unChristian continued…

I grew up in church but it wasn’t until I was in seventh grade and living in a new state that I made a serious decision to follow Christ. It was mostly due to being excepted in the new place by older, more mature youth. Prior to that church my family attended a rather larger church in Memphis, with a rather arrogant youth group…hard to fit in if you didn’t grow up in the church or your family didn’t have money (most of the teens attended the private school).

So here I was in this new city, new church, new friends, and I decided I’m going to be serious about Jesus. Didn’t take long before I was handing out tracts at school and spending my Saturday mornings (and afternoon for that matter) going door-to-door evangelizing the neighborhoods. Sounds funny now because I’m so opposed to such forms in sharing Christ, but that was what I was told a “good’ Christian did on his Saturdays.

I’m sharing all this because the next chapter of unChristian is addressing the issue non-Christians have with Christians – that we are too concerned about getting people saved. Which I agree and disagree - we are called to make disciples, to share our faith. But I think we go about it the completely wrong way, which the book address nicely (again you should read it).

Did you know that most people between the age of 16-29 have at some point attended church or considered Christianity? Most have accepted Christ, but their faith dissolved after 18 months. I don’t believe that they were ever actually Christians. Which makes the job of telling people about Jesus harder. The problem is that they just didn’t see anything real and/or never experience a authentic conversion. I know “who am I to decide who is save or not?” But salvation takes time - it just the beginning at the alter (wherever that may be?).

It the last five years I have begun to see salvation and the whole conversion issue different. I don’t see it as a all out “lets get everyone saved today before they all burn in hell!” First, there is no room for relationship and no distance for a journey. Jesus came to earth and introduce a different relationship. The Pharisee always view it as “get in or your out” approach and many “sinners and tax collectors” chose out - until Jesus came. He sat with them, ate dinner with them, lived in peace with them. He was fully God but didn’t approach them as “I’m not your friend to get you in and I’m your find even though you may chose to remain out.” He was making disciples which starts with believing with your heart and then confessing with your mouth.

I don’t believe handing out tracts, going door-to-door, preaching in public on a box, or striking up a conversation with a stranger so you can invite them to your church Sunday is Christian - what maybe Christian in the way we know it - but not Christ-like or Godly. People desire friendship and with time and conversations people see Jesus and ask — “bang” you realize your making disciples.

This post is apart of the unChristian book review. However, I’m not going to give you a snap shot of what is in the book (because I think every Christian should read it) –I’m going to “blog” how I see it in my life. Here is the first: Hypocritical.

I know I’m a hyprocrite because I’m a sinner. I know I preach one message and often live another. I don’t think this is too different than what I see in Bible. Jesus saved his “best” comments for those who proclaimed to be close to God. Look at Matthew 23, “outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled hypocrisy and lawlessness (v.28). And this: “You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are filthy - full of greed and self-indulgence” (v.25). Jesus even points out what awaits the hyprocrite, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law…hyprocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either” (v.13)

Sad but I see myself more like a “teacher” in His comments. I so often keep myself and others out of His presence with saying one thing and doing another. Paul in Romans 7.14-16 said it best: “… I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. Like Paul, I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this everyone experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. That is why I cling to the Bible. I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, so it’s obvious that God’s influence is necessary.

I think this is the story of every Christian. Right? But we are viewed as hypocrites because we don’t confess we have a sin problem. We chose to proclaim our morals and force them on our neighbors (and world), but never proclaim “We’re messed up! I’m life is crooked” Maybe its pride? self-righteousness? fear? But we have to start being honest about our faith. We chose to follow God because we know we need help every second of the day and we can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for ourselves much less anyone else. We just know God can make a difference…I know He has in my life.

I’m a hyprcrite and I’m Christian! First confession of many.

When you looks at Jesus, read his story, study his words what do you find his against? I mean really, what did he oppose, who did he push back, when was he the most angry? I think religious leaders were always trying to discover what was Jesus against? The problem was there were enough people in opposition to something; He came to proclaim what God was for.

We have the same problem today. In the second chapter of UnChristian they ask the question, “Why so Negative?” They try to discover why people in this generation are hostile toward current Christianity. Their answer is Christianity has become famous for what we oppose, rather than who we are for. We are considered to be entrenched thinkers, antigay, anti-choice, angry, violent, illogical, empire-building, convert-focused people who can’t live at peace with others. That doesn’t sound like Jesus? That wasn’t what He came to proclaim.

Actually their researched revealed six broad themes that are most commonly raised by outsiders. These reflect the very real ways in which the Christian community has mistakenly portrayed itself to a skeptical generation. These themes will be the content for the rest of the book and blogs.

1) Hypocritical. Outsiders view Christians as people who say one thing and do another. We act polished and clean-cut that is not accurate. We give the impression that the church is only a place for virtuous and morally pure people.

2) Too focused on getting converts. They feel like targets, rather than people. They question our motives when we try to help them. They wonder if we are only trying to get them “saved,” despite the fact that many have already tried Jesus and experienced church before.

3) Antihomosexual. It’s no surprise we are considered bigoted and show disdain for gays and lesbians. We think we can “fix” them or cure the homosexual by leveraging political solutions against them.

4) Sheltered. No shocker! Even those inside the church view church as old-fashioned, boring, and out of touch with reality. The world is complex and the answers aren’t simple. We are viewed as not willing to deal with the grit and grime of people’s lives.

5) Too political. I wish I was reading this chapter now as the Iowa presidential caucuses is today, this view deals with the thought that Christians are right-wingers. We’re perceived as overly motivated by a political agenda, that we promote and represent politically conservative interests and issues.

6) Judgmental. We are thought to judge others too quickly and we are not honest about our attitudes and perspectives about other people. People doubt that we really love them as we say we do.

Let me make a point: one the book is a research and two you may not agree with the views of outsiders but you should not ignore them. These are real views and criticisms that are even more supported if they go unanswered. By looking at these views it helps us respond to them better and them to us. It keeps us objective and reminds me that views can change and these views of Christianity can change too (if we respond well). Last, views are rooted in stories…real stories with real emotions. If nothing else this is a wakeup call to us all. This chapter is so much deeper than I can give justice in a blog, but know these views are not created in a vacuum.

I look forward to discussing “Hypocritical” in the next blog.

Christian - what does that really mean? It seems that everyone claims to be a Christian. And how does one really know? Because we consider it some “personal” issue. So personal that we live however we want and say whatever we desire without and question. But the problem is there are questions!

I’m thirty (which is the new twenty, haha) and I hate what I see within my “religion(?).” So recently I got a new book for Christmas that is really helping me squeeze thoughts out, is called “UnChrisian” by David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons. Over the next few weeks I hope to digest this book with you. I would love to hear people’s thoughts: those who proclaim to be Christian and those who do not. Over the next weeks let’s keep in mind a few reasons for such a book.

First, this book is a research of those who consider themselves “outside” (those looking at the Christian faith from the outside). Because it’s hard to define who is Christian the book gives a good definition. A Christian is someone that is born-again and you’re a born-again Christian if you have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important to you and have you have confessed sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. Of course only God knows ones heart and reaction to Him. But you are not a Christian just because you go to church, identify as a Christian, read the Bible, or do good things for others.

Second, we’re serious about paying attention to outsiders because Jesus cares about them. It’s easy to just turn away from the perspective of people outside the church. To make some type of excuse that their “heart is hard” or “they are just making excuses.” But I’m afraid we have made their hearts hard and their “excuses” are reality (at least it’s what I see too). We’re talking about millions people and this book’s focus is on the 24 million between the ages 16-29. That is decision makers in today and tomorrow that strongly oppose Christianity.

Third, Christianity’s image problem is not just an issue for the outsider - it’s an issue for the insiders too. The born-again believers in their twenties and thirties are bringing up the same challenges, questions, and doubts facing those outside the church.

Fourth, this is a huge movement and not something that can be changed overnight. “The vast majority of Americans identify themselves as Christians; most adults in this country say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life; and nearly half are relatively active churchgoers. Of course, the depth of most Christians’ faith leaves much to be desired, but the fact is Christianity leaves an enormous footprint in America.”

I’ve already find myself looking in the mirror and asking what role did I play in how people perceive Christianity? I’ve led in bed thinking back to when I was in school and the words, actions, and attitude that may have caused someone to be nauseous at what they see - not at Jesus - at this form of Christianity I display. I hope not but I’m afraid so.