These Four Things

I have not read David Kinnaman's book, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity… and Why It Matters. And, with all the school reading I have to do and book reviews I have already promised to write, it is unLikely that I will get to it. But, I was tagged by the inimitable Brother Maynard with this meme: List four things about Christians: three negative perceptions and one thing that Christians should be known for, and this is a topic I think about a lot (thanks for including me Brother). So, here goes:

Three Negative Perceptions of Christianity

1. Christianity is a political statement. Working in the academy, most people I meet think of Christianity, and particularly, conservative Evangelical Christianity, as a statement of who I will vote for, not a statement about a life given in sacrifice to others. The result of this is that individuals think converting to being a follower of Jesus means they also have to approve of the policies of George Bush or the political statements of James Dobson.

2. Christian faith does not teach one how to live. Christianity is seen as having nothing to contribute to questions about where I should live, what I should drive, where I should shop and how much (and what kinds) of energy I should use. In a globalized economy with such a multitude of choices, individuals may wonder why they should convert to such a powerless faith.

3. Christianity is an individual experience. It seems to me that one of the reasons there is such systemic injustice is because the Church does not think systemically. Instead, Christianity is seen as something that happens to me, and the public expression of my faith has nothing to do with other followers of Jesus. The result of this is that individuals do not see Churches as communities of moral formation, and eventually wonder why they should congregate with other Christians at all. (Although I am not a huge fan of George Barna's work, this is one area I think he got right)

One Perception I Wish The Church Was Known For:

1. Radical love. Silly love. Love that defies rational explanation. Love that can only be explained by people following in the footsteps of one who was willing to lose his life that all may gain theirs. This love should permeate every decision we make, from the way we treat our neighbor to way we enact foreign policy.

If you would like to be part of this meme, please consider yourself tagged, and please leave a link to your URL in the comments section.

Comments

[J Bird]

www.christopherwalkenwithjesus.com

[wobbly librarian]

I'm 51 and remember the movements of my generations...... we need to keep our eyes on God and love on the lost. That should be our primary focus