A response to Metaxas’ Letter to the American Church

By Randy Alcron
Eternal Perspectives Ministry
(based in Oregon)

Question from a reader:

Could you give me your evaluation of Eric Metaxas’s “Letter to the American Church” video? He apparently believes the evangelical church in America needs to wake up and be politically involved, and that we are in a situation akin to that of Germany in the mid-1930s. He said we are a matter of months away from the point where it will be too late to take action. His comment that if your church refuses to show his video, you should leave that church, sounds extreme. But if what he says is true, evangelicals need to be roused and activated.

Answer from Eternal Perspective Ministries:

Please see this thoughtful review of Eric’s book by a pastor we’re familiar with. We agree that encouraging someone to leave their church because they won’t show a particular video is concerning and extreme.

In many ways, Randy’s focus on writing about eternity stems from the belief that we, as the Western Church, have been asleep when it comes to living for what’s of eternal value and ultimate significance. Randy wrote the following in a blog about Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

The church’s failure in Germany wasn’t unique to that country. Some American churches are so America-centered they cannot stand apart from America, as citizens of a heavenly country, to challenge or rebuke or change America. They become so indistinguishable from America, so incapable of identifying her failings, that they have little to offer her except adoration.

There’s certainly a place for patriotism. A Christian can be proud, as I am, of many things about his country. It’s okay to be a proud citizen of America, Germany, or any nation. The athletes’ love for their mother countries is one of the things I enjoy about the Olympics. Christians of very diverse nationalities can serve our countries and pray for our leaders. But only Christ should receive our primary loyalty and unconditional obedience. We dare not allow our identity as Americans to eclipse or confuse our identity as Christ’s disciples.

…The Greek city of Philippi was declared a Roman colony by Augustus after a great victory there. The Philippians were extremely proud of their Roman citizenship. It’s no coincidence that it was the Philippian church to which Paul said, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

We are to follow the example of Abraham and others of God’s people: “They admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own…Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Randy shared some thoughts about Christians and politics in this article.

May we as God’s people be fully awake to serving Him and living in light of eternity!

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