A Requiem for Christianity — or a New Birth?
Take solace, John Pavlovitz, in the story of a pre-Civil War Evangelical
John Pavlovitz, Press Kit for the book “If God Is Love Don’t Be a Jerk” 2021
Funeral for Christianity?
I often write about the spiritual core of the United States and its impact on the nation today and how, I believe, it will help carry us through our existential crises as it has in eras past.
Recently I was reading John Pavlovitz, a renowned writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest, North Carolina. He’s a “25-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry, committed to equality, diversity, and justice — both inside and outside faith communities.”
In his recent article “Funeral for My Christianity,”John Pavlovitz expresses his grief about the MAGA-Evangelical movement not so much hijacking not Jesus, but co-opting his religion and the word Christian. “Looking around at my country right now I can’t help but grieve at the passing of the faith I used to know.”
Since these times seem perilously close to the those of the American Civil War— at least as divided as we appear to be — there is an apt parallel from that national experience that mirrors John Pavlovitz’ predicament. Maybe he, and others, can find solace and inspiration there.