Seeing & Believing Marginalized People is a Church Commandment

Modern Christianity has morphed. For centuries Christianity existed as what religious studies scholars would classify a “voluntary” religion. That is a religion one chooses to practice, and join. But is that still the case today?

In America, Christianity has largely morphed into a tribal based religion. Many people identify with Christianity based on their birth, family, and even community. For example, many Americans would classify themselves as Christian without actually being regular attenders of any church, nor of having any extensive biblical knowledge or faith practice. Recent polling has shown that over 75% of Americans will call themselves Christians, yet only 60% of that group even attends church. That means there is a large majority of non-practicing, non-active “Christians” in America. That begins the trend of showing that Christianity is not a voluntary religion but a tribal religion. These Americans are Christians because for many of them it is family and national heritage.

As such the theology being put forth in the American church has largely been divorced from the people it was originally written for and alongside of. Christianity has become the religion of the majority, and not the marginalized. For example, as trans rights and gay rights become more widely accepted the churches have largely…