I am convinced that the American church has lost its way. We are so enslaved by materialism and entrenched with a consumeristic mindset, that we fail to see how much we have watered down the faith. American Evangelicals think they have it all figured out, but it is my conclusion that we (evangelicals) have the most diluted expression of the Christian faith globally.
We talk a good game, we go to church, we carry around fancy Life Applications Bibles, listen to some christian radio and music, and talk in our our inner club language, christianese. Yet when it comes to obeying and imitating Christ’s actual teachings, we are MIA. In fact, the most offensive thing someone can do these days is qoute Jesus in a church. We love Paul, but we can’t swallow Christ. Must we really love our enemies, be peacemakers, turn the other cheek, deny ourselves, pursue justice, and care for the least of these in our society?
No, instead we will call Jesus Lord but disregard his actual teachings. But then Luke 6:46 jumps out and smacks the chap off our lips. Check it out…
Published by Drew G. I. Hart, PhD
Rev. Dr. Drew G. I. Hart is an associate professor of theology at Messiah University and has 10 years of pastoral experience prior to teaching. He currently directs Messiah University's "Thriving Together: Congregations for Racial Justice" program and co-hosts Inverse Podcast with Jarrod McKenna, an award-winning peace activist from Australia. Hart is the author of Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism (2016) and Who Will Be A Witness?: Igniting Activism for God's Justice, Love, and Deliverance (2020). And he is also a co-editor and contributor to the recently published book entitled Reparations and the Theological Disciplines: Prophetic Voices for Remembrance, Reckoning, and Repair (Nov. 2023). Hart received bcmPEACE’s 2017 Peacemaker Award, the 2019 W.E.B. Du Bois Award in Harrisburg, PA, and most recently in December 2023 Life Esteem Ministries recognized him in Harrisburg with the Harambee Award for the Nguzo Saba Principle of Umoja—Unity for his faith-based activism and public scholarship in the community. Drew and his family live in Harrisburg, PA.
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Drew G. I. Hart 
Amen bro. Amen. We are called to one thing. To immitate Christ for His glory only! Preach on bro. Seek the holy Spirit’s guidance and strength to be that living epistle.
I suspect your analysis is accurate, but weak. I’d challenge you to flesh it out. Where precisely have we gone off track and what do we have to do to get back on track? Are we materialistic? No doubt. Would we be better Christians if we got rid of our electronic clutter – cell phones, computers, etc.? Would it be enough to fast from tv (broadcast or cable?), dvds, cds, mp3’s and the rest of the media that we use feed our minds and hearts? Or do we just avoid the high end stuff (Apple’s iEverything)?
Or instead of decluttering, do we focus on building something positive? If so what should it look like? Where is the starting point? What should the church look like in 5 or 10 years? What will your tomorrow look like to get it there? What will you deny yourself? Which of the least of these will you assist?