Letter to the American Church Summary

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil; God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

1. Separation of Church and State: A Misunderstood Concept

Metaxas highlights a pervasive misunderstanding of the separation of church and state in America. While many interpret it as keeping the church out of politics, its original intention was to keep the state from interfering with religious freedom. The cultural shift has redefined this principle, creating a climate where faith is pushed out of public matters.

The author argues that the church is now framed as being against love and freedom, its voice muted by media influences and activist groups. Yet, historically, the American church has had a voice in shaping the nation’s moral framework. This suppression of the church’s place in public discourse, according to Metaxas, has led to moral ambiguity and weakened Christian influence.

Christians are discouraged from engaging politically under the guise of neutrality. However, in a democracy founded on active participation, silence on critical issues is not an option for people of faith who believe in championing righteousness and justice.

Examples

• The First Amendment originally protected religious practices from government interference.
• Public advocacy by religious leaders during the Civil Rights Movement.
• Modern misunderstandings of "separation" leading to cases where public prayer or religious expression is challenged.

2. Lessons from Martin Luther

Martin Luther’s teachings on faith shaped Christianity, but they also unintentionally contributed to passivity within churches. His profound revelation that "faith alone" can save individuals revolutionized the church and rejected the concept of works as a necessity for salvation.

However, Metaxas observes that Luther’s ideas may have been oversimplified over time. Modern Christians, misunderstanding Luther’s emphasis, often see faith as a passive belief rather than an active, lived experience. This skewed interpretation has led to a detachment between faith and action, vital elements of Christian living.

Luther’s legacy remains mixed in this context, illustrating how theological teachings can be powerful yet inadvertently leave room for misapplication when not fully understood.

Examples

• Luther’s rejection of indulgences fundamentally changed Christianity’s approach to salvation.
• Modern Christians often quote "faith alone" without emphasizing actions that demonstrate faith.
• Diverging theological views, such as removing the Book of James from the biblical canon, exacerbated this disconnect.

3. Bonhoeffer’s Call for Action

Dietrich Bonhoeffer stood out as a beacon of courage during Nazi Germany, urging the church to retain loyalty to God rather than submit blindly to nationalistic agendas. He warned that the church’s silence in the face of evil was tantamount to complicity.

Bonhoeffer’s sermons condemned how German nationalism infiltrated the church, eroding its values. He emphasized that the church should act as the conscience of the state, not its mouthpiece. His most prophetic messages came before the Holocaust, urging Christians to reject passivity and speak up against injustice.

His legacy serves as both an inspiration and a reminder of the dire consequences of inaction, challenging the modern American church to avoid the mistakes of the past.

Examples

• Bonhoeffer’s warning against nationalism’s infiltration of faith.
• His anti-Nazi stance cost him his life but left a lasting legacy.
• His work in exposing the dangers of moral compromise in Christian institutions.

4. The Danger of Silence

Silence, Metaxas highlights, becomes its own dangerous spiral. The more people remain quiet, the harder it becomes to break that silence. Fear of being labeled, misunderstood, or ostracized often traps individuals in inaction, even when they recognize injustice.

This cultural inertia spreads quickly among groups, further entrenching silence. Conversely, breaking the silence can inspire others to find their voices. Throughout history, the power of a single dissenting voice is evident, inspiring collective resistance to oppressive systems.

Metaxas challenges Christians, asking what happens when silence enables injustice instead of addressing it. The church, a moral compass, cannot afford to be neutral.

Examples

• Stories of Holocaust witnesses who did nothing out of fear.
• Social movements sparked by one courageous leader (e.g., Martin Luther King, Jr.).
• Immediate cultural shifts when individuals or small groups speak up.

5. The Role of Faithful Action

Many American Christians misinterpret verses like Romans 13, believing they must fully obey governing authorities. Metaxas refutes this, clarifying that such obedience applies only to godly rulers who reflect biblical values.

Additionally, Luther’s "faith alone" teachings have been misconstrued. True faith, Metaxas argues, actively prompts good works. James’s epistle reinforces this: "Faith without works is dead." This push challenges Christians to reconcile their beliefs with meaningful, tangible actions.

Faith is incomplete if it doesn’t inspire a commitment to act, especially on issues that impact justice and morality.

Examples

• Misuse of Romans 13 to justify blind adherence rather than discerning obedience.
• Biblical heroes like Moses and Daniel exemplifying resistance against ungodly rulers.
• The stark warning in James 2:17 about actionless faith.

6. The Allure of False Idols

The church, Metaxas believes, has been misled by ideas that falsely claim to embody Christianity. Chief among these are concepts like keeping faith apolitical or focusing exclusively on evangelism.

While spreading the gospel is important, it cannot replace the fullness of what God calls Christians to do. Similarly, avoiding politics for fear of controversy undermines the church’s role in confronting societal wrongs. Metaxas identifies these as modern-day idols – ideas that misdirect devotion from God’s actual commands.

Holding to false beliefs, however comforting, has historically led to catastrophic consequences, such as the German church’s complicity under Hitler.

Examples

• Overemphasis on church traditions without engaging with society.
• Misinterpretation of the Great Commission as excluding broader action.
• The German church’s failure to act against Nazi atrocities while prioritizing safety.

7. Truth vs. Facts

Metaxas tackles modern debates by differentiating truth from isolated facts. While facts may be presented selectively to distort meaning, truth is consistent and rooted in God’s word.

As the church combats a prevailing culture that seeks to silence it, understanding this difference is key. Metaxas encourages Christians to base their statements in truth while avoiding traps where opponents cherry-pick facts out of context.

Faith in truth should be unwavering, even when critics distort or misrepresent Christian values.

Examples

• Misreported sermons from religious leaders.
• Jesus’s radical actions showing love and challenging injustice in equal measure.
• The media’s role in shaping narratives about Christian beliefs.

8. Radical, God-like Love

True love, as Metaxas reminds us, is not passive or superficial. It requires Christians to embrace bold, often difficult stances reflective of God’s love. This type of love defends the oppressed, speaks truth, and refuses to enable harmful actions in the name of tolerance.

Christians must love everyone – sinners included – but not shy away from addressing wrongdoing. This balance defines love as both transformative and challenging, mirroring the example of Christ.

The church’s role is to bring this profound love into all areas of life, resisting external pressures to limit or redefine it.

Examples

• The story of Jesus turning over the tables in the temple.
• Parables of unconditional love paired with repentance.
• Modern instances of churches choosing difficult truths over easy acceptance.

9. The Cost of Inaction

Metaxas concludes that silence and passivity come with a price. Today’s church has the advantage of lessons from history, especially the German church’s failures under Hitler. To repeat such errors, despite knowing these consequences, would warrant harsher judgment.

God calls for total devotion, not compartmentalized beliefs that stay inside church walls. Christians must live their faith fully, integrating it into daily actions and decisions. Metaxas urges this generation of believers to replace inaction with the audacity of faith.

Examples

• Bonhoeffer’s legacy of bold action serving as a warning.
• Cases where passive faith allowed preventable tragedies in history.
• The transformative power of Christians taking active stands on social issues.

Takeaways

1. Speak up against injustice, knowing that silence can equate to consent.
2. Reinforce your faith with action, understanding that belief alone is incomplete without works.
3. Reflect God’s love and truth in all aspects of life, even when doing so may be uncomfortable or challenging.