|PIC1|He has three main reasons for enjoying his trips to the USA , based on his experiences during numerous visits there over many years, in association with sports ministry.
First, the Christians he has been linked to since his first visit in 1984 all illustrated the security and comfort of the lifestyle of middle class America; second, the generosity of spirit of the people, with their warm greetings and willingness to give of their finances; and third, perhaps the most pertinent, the ease with which it is to verbalise practical Christianity in America.
"American Christians know the language of Christianity; the American culture encourages 'talking the talk', and open discussion about any topic comes so naturally. I have always felt comfortable, as if I am fitting in," M V Tronson said enthusiastically. "In my experience, this view is optimised by the American professional athlete groups, where chapel services are a part of everyday life."
In the America I have experienced over 25 years of visiting, words such as 'sin' and 'faith' are contextualised within a culture founded upon the Pilgrim Fathers who sought religious freedom, and which encouraged a strong evangelical consciousness to become developed as the country was opened.
The pioneering spirit of this early America historically found its freedom in Baptist theology; even today, the Baptist denomination (in its various forms) has by far the largest membership and worship attendance within the US.
"As Easter 2009 is upon us, I have been interested to see that serious negative reflection has been given to this American 'easy sin and faith'," M V Tronson noted.
An article that has received wide exposure across the Christian world, titled, "Evangelicalism may be on the verge of collapse in the US" originally published on Mission Network News has challenged an 'easy sin and faith'.
Warren Smith's book 'A Lover's Quarrel with the Evangelical Church' is the basis of the article where the American mega church gets a thorough caning for this 'easy sin and faith' claiming it is leading straight to disillusionment. He criticises 'wide back doors' of these churches, and in that context comments that very little data is available on those who walk out that back door into confusion and emptiness.
M V Tronson says, "The Biblical unadulterated message for Salvation hones in on the human dilemma of conscience, that awareness of sin which cripples the secret places of one's heart and soul, which searches for a refuge that ensures a fresh start with a clean slate."
Christianity points to Jesus Christ who died on the Cross of Calvary for this sin. Repentance followed by verbalising Jesus Christ as Lord, inviting Christ into your heart and handing over the keys, does the search find its final fulfilment (yes, Christians still fail consistently). This is the good news of Easter.
"If these are de-emphasised, the outworking of that divergence will inevitably produce questions of veracity," Mark Tronson counselled.
"Easter is an ideal time to give this further reflection."