A New Era of Christianity
I was on Threads reading people’s thoughts when I saw a woman write that, in America right now, Christianity is getting a bad name. She mentioned political leaders and how difficult it is to believe they are being held to high moral standards. Many have been exempted from what many Christians consider a basic moral code, and she felt this was marring the Christian community. She asked how other Christians felt about it, and most commenters agreed, saying they were tired of seeing people claim to be children of God while living in corrupt ways—caught in sexual scandals, repeatedly misleading the public, promoting violence, supporting inhumane treatment of others, and more.
I understood what she meant, but I did not fully agree. True Christianity is not being tainted but there is a great divide that has become more apparent in our current socio/political climate. On one side are Christians who want to live, represent, and share the teachings of Jesus. They are committed to embodying the Sermon on the Mount and even vote in ways that make them feel they are living up to the scripture, “love your neighbor as yourself.” On the other side are those who are Christian in name only. They are religious and choose a few biblical points to herald while seemingly disregarding the compassion and empathy Christ displays in Scripture. They follow a more colonialist model of Christianity that often omits the parts of the sacred text that call us to care for the needy, the poor, the widowed, the immigrant, the sick, and the unsaved. Colonialist Christianity refers to forms of Christian practice that became intertwined with, supportive of, or shaped by European colonial power structures. It describes moments in history when Christianity was used not primarily as a path to spiritual liberation, but as a tool to justify domination, cultural erasure, and political control. Today, you might see evangelicalism and Christian nationalism portraying this in various ways. They link Christianity with cultural dominance, often elevating one group’s identity, values, or political power as divinely sanctioned. This creates a version of Christianity that prioritizes control, hierarchy, and cultural conformity over the teachings of Jesus.
So where do we go from here? I don’t think our focus should be on clearing Christianity’s name. Our focus should be to embody the love of Christ—“They will know we are Christians by our love”—and to let God do the rest.
The New Era Is Rising
There is a new era of Christianity arising.
People are no longer interested in performative Christianity. They want a Christianity that promotes social justice, one that honors a holy God yet also honors the humans He made. Many are living in private hells; they do not want to be fear‑mongered into heaven. They want to meet the God of the Bible, the God who is adamant about forgiveness and healing. We are seeing people desperate for help with life’s issues, longing to cope and to find that help in the only One who can handle it. They want to see the miracles, signs, and wonders the Bible details, and they have no stomach for fake Christianity.
The new era of Christianity involves leaving the safety net of our churches and getting uncomfortable. We are more than Sunday‑morning Christians congregating only with those who are like us; we are ministering directly to people’s needs throughout the week, regardless of their background or differences. We are not only seeking and serving God because we need things from Him, but we are seeking and serving God so that we can positively impact our neighbor. We are behaving like the early church in Acts, which was community‑oriented, selfless, and focused on creating glimpses of heaven on earth.
A new era of Christianity is emerging, one that is not political and not defined by being a Democrat or a Republican. This movement is centered on becoming a true example of what it means to be a citizen of God’s Kingdom. In this era, Christ is the focal point. The call is to embody His character. It is about loving the people Christ died for with the same sincerity, dignity, and tenderness that we desire for ourselves. This Christianity is not about winning arguments or securing power; it is about reflecting Jesus so clearly that our lives become living invitations to His love, His justice, and His healing presence in the world.
A Call to Be More Than Average
It is time for each of us individually to be more than average Christians. We are called to rise up and be exceptional in the way we love, unify, and foster community.
I look to Galatians 5 as a starting point, specifically verses 13–15:
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
The world needs you and your ability to walk in the Spirit through the earth, spreading the gospel and loving the pain and suffering out of people. It’s time to take seriously that we are the Lord’s hands and feet and that we have much work to do as agents in this new era of Christianity. You and I will make it happen.