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Add to NewsvineA new study out by Lifeway Research - an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention - examined how the "unchurched" feel about Christians and about Jesus. Some of the results aren't very surprising. For instance, 72% of those polled thought the church was full of hypocrites. Similarly, 79% thought that the church was more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people.
These aren't surprising numbers from a poll of people who chose not to go to church. What would be more interesting is to see those questions asked of church goers.
There was, however, some very surprising stuff in the survey. Most notably these things:
- 78% of the "unchurched" said they would be interested in hearing more about Christianity from someone.
- When asked whether Christians they knew talked about their faith too much 71% disagreed.
These answers beg the question of whether Christians are talking about their faith enough. I would have guessed the answers to these questions would have been radically different based on both personal experience and conventional wisdom about Christians. The stereotype of evangelicals is that they are walking around ready to smack unsuspecting people left and right with their Bibles; that Christians live only to annoy their neighbors with their incessant evangelism.
All of this begs the question of whether Christians are embarrassed by Jesus.
Are Christians as willing and open to talk about Jesus as they are about their favorite sports team or political candidate or movie? Theologically speaking they obviously should be. But what this poll shows is that practically speaking they should be as well. People want to hear more about Jesus, not less. People are open to loving and honest discussions about Jesus.
What do you think about all of this?
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And di you read further?
Posted by: Bob M | January 12, 2008 12:34 PM
looking at all these posts - mine included - reminds me of the "us vs them" meetings that happen in every church. A friend of mine said - "Just sign up for the donuts after mass committee" for about 2 years, go to every meeting and watch what happens. He was right. We all went into such meetings with our minds made up - sure of the other guy's faith (like me) or heresy ( not like me). However, I was not attending donut meetings, but liturgy committee meetings. Someone would make a comment that could refer to nostalgic pre-Vatican II liturgies and half the committee would bristle. the other half would react to the bristling.
Now, Jesus means everything in my life has to change. I can't be self satisfied with my peace and justice Post Vatican II thinking. I always have to look at my own heart before assuming another heart is hardened and wrong. Like the rest of us - I am often repulsed by some posts by a couple of people who insult me, my faith, my political leanings and do so seemingly without thought or compassion. However, and this is a big however, I have also witnessed those same people on this blog bring the rest of us to tears with a genuine prayer of compassion for someone who was hurting. I have witnessed such posters trying with all their heart to be loving and making me a bit ashamed for my occasional 'snarkiness'.
How much time do we spend trying to create the 'outsider' on the donut committee, on the liturgy committee, on this very blog. I study something called "mimetic theory" and within that study have learned that every community, group, school, family must have an outsider somewhere to blame, accuse of something and make sure the rest of us feel like good people. Jesus would say - 'hey come on down out of that tree and come eat with me.' I sometimes confront the person who says things that are completely out of line. Sometimes I want to say a lot more. But this Jesus, of whom I am not ashamed, keeps me from doing so. I hope he keeps my words measured and compassionate. I fail on occasion, but then don't we all.
Posted by: Thinker | January 12, 2008 3:21 PM
Well said, Thinker!
Posted by: Bob M | January 13, 2008 2:59 PM
God is love and He loves me
because His Word tells me so.
Posted by: small paul | January 15, 2008 10:33 AM
The Word, the Word of God;is it being taught? And by and with the power of the Spirit?
If not, isn't everything written here just an opinion?
The Spirit and the Word together speak the only truth that we have. It matters not who speaks or writes that Word spoken through the power of the Spirit.
small paul
Posted by: small paul | January 15, 2008 10:51 AM
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