August 12, 2025

Hi Friends,

Are you an “ugly American?”

“That does it,” you think, “Doug’s finally lost his grip on reality.” But please, bear with me for a moment. I have numerous American family and friends and, while I’m aware of all the turmoil that seems to be plaguing our kin south of the border, I’m not attempting to make a political comment of any sort. Rather, I’m referring to that iconic figure of an American traveler who leaves his country expecting that everywhere else he/she goes, he will find the same things to which he is accustomed when at home — that “ugly American” (could also be Canadian, Ethiopian, Ukrainian or any other nationality) wants the benefits of the new country without the rules or the culture of that country.

I see this in my work with ethnic minorities all the time. They are delighted to be in this country and to be receiving the benefits of this country while, at the same time, expecting (or wanting) things to work the way they did in the country from which they emigrated. Of course, I’m speaking in generalities but I’m doing so to make a point. We all fail to link what we think of as “normal” to the state of affairs we are trying to leave behind. People from countries where “bargaining” is normal expect that prices here are flexible and negotiable. People who left behind corruption and inconsistently applied laws operate here as if the laws here don’t apply to them. You get my point.

Now, before you get feeling smug and patriotic, let me make the point I’m really trying to make. We are all like this when it comes to the way we think about our Christian commitment. We speak loudly about the Lordship of Jesus but then act as if his commands are optional or extracurricular, applying only to fanatics or keeners. We want the benefits of the kingdom of God without the commitment and discipline and suffering required to actually seek the kingdom of God. And while I freely admit that numerous modern and not-so-modern writers are addressing this issue (think Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Eugene Peterson, Dallas Willard, John Mark Comer, Francis Chan, et al.), that is not the problem. The problem is with you and me. We think that the standard is for the general populace and not for us. We are the “ugly American” when it comes to seriously following Christ.

Now, before I wax too prophetic or sound too critical, let me offer two final thoughts. First, none of this surprises Jesus. His first group of twelve were just as dull and insensitive as we can be. Yet scripture tells us that he “loved them til the end.” Second, this pursuit of a Christlike life is going to be filled with “aha” moments where we take stock of where we are and determine, by God’s grace and the effort that we can bring to the table, to make the necessary changes. When we do this, we become good citizens of the kingdom of the heavens. Isn’t that the goal?

So, what is Jesus saying to you this week? Are you going to act on it or ignore it?

Blessings!

Doug