http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/is-evangelicalism-uniquely-american Everything a missionary isn't supposed to say. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:35:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/is-evangelicalism-uniquely-american/comment-page-1#comment-10874 C. Holland Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:52:32 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=52#comment-10874 @cstop: I know exactly what you're saying, now more than ever since I wrote this post over two years ago. Our field is very, very similar to what you describe. As people here slowly get to know us, they find we're not very typical Americans at all, nor are we pushing the stereotypical American Christian agenda, either. We're here to talk about Jesus; how their relationship with God looks in this culture (compared to ours) is irrelevant to us (as long as it's not against God's laws, etc.). @cstop: I know exactly what you’re saying, now more than ever since I wrote this post over two years ago. Our field is very, very similar to what you describe. As people here slowly get to know us, they find we’re not very typical Americans at all, nor are we pushing the stereotypical American Christian agenda, either. We’re here to talk about Jesus; how their relationship with God looks in this culture (compared to ours) is irrelevant to us (as long as it’s not against God’s laws, etc.).

]]> http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/is-evangelicalism-uniquely-american/comment-page-1#comment-10871 cstop Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:44:35 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=52#comment-10871 Having grown up in a Catholic country as a daughter to American parents, I totally understand that the person considered Evangelicalism to be American. My beliefs were shrugged off all the time (I am not currently in Europe but hope to return) because I was American. The stereotype is that Americans are "happy" no matter what, not very deep, not very intelligent, belligerent, wanting to be right, and wanting to convince others of their ways. Wouldn't it be easy for evangelism to look a lot like these aspects of cultural imperialism that the US has spread throughout the world? Also, in many cases people in Europe see religion as a socio-political aspect of their history and identity. Evangelicalism (at least in my country) is a foreign entity, with (almost) no indigenous roots in our country. (Well, they were killed or kicked out at the time.) So, I think it's easy to see that to ask someone to become an Evangelical Christian may seem like asking them to change nationalities. Let's remember that there are other Christian churches that are more native to western, continental Europe, as well, and working for their renewal may also be a valid way to reach people for Christ. Having grown up in a Catholic country as a daughter to American parents, I totally understand that the person considered Evangelicalism to be American. My beliefs were shrugged off all the time (I am not currently in Europe but hope to return) because I was American. The stereotype is that Americans are “happy” no matter what, not very deep, not very intelligent, belligerent, wanting to be right, and wanting to convince others of their ways. Wouldn’t it be easy for evangelism to look a lot like these aspects of cultural imperialism that the US has spread throughout the world? Also, in many cases people in Europe see religion as a socio-political aspect of their history and identity. Evangelicalism (at least in my country) is a foreign entity, with (almost) no indigenous roots in our country. (Well, they were killed or kicked out at the time.)
So, I think it’s easy to see that to ask someone to become an Evangelical Christian may seem like asking them to change nationalities. Let’s remember that there are other Christian churches that are more native to western, continental Europe, as well, and working for their renewal may also be a valid way to reach people for Christ.

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