Is Humanitarianism a Christian Phenomenon?

August 19th is World Humanitarian Day. On this day, we recognize the work so many have done to help those in need around the globe. The United States has a long history of humanitarianism. Americans help those in need, both the private and public sectors. While there are many reasons to help the less fortunate, this is a foundational Christian teaching.

“This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need—how can God’s love reside in him?”
1 John 3:16-17

Christian teaching has led many people to give themselves for their neighbor. Jesus spent his life serving others. I don’t think that the Sermon on the Mount was hyperbole. It seems to me that Jesus was telling us what it means to be Christian. Our goals should align with the constant raising up of the marginalized.

This has not always been the case. The rule of the powerful and suffering of the poor has dominated most of our history. When we look at the history of civilization, the overwhelming story is that of domination. Whoever could conquer did so – and the rest suffered. However, this has not been the story of the Church. Until now.

American Church and Nietzsche

Evangelical thought leader Russell Moore noted the changing perception of Conservative American Christians in a recent interview. He notes that the teachings of Jesus are now considered ‘liberal talking points’. This Jesus is weak and ineffective to this brand of Christianity. While they might love the movies God’s Not Dead, a title in reference to Nietzsche’s line in The Madman, they have more in common with him than they’d expect.

Nietzsche has a concept of Master Morality and Slave Morality. In his view, the Master Morality is that of the leaders of the world. These powerful few are courageous and ambitious to their own ends. On the other hand, Slave Morality is a minority group’s reaction to Master Morality. Because they can’t take power of their own, they build a morality based on suffering and resentment. In Slave Morality, self-sacrifice and kindness are high moral values. Nietzsche saw this as a way for the oppressed to cope with their situation.

The Conservative American Church has been longing for a warrior Jesus to return and take revenge. While Jesus came as the Slave Morality, American Jesus will come back as the Master Moralist. He will destroy his enemies and set up a kingdom surrounded by rivers of the blood of his rivals. American Christianity doesn’t want the lion to lay with the lamb – they want front row seats to the slaughter. Much like the rise of the Seven Mountain Mandate, Conservative American Christians are tired to turning the other cheek. It’s time for them to rise and become the Übermensch.

What Now?

Is humanitarianism a Christian phenomenon? I don’t think so. Altruism has been seen throughout the animal kingdom and in humans. We know that we can build better communities if we help each other. However, I think the size and scope of our community and family is infinitely larger when looking through the Christian framework.

Nietzsche saw the death of Christianity as the foundations of society and was warning us. When our religious conception of the world fail to unite, what will we use to hold fast? Religious and non-religious people can agree to help those in need without a Deity commanding to do so. If we want to find a new starting point, let’s look at our ability to help our neighbor. This is one of the few ways we all can be a part of something bigger and more important than our own self.