Righting What’s Wrong in American Christianity

A Call for Renewal and Courageous Self-Examination

American Christianity stands at a crossroads. While its steeples still rise above city blocks and its echoes of prayer ripple across farmlands and suburbs alike, the faith that once galvanized moral movements and fostered community now finds itself grappling with crises of trust, division, and credibility. To right what’s wrong in American Christianity is not simply to adjust policies or refresh worship styles; it is to undergo a deep and honest self-examination, to recalibrate the soul of the church, and to recover the radical love at the heart of the Gospel.

The Wounds Within: Recognizing the Problems

Before healing can begin, there must be a willingness to name the wounds. American Christianity’s ailments are not new, but the present era has thrown them into stark relief.

·      Politicization of Faith: Too often, faith communities have become entangled with partisan politics. Instead of being a prophetic voice for justice, mercy, and humility, churches are sometimes seen as appendages of political machinery. This diminishes the Gospel’s power and alienates those who seek spiritual refuge rather than ideological echo chambers.

·      Neglect of Justice: The call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly” (Micah 6:8) is not optional. Yet, churches have sometimes failed to confront racism, poverty, and systems of oppression. When the church is silent, complicit, or slow to act, it betrays its mission.

·      Scandals and Abuse: The tragic stories of abuse and cover-up within faith institutions have devastated lives and communities. These betrayals demand unflinching transparency, repentance, and a commitment to survivor-centered justice.

·      Exclusivity and Division: Denominationalism, cultural insularity, and theological gatekeeping have splintered the Body of Christ. Instead of unity in diversity, too many congregations have devolved into us-versus-them mentalities, pushing away those who most need grace.

·      Superficiality and Complacency: In an age of spectacle, it is easy for worship to become performance and for discipleship to be reduced to slogans. The call to radical transformation is lost amidst the noise of consumerism and comfort.

Returning to First Principles: The Gospel’s Heart

To right these wrongs, American Christianity must return to the irreducible core of its faith—a love that risks, a hope that endures, and a faith that acts.

At the center of Christianity lies the person of Jesus, who shattered social boundaries, lifted the marginalized, challenged power, and embodied sacrificial love. The church’s renewal begins by rediscovering this Christ and allowing his life and teachings to interrogate every practice, priority, and proclamation.

This re-centering requires asking difficult questions: Are our churches places where the broken find belonging? Are we more concerned with power than with service? Do our actions match our creeds? Are we known for what we are for—grace, healing, justice—more than what we oppose?

Courageous Self-Examination and Repentance

Renewal is impossible without repentance—a word that means more than regret, but an active turning toward a new way. American Christianity must cultivate a culture of humble self-examination, where leaders and communities acknowledge failures honestly.

This involves:

·      Listening to the Marginalized: Those wounded by the church—survivors of abuse, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, the poor—must have their voices amplified. Their stories are not threats, but gifts, calling the church to greater faithfulness.

·      Practicing Confession and Lament: There is power in public confession. Churches should create spaces where they lament collective and individual failures, mourn with those who mourn, and seek forgiveness.

·      Committing to Restorative Action: Repentance is barren without action. Churches must actively dismantle systems of exclusion, reform policies to protect the vulnerable, and invest resources in communities that have been ignored or harmed.

Reimagining Community: Hospitality Over Hostility

In a polarized society, the church has a unique opportunity to model an alternative—a community where love of neighbor triumphs over suspicion, and where hospitality is the norm.

True Christian community is not built on uniformity, but on the recognition of the image of God in every person. Churches must foster environments where all are welcomed—regardless of background, belief, or status—and where questions are not feared but engaged with reverence.

This means moving beyond the walls of sanctuaries and into neighborhoods, partnering with those outside the faith, and serving not as conquerors but as companions.

Justice as Worship: Living Out the Faith

Righting what’s wrong demands a faith that does justice, loves mercy, and walks humbly. This is not a political agenda, but a Gospel imperative. Worship divorced from justice becomes hollow; faith without works is dead.

Churches must therefore:

·      Engage in advocacy for the oppressed and marginalized, both locally and globally

·      Address structural injustices, whether in housing, education, healthcare, or criminal justice

·      Model economic generosity and stewardship, sharing resources not just with those inside the church, but with all neighbors

·      Equip congregants to live out their faith in workplaces, schools, and public life as agents of reconciliation

Transparency and Accountability in Leadership

The healing of American Christianity requires leaders marked by humility, transparency, and accountability. Structures must be put in place to prevent abuse, to ensure checks and balances, and to cultivate servant leadership.

This includes:

·      Clear processes for addressing allegations of misconduct

·      Independent oversight and survivor advocacy

·      Ongoing formation for leaders in ethics, empathy, and vulnerability

Embracing the Long Road: Perseverance and Hope

Righting what’s wrong in American Christianity is not a one-time campaign, but a generational journey. There will be setbacks, resistance, and painful reckonings. Yet, the promise of renewal comes from the deep wells of hope at the heart of the faith—a hope that death does not have the final word, that brokenness can become blessing, and that love can heal even the deepest divisions.

Conclusion: A Faith Worth Renewing

American Christianity has shaped, for better and worse, the moral and cultural landscape of the nation. To ignore its failings would be to betray its calling. But to confront them with honesty, repentance, and courage is to honor the One who called the church into being.

The world does not need a church obsessed with its image, but one committed to its integrity. It does not need a church seeking power, but one embodying love. In righting what’s wrong, American Christianity can become again what it was always meant to be—a sign of hope, a source of justice, and a people who walk humbly with their God.

Minister A Francine Green

September 2025