Christianity Must Be Destroyed

Now, the title I presented above is a bit tongue in cheek. I should qualify this by saying instead that for Christianity's survival it must be destroyed. Even that sounds weird, I know. Let me expound and explain...

In economics, there is a principle called creative destruction which posits that some industries or technologies must be destroyed, replaced, abandoned, or placed under external pressure by innovation to keep economies growing. For example, let's say that all books were made by scribes and copyists. Because of the time it takes to copy and print a book, as well as the technical nature of the trade, books were expensive and limited to only those who could afford them. But, with the advent of the printing press, production levels increased, manufacture time was made faster, and less trade-craft was necessary. Other industries were also created to maintain and manufacture presses. More books meant greater distribution, which brought down costs for readers, increased literacy levels, spurred future industriousness, and increased bookmakers and sellers wealth. All this served to increase economies and better society. Had the printing press not been created, stagnation might have occurred. 

It is my opinion that Western Christianity needs destruction too, because it is not merely stagnating, but it is in some sense decaying. For the West, it is becoming tribal and toxic. I recently heard a biblical scholar say that all the societal ills that Republican Christians warned against are now part and parcel to the party. For example, during the late 1990s, it was the conservative Christians in the Republican party that demanded high moral standards for the presidency in the wake of Bill Clinton's affair and lying under oath. Today, they accept Trump, who has said and done comparable things and maybe worse.

While I do not advocate for any "creative" destruction, which would be innovative, I think conservative Christians need to follow the lead of Christ and die to themselves and put on Christ. I dare say that if the party-line overshadows sound Christian theology and bends toward a rationalized immorality, as it has recently, then it is probably not Christian at all. It may also mean that believers have their priorities confused. It is no wonder that many evangelicals are leaving and deconstructing their faith. I too have done so in many ways, only I am also reconstructing my faith according to earlier blueprints and am not simply labeling newness or a softer Christianity as authentic. The West needs a faith check-up, because its Christianity -- while not dead -- is most certainly ill.