Postcards from Babylon: The Church In American Exile

by Brian Zahnd

it was more like I had just been overwhelmed with the undeniable reality of Jesus Christ.

In a culture that venerates materialism and militarism, the only way to truly follow Jesus is to be countercultural.

Literally, a cult is a system of religious devotion directed toward a particular figure. It’s worth noting that the word culture comes from cult. Culture is derived from how and what people worship. Anthropologically speaking, religion and culture are nearly synonymous.

If Christianity is not seen as countercultural and even subversive within a military-economic superpower, you can be sure it is a deeply compromised Christianity.

are we really comfortable with using Paul to trump Jesus? That is what’s being done!

when we reach the point where Romans 13 is used to teach German Christians that supporting Hitler is their Christian duty, we know that this interpretation of Romans 13 has gone off its Christian rails!

It’s not the task of the church to “Make America Great Again.” The contemporary task of the church is to make Christianity countercultural again. And once we untether Jesus from the interests of empire, we begin to see just how countercultural and radical Jesus’ ideas actually are. Enemies? Love them. Violence? Renounce it. Money? Share it. Foreigners? Welcome them. Sinners? Forgive them. These are the kind of radical ideas that will always be opposed by the principalities and powers, but which the followers of Jesus are called to embrace, announce, and enact.

Every wound we inflict upon another we also inflict upon our own soul.

I’m a citizen of a superpower. I was born among the conquerors. I live in the empire. But I want to read the Bible and think it’s talking to me. This is a problem.

Imagine a history of colonial America written by Cherokee Indians and African slaves. That would be a different way of telling the story! And that’s what the Bible does.

If I can accept that the Bible is trying to lift up those who are unlike me, then perhaps I can read the Bible right.

If we are to be faithful disciples of Jesus, we must join our King in his campaign to overthrow Satan’s kingdom.

This is my question for you, dear reader, “Can you feel it?” It’s all around you, but can you feel it? Can you feel the falseness that prevails in Babylon? Babylon is always religious and knows how to keep up appearances, but that only serves to conceal the idols Babylon really worships. Money and Power. Economy and Military. The falseness is the phony assumption that the pursuit of money and power is sustainable and leads to a life worth living. In the Babylon in which I reside (hopefully as a missionary) the falseness is very strong right now—stronger than it’s ever been in my life. But most people are so sedated with the opiates of consumer culture and consumer religion that they never even suspect it. There are others who sense it but cannot quite name it. It takes a prophet to name it. It takes the courage of a prophet to come right out and call materialism and militarism a lie. Jesus was that kind of prophet. Listen to these bracing words spoken not to antagonistic Pharisees but to those in the capital city of Jerusalem “who had believed in him.”

Politics trumps everything. That’s an axiom that holds up. Unless you really see the kingdom of God and are willing to rethink everything in the light of Christ, politics trumps everything—including faith and ethics.

For me, Donald Trump was the reality TV embodiment of three of the deadly sins—lust, greed, and pride.