Brady, I think it is so very sad that you have to even make the statement: ‘God loves Europeans’.

And even sadder that you have to wrap up your defence of church growth and evangelism from where you are at in context of American church culture. I totally agree with you in regards to the American concept of ‘evangelizing’. (Sorry, I just do not like that word.)

To offer comparisons trying to define why churches in Europe (or for us here in the UK) are not the size of those in the US, and to try and explain to American Christians that the people where we live are just as important in God’s eyes as they are takes effort and is such a huge, time-wasting burden. Bigger does not always mean better. Seems like Jesus had some thoughts on that. The American way to do church has never been the best way or the only answer to share the Gospel. The American Way should not be the litmus test for how American churches give financial support to their missionaries. That seems to be confusing and grossly distorting the Great Commission with nationalism.

This weekend as a way to say thanks for my work with our village children’s choir, a dear friend and Christian sister treated me to a choral workshop in our area led by John Rutter. Mr Rutter, who has been here a few times, shared with those attending the spiritual, musical, and church experiences they had together during WWII and its aftermath. He put into perspective a lot of the historical context of the development of modern church music here in the UK. As many at the workshop, including my sweet friend, were children here during WWII and grew up in the rebuilding and aftermath, and I didn’t, it was a fascinating history lesson for me. Our area was known in WWII as the main flight path for the Luftwaffe on bombing raids to Birmingham and nearby Coventry. Rutter asked if anyone at the workshop were at Coventry Cathedral for the premiere of Britten’s War Requiem in 1962, and several in the crowd raised their hands. A reverent silence followed. That time was a very spiritual hallmark and memory for many believers. None of it would have made any sense to me if I had never met my husband and lived here.

On the way home from the workshop, my sweet friend (a French teacher for many years until she retired two years ago) asked me this question: Are American Christians more religious than British Christians? Wow! That one just kinda popped out at me! Part of the answer depends on how one defines ‘religious’. She knows that there are really huge churches in the US, and has seen a lot of the way church is done there creeping into church culture here, including ‘church speak’, the way Americans openly express their faith and talk about God things. Some things are very good, but some things don’t mix too well with British psyche. Those come across as a very bad pastiche.

How would you have answered her?

Hi Deb: Thanks for commenting. I think I would have asked her what she meant (which I assume you did) then ask her how “religious” Brits express their faith, etc. When people ask me the question, and they do, after finding out what they want, I ask them about compartementalizing faith, etc. That is, in many parts of America, faith touches all aspects of life. You can therefore have a prayer lunch in your office, a youth for Christ sports meditation… You can talk about the Lord Jesus Christ after you scored the winning goal and then say “I’m going to DisneyWorld” without missing a beat. That does not happen here in Switzerland. Borders are set and you are careful not to cross them.

So, are Americans more religious? Stereotypes aside, we could learn quite a bit about spirituality from both sides of the Atlantic. Brady

‘Borders are set and you are careful not to cross them.’

It appears our borders are much the same. As food tends to be compartmentalised – savoury and sweet are rarely served together – so is faith. But as in food, the depth and textures of the spiritual nature run quite deep.

I will share her answer to that question soon…