianity, maybe even create a state church based on the denomination of your liking.

What have we created?

Where have we arrived?

We are where we were when our country was overrun by, permitted, and even supported unchristian behaviours. We have a bunch of believers and nonbelievers publicly practicing what those in charge will allow and privately indulging in what they will not. The numbers in heaven do not increase because the laws of a country favour the ideals of the Christian.

Anecdotally, countries that not only have unchristian values as the foundation for their laws but, in many cases, have laws against practicing Christianity (e.g. China), are more likely to see people come to faith in Jesus Christ and live lives that to the best of their ability and limited knowledge, live out scripture.

We’re almost there but where is there?

I don’t really know. I feel much better about being a Christian because I have people who will make laws that say you can’t do things I don’t like. I feel much better that many that have the ears of the people share my views. I can even see my country looking more and more Christianish and I must admit I feel great about it. Those abortion seeking, transgender, same sex loving, immigrant welfare bums are out of my country or at least back in the closet or underground so I don’t have to see them so God must be thrilled with me and my country. We’re almost there.

This isn’t a statement on what is right or wrong.

This is a statement on where we have gone wrong. We are applying a coat of paint to a structurally unsound building when we should be changing the very foundation that supports it.  Our problem isn’t laws, it’s hearts. We spend more time creating disciples of our political views than followers of Christ and we have been swept up in it all. We are so desperate to see someone like me, someone who will support our Christianity that we will overlook their un-Christlike rhetoric and behaviour just to get our laws passed. We have bought into the easy version of following Christ: make the law make others the way I want them to be, like me. We’re almost there.