Musings: Notes From My Daybook

Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons (of the Fermi Project in Atlanta) have taken on something that strikes right at the heart of Christian witness today--the reality that all to often Christians are perceived as unchristian!  Based on the research conducted by the Barna Research Group, Kinnaman and Lyons identified six themes that non-Christian people between the ages of 19-29 connect with Christian people.

Before I list them it is important to know that this about perception, not reality.  But before you breathe a sigh of relief on that point, please note that all perception is rooted in something.  And, in many cases, these themes find their root in commonly held actions by some Christian people.

 Here they are:

1. Christians are hypocritical--carrying around a superior attitude.
2. The Christian community is only interested in converting others.  If a Christian can't "save you" then he or she doesn't have any more interest in you.
3. Christians are antihomosexual.
4. Christians are sheltered and out of touch with reality.
5. Christians are motivated by political agendas.
6. The Christian community is judgmental.

As I said above, sadly, much of this is rooted in the practices of many today.  Of course, Kinnaman and Lyons note other factors at work.  For example, in America, Christianity is so well known that it isn't really known at all.  We live with a cultural understanding of the Christian faith that often is more aligned with traditions and reactions to what someone heard from someone else.  Indeed Chesterton's  (para)-phrase is true: "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; Christianity has not been really ever tried."

Yet the reality remains.  In our day 87% of the 19-29 year olds in our country who are outsiders to the Christian faith believe we are judgmental.  Do we have the fortitude and the spirit of Jesus to prove otherwise?

 For more reading see:

Scot McKnight 

Fermi Project 

unChristian 

Thinking Christian