by Dan Edelen @http://ceruleansanctum.com
This week we’ve looked at insights I received last weekend concerning American Christianity’s bifurcation into two streams of thinking and operation, Externally-Motivated (EM) Christianity and Internally-Motivated (IM) Christianity. To go back to the sources, please read “The Two Christianities” and “The Two Christianities: Reader Feedback….”
To put a final note on what we’ve discussed—and thanks to all you readers for an outstanding discussion!—I offer a table comparing EM and IM Christianity:
| Externally-Motivated (EM) Christianity | Internally-Motivated (IM) Christianity | |
| Our theology/doctrine is… | Conservative | Conservative |
| Our praxis is… | Conservative | Liberal |
| The covenant that forms the basis for our belief system is… | The Old – The Law | The New - Grace |
| Our mission: | Preservation of power structures that serve as evidences of godliness | Disciple-making |
| Our source(s) of motivation and power is/are… | Existing political and social authorities manipulated to preserve systems and institutions deemed godly | The Holy Spirit |
| Power rests on… | Dynamic, media-savvy, big-name leaders who determine which power structures are worth supporting | Nameless, faceless individuals who love not their lives unto death |
| Power is maintained through… | Fear of loss | Dying to self |
| Failure is perceived as… | Losing the culture war | Not fulfilling the Great Commission |
| When threatened, our response is… | An eye for an eye | Turning the other cheek |
| When threatened, we become… | Aggressors (or martyrs for the cause should we fail) | Joined to Christ in His sufferings |
| We counter threats with… | The systems and institutions we empower | Humility and patient endurance |
| We suffer for… | Our cause | The Lord |
| Persecution is to be… | Prevented | Expected |
| Christianity exists to be… | Preserved | Given away |
| Our faith is… | A means to an end | Its own reward |
| Evidence for our faithfulness exists primarily in… | Following a strict list of do’s and don’ts derived from the Bible | Manifesting the gifts and fruits of the Spirit |
| The community of faith exists primarily to … | Preserve the American civil religion and protect the rights of the faith community | Reach out to the lost and build up the household of faith |
| The community of faith seeks justice for… | Itself | For all |
| Our attitude toward benevolence is… | God helps those who help themselves (though we may intervene for the very worst cases) | Acts 2:44-45 |
| We meet the needs of those who… | Most directly benefit our causes | Are needy, regardless of their ability to benefit us |
| We have what we have… | Because we have done what is right | Because God is gracious |
| We are righteous because of… | Our compliance with the moral code we’ve constructed from Biblical principles | Who Christ is |
| We seek relationships with … | Our own kind | All people |
| We make our way in society by… | “Christianizing” secular systems and culture | Discerning by the word and the Spirit what is worthy of our time and attention |
| We root out sin in… | Outsiders | Insiders |
| We judge… | The secular society and its culture | The household of faith |
| We believe people are motivated to obedience by… | External forces (usually political when dealing with secular society) applied through a Biblical moral code | Being born again, filled with the Spirit, and fellowshipping within a grace-filled community |
| We validate our apologetic through… | Words | Actions |
| We spread truth through… | Debate | The way we live in obedience to Christ |
| Our ministry is the ministry of… | Reproof and correction | Reconciliation and compassion |
| Our spiritual focus is… | Inward | Outward |
| Our leadership is… | Concentrated in a few powerful people | Dispersed throughout the group |
| We prioritize… | Earthly goals first, spiritual goals second | Spiritual goals first, earthly goals second |
| We are… | Guardians | Ambassadors |
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