Avoiding "unChristian" Preaching
by David Kinnaman
Being a Christian in America is harder than ever.
People are expressing more hostility, doubt, frustration and skepticism toward Christianity – and this is particularly true among young people. Their perceptions of Christians are filled with images of judgmentalism, hypocritical lifestyles and political activism. They also believe Christians have singled out homosexuality above all other sins. They conclude that Christianity is old-fashioned, boring and unintelligent, and that Christians are insincere and too focused on getting converts. The followers of the Prince of Peace are thought to be unable to live peaceably among others.
These may sound like harsh statements, but they spring from extensive research we have done with Americans ages 16 to 29. Whatever your impressions, these negative views are front and center in the minds of young people in our culture. In just a decade, the perception of evangelicals has become eight times less favorable among young non-Christians when compared to the image held by Boomer non-Christians.
In fact, one of the most common reactions that young people have about the faith is that present-day Christianity is no longer like Jesus intended. This is where we initially came upon the term “unChristian.” In our research with young people, they kept saying things like, “Christians go about things in an unChristian manner.”
“They have forgotten the point of what it means to be a Christian.”
“The faith has gotten off track with the teachings of Jesus.”
Put Off by Criticism?
When my partner, Gabe Lyons of the Fermi Project, first encountered this, we were both surprised and a little put off. Are young people right? Doesn’t Jesus promise that we’ll be persecuted and unloved for following Christ?
Of course.
Yet, the question that nagged at us for several years was this: what if they are reacting – not to our righteous lifestyles – but to our self-righteousness? What if we are not actually following Christ in the way we should? Would that change the balance of culpability?
Of course it would.
As we wrestled with this, new passages of Scripture started to become vivid reminders that, while we may be misunderstood, Christians do not get a free pass to offend their neighbors. We began to meditate on verses like Romans 2:24 – “the world blasphemes the name of God” because of hypocritical faith. And Colossians 4:5-6 – “live wisely among those who are not Christians,” with “gracious and effective” conversation.
While those outside Christianity may not always perceive us accurately, those of us on the “inside” of the faith also have dangerous assumptions that undo our witness. Here are three unexpected, yet fascinating insights we learned. First, most non-Christians in America today have a great deal of experience in Christian churches and with Christians. Most non-Christians are actually de-churched individuals.
Second, the negative perceptions are often just as common among young Christians as they are among young non-Christians. This means that whether we want to admit it or not, these are not merely image issues for outsiders, but issues of real substance with which young churchgoers wrestle.
Third, we were surprised to find how often young non-Christians communicated nuance and profound insight. They frequently mentioned that their negative views of Christians were confounded by someone who provided an entirely different, vibrant picture of what it means to be a Christian. One insightful comment was this: “I know all you Christians are not bad because I have had a few conversations with Christians I respect. Basically, I respect them because they respect me.”
Preaching in an unChristian World
If it is harder to be a Christian, it is also more difficult than ever to teach and preach. How does a messenger of God strike the right balance between grace and truth? How does a teacher of the Bible help point people toward a holy God, without creating the opposite effect of putting up false barriers to Him? I don’t have to remind you that Scriptures provide an incredibly high standard for teachers (see Matthew 23:13; Luke 11:52, and James 3:1).
As part of this responsibility, you have one clear responsibility: maintaining the healthy balance of truth and grace. Without truth, this generation continues to slip into moral and spiritual hyper-individualism. Without grace, the unique message of Jesus’ unconditional acceptance is lost to a works-based regimen. At the most basic level, your preaching and teaching has to provide both of those elements of Jesus’ character (see John 1:14).
One of my friends, Nick, pointed out something really fascinating about truth and grace: these are not things to be held in tension, like competing teams at tug-of-war. Grace and truth are embodied in the same person, Jesus. They seek to accomplish the same thing: bringing our lives into alignment with God. One person does not need “just truth” and another “just grace.” Every soul needs full doses of grace and truth. Your preaching and teaching should deliver both elements with potency.
Wrangling a Diverse Audience
While everyone possesses a unique soul, consider that there are fairly common types of people to whom you communicate each week. Your efforts to avoid unChristian preaching might be aided by these prototypical profiles and stories.
- Deep Danielle. She knows Scripture well, and operates on the basis of a biblical worldview. She loves the truth and resonates with the transcendence of God. Still, Danielle’s struggle is with pride. As Paul writes in Galatians, having begun her life in the Spirit, her pitfall is that she now subtly tries to perfect that spiritual life through human effort. She tries hard to live up to her perceived “strict standards” of following Christ, but she easily forgets that it is “for freedom that she has been set free…not freedom to sin, but freedom to love.” (Galatians 5:13).
- Stagnant Steve believes in and accepts Jesus as his Savior, but also has shown very little spiritual growth of late. He tends to think in very black and white terms, and is more concerned about getting something from church than giving himself to the church. If you could put Steve into a time machine, he would be scandalized by Jesus’ friendship with sinners and tax collectors. He is easily offended by a broken world, but doesn’t know what to do about it – or frankly, care much. The depth of how much God has forgiven and loves him is typically lost on Steve, so it is easy to slip into judging others to feel better about himself.
- Curious Carol is a person who knows enough about spirituality and the Bible to be dangerous, but she is not a committed, born-again Christian. Don’t misunderstand: she often calls herself Christian, but she doesn’t really think of herself as a Christ follower above other roles and responsibilities she has. While you might consider Carol a seeker, she rarely feels lost or confused about much. There are more Carols in your congregation each week than you probably suspect, because she looks the part and seems encouraged by your sermons. She sees the world in more shades of gray than does Steve, but doesn’t really have a cohesive biblical perspective from which she lives and worships.
- Angry Andy has been hurt by churches. He might admit to his closest friends that he is really an agnostic, but he puts on the best face possible when he comes to church. Sometimes, however, his past disappointments and frustrations with other Christians get the best of him. He is usually more contentious about things and, paradoxically, usually much less pretentious. He doesn’t try to look good; he let’s people see all his junk and hang-ups. Andy figures you might as well tell people how you really feel, and his critique of his fellow churchgoers is that they are not authentic or transparent enough. Yet, Andy has never really been healed from his hurts, so his transparency always has a hard edge.
Perhaps you have other types of people in your church. How do their unique profiles affect their viewpoints and opportunities for spiritual growth? The key insight here is that you have to figure out how to move many different people along. Danielle moves from point R to point S. Another person has to be moved from point A to point C; others from point Y back to point R. How can you manage such diverse goals?
As a pastor, you’re far more of an expert than a person who examines numbers and statistics everyday. A researcher cannot presume to tell you how to do the task for which God has gifted you. Yet, here are some insights from my research -- interviews with the very type of people who listen to your teachings week after week. Here are some ways I think you might avoid “unChristian” preaching. And by unChristian preaching, I simply mean communication that sounds good but fails to produce much spiritual depth in people.
- Realize that there is a common thread connecting Danielle, Steve, Carol, and Andy: an inflated sense of self-confidence and personal reassurance. This is the viewpoint that says, Critics must be “wrong” since I am most certainly “right.” People have a very difficult time seeing themselves in plain light. I believe one of the most important roles for biblical communicators is to help people see their own myopia. Jesus was just as concerned with self-righteousness as he was with unrighteousness.
- A related theme is self-absorption. People can’t see themselves clearly and they also can’t empathize with how other people see the world. Consequently, the church often perpetuates us-versus-them thinking, even though it is the only place in the universe where such categories should not exist. Christians need to be cultivating hearts for outsiders, just like Jesus did – pursuing and rescuing and restoring the broken parts of our world. Are you motivating people to fear the world and to condemn it? Or are you helping them catch a vision to lay down their own lives – figuratively and literally – to save people?
- In re-orienting people’s perspectives, it is important for people to feel the weight of their everyday conversations and mundane relational choices. How do their words and attitudes affect the people around them? This is especially important when people’s interactions with Christians often create barriers to experiencing and understanding Jesus. Did you know, for instance, that one of the most common reasons that people become unchurched is because of the hypocrisy and pretentiousness of churchgoers? We need to help people understand the consequences of their unChristian behaviors, but also communicate that Jesus still loves us, despite our flaws.
- One of the remarkable themes of the New Testament that seems too rare is the insider-outsider dynamic. This is hard for Americans – a very Christianized people with a rich Christian tradition – to fully comprehend. But Paul, living in a clearly non-Christian context, never seems to defend his rights as a Christian. Instead, Paul seems to accept a sinful and broken world, while holding the people of Christ to account. He is constantly writing in this dual role. He is an apostle (a leader of churches) and missionary (an apologist and evangelist to outsiders). He calls the Christian community to high standards and yet reaffirms that these standards do not apply to those outside Christianity (1 Corinthians 5 is one of the best examples of this). What is the point for preaching today? Since your preaching is heard by both Christians and non-Christians, you are both a leader of Christians as well as a missionary to unbelievers. Finding that right balance is incredibly difficult, but it can be done, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Part of this task, I believe, is to help your people see their role as missionaries to a culture that is now effectively post-Christian. You have to help train them to see the world in the same way Paul did.
And, church leaders, I have one final encouragement for you, personally. Keep in mind that your decisions as a teacher ought to be courageous. This includes the courage to tell the bold truth as well as the courage to exhibit unhindered grace. Interestingly enough, I have interacted with many pastors who say that it is much harder to defy the expectations of the Deep Danielles and Stagnant Steves. It is tempting to preach so that the insiders (i.e., the most generous donors to the organization) feel comforted and esteemed.
But you don’t preach or teach for the approval of human beings. You do so for the honor and glory and pleasure of a living God who chooses to speak his ways through you. The life of Jesus and the testimony of Paul attest to the scandalous nature of the Gospel. Sometimes God is most honored when we make religious insiders uncomfortable. Are you making your best disciples squirm under the weight of truth and grace?
It is more complex than ever to be a pastor today in America. And while that creates new and uncharted challenges, I believe this can be the heyday for biblical ministry in our country.
David Kinnaman is president of The Barna Group, Ltd. in Ventura, California (www.barna.org). His book explores more on this subject. It is called, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…And Why It Matters (Baker).
Comments
November 11, 2007
24. Frank Goodman says...
Jesus said in the last days that people will be lovers of themselves and will follow after teachers who will teach them what they wanted to hear. As a Minister of the Gospel, I have over the last 20 years encountered so called Christian Pastors and Teachers of the Word, who have told me "I do not care what the Bile says, this is what I believe." or words to that affect. I have encountered too many modern day Pharasees ... Teaching and Preaching a false gospel behind the pulpit of many of our Christian churches. Pastors and Teachers of the Word, who are afraid to preach what the Bible says, because that is not what the people want to hear. People want to hear that you can sin (any sin) and God still loves you and you will still go to heaven. That Gospel is not true and there are many more such false teachings in the church. No wonder the people are confused and do not know what is really truth and what is a lie. We need to re-examine what the Scriptures say and teach that not what we think it says and give the Holy Spirit his due place in the church and the real teacher of the Scriptures ans the Gospel.
November 6, 2007
23. Richard Arnold says...
Ron Forseth's question in his introduction to this article was, "Do they have a problem with us for the 'right' reasons?" Another form of the same question might be, "Are we following Christ as called for in the Scriptures, with grace and truth, ever seeking to be formed in His image, living with kingdom priorities?" Given the data presented in Kinnaman's book, "unChristian", it's an appropriate question to ask. If the answer is YES, then "To God be the glory" and "Well done, good and faithful servant." If the answer is NO, then "Repent. Love Christ and learn His ways more deeply." If the answer is YES and NO, then give glory to God where we should and repent/grow where we should. Each Christ-follower, and especially each leader, should ask and answer the question, seeking insight and objectivity from the Lord and fellow believers.
November 6, 2007
22. Mark de Kluyver says...
I have read the term "social gospel" a few times in this discussion string and it seems to be misunderstood and/or misapplied. It does not mean dealing with social issues (See James 1:27, Isaiah 58:5-6, James 2:14 which call us to social action). Instead it is the theological view that the greatest problem for humanity is not sin but society. I do not get a sense of social gospel or a call to it from reading this article. Please let us not accuse each other of things when they may have no basis in truth.
November 6, 2007
21. Mark de Kluyver says...
I struggle with the premise that any time we are ciritized it is because we are doing right. It is a good article and we need to be asking ourselves if the criticizm is valid and not write it off. It just may be possible that we are wrong. It has happened before. If we are criticized it should be for doing the right thing, the right way. Not the right thing, anyway possible. Missionaries attempt to reach their society using methods and language that are understandable, we need to do the same. Take the time to listen to those we are trying to reach, they might have something to say. In the area of ethics. Wouldn't it be good if people knew what we are for, not just what we are against.
November 6, 2007
20. Mike Nimer says...
Although we need to be concerned about our testimony to the world, and how we present the message the church is becoming too obsessed with what the culture thinks about christians. We are trying desperately to get the world's approval. Jesus and the Apostles made it clear that the world will hate us (John 7:7;15:18-25; I John 3:13) Admittedly, the message should be offensive and not the messenger. However, when the messenger presents a message they do not like,i.e; Jesus is the only way (too many are trying to soften this is the postmodern movement)they often cannot seperate the message from the messenger.
November 6, 2007
19. Edward Hyndman says...
Thank you for the results of your research. Though USA based, it applies pretty well I am sure here in UK. Your intention seems to be to ask us to watch our wittnes and that is biblical enough to be taken seriously. I fear though that the message conveyed at the moment is that even the church thinks the church is rotten. This is being repeated again and again. We should remember that the disciples of Jesus were never Jesus. From the very first disciples till now, we have all been in constant need of our saviour. I really think the best thing we could do is talk more and more about Jesus and less and less about us. Our song should be His praise and His story. We cannot be Jesus, but we can let Jesus be Jesus. He is how we win, as your research shows, whatever they think of the church, they are compelled by Christ.
November 6, 2007
18. Mark Haines says...
If the church's role is not to have a good image to those still in the world, why did the people Hear Jesus gladly? (Mark 12:37) Why did the Holy Spirit's work in and through the early church win them favor with all the people? (Acts 2:47) Some of us in the church create self-fulfilling prophecies about our interactions with those outside the church. We expect them to reject us so we attack them and go home feeling justified when they do. May God help us to speak with grace as we live wisely with those still outside God's family.
November 5, 2007
17. Abednego Ferrer says...
I have read the article and honestly, my response is that even when Jesus was here on earth, the Jews did not have a good image of him. He condenmed the Scribes and Pharisees and he rebuked those who sinned. He told those who believed in Him as the Messiah to "go and sin no more". I believe that the church role is not to have a "good image" to this sinful world because those who are living in sin always finds something to blame and hopes that people around them would be "considerate and gracious" for their sinful behavior. I agree that Christians should not be judgmental but on the other hand should not be condonning sin. As Apostle Paul said to Timothy- "All Scripture is profitable for teaching (the truth), rebuking (error), correcting (faults), and training in rioghteousness that the man of God maybe thoroughly eqipped to do every good work." The church role is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to sinners so they'll repent, believe, and be saved. Church people, even though not all church people are "Christians"- are not "perfect". Many could always put an "ink" to blot the Christians. They are there as simply an edifice of God's grace. God is still working on them. Personally, I bother myself with my imperfections in sharing the gospel of salvation in Christ Jesus than what "un-blelievers" had to say to the church. I know for sure that even during Jesus' time, many turned away from him because he told them the truth.
November 5, 2007
16. Jeff Borden says...
Dave, I appreciate your efforts toward researching and finding necessary clues into the perception of today's church, both on the inside and outside. Perhaps one noticeably missing profile is that of Authentic Allen who is truly born again, a bona fide believer and disciple of Christ who loves his Lord, his pastor, his church, and the lost! No longer a slave to sin but to righteousness, God's grace is all too real for him and therefore flows freely as does the message of truth with passionate conviction. He is a true convert, the old man passing away and the new creation growing. Evidence of an innate hunger and thirst for righteousness keeps him humble and maturing. He loves the power of God’s truth and the grace of God’s love which results in a balance of both. Being imperfect sustains his awareness of grace while being perfected keeps him in the Truth. I must assume that this type of profile did not appear in your research or was significantly imperceptible. Since Jesus commanded us to make disciples, (1) reaching them is imperative, (2) converting them is essential, and (3) discipling them is obedient. However, I would question the feasibility in any other order. I wonder at times if we are trying too hard to make disciples of unbelievers apart from conversion. Your research is thought provoking and beneficial for discerning the times. I believe it was John R. W. Stott that said, “Truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth.” You have expanded that scientifically. Thanks!
November 5, 2007
15. Mark Pittman says...
What is this Gospel we have preached? How many times have I heard Christians ask non-believers the question, "If you died tonight where would you spend eternity?" At least once a month in my midwest pastorate I will encounter someone who reports to me "I got saved when I was (years) old." Yet, their lives are by their own admission more more hellish than heavenly, and certainly there is, usually by their own admission, no desire to live under a "Lord." To what and from what are people being "saved?" We have changed the gospel from a proclamation of becoming part of the Kingdom of God now, made possible through Jesus, (Luke 4)and made it a fire escape or insurance policy. Perhaps we need to ask once again what Jesus was teaching...it is time to switch Lords, and be delivered from the one who pays only in death. Paul says, "if for this life only" we are most miserable, but now we are reaping the seeds of a gospel sown "for the next life only." If a person claims to love God but hates their sister or brother they are a what? (1 John) Thanks for the thought- provoking research and application. "Jesus is Lord!" is not just a bumper-sticker.
November 5, 2007
14. Warren Lamb says...
Brother Clegg, thank you for that straightforward and honest statement. It is very true that there is an evil that is trying to force it's way into taking over our entire culture, just as Nazism swept through Germany in the 1930's and 1940's. Bonhoeffer fought it, spoke out against it, and even was executed for being part of an attempt to physically remove the leader of that evil from the world. Is he condemned among us for that? I have never heard anyone say anything against that man's faith or the way he lived it out.
November 5, 2007
13. Warren Lamb says...
It seems that there has been so much focus on making "Christians" in recent years that we have dropped the ball (collectively) on making "disciples". That, after all, is the Great Commission, is it not? (Matthew 28:18-20) If we can get ourselves back to what Paul and the other apostles devoted their lives to - making disciples by investing in the lives of others, just as Jesus did, then we will be back on the path Christ set us on when He returned to His Father's side. There many who comment today against "politics in the Church". Oftentimes, they seem emotionally and "politically" charged with little if any Scriptural foundation. Blending the spheres of individual discipleship and governmental responsibility serves only to confound the problem, not clarify it. What Jesus spoke to individuals He did not speak to governments. And, the statement that "some Bible expert out there who will disagree with me and site several Bible passages to prove how right they are" is something that all of us need to pay heed to. If the Bible says it, then it means it, especially if it is plain and easy to understand - the main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things, as it were. Our focus needs to be on training and developing people in being true disciples of Jesus Christ and how He desires to live out His life in our own. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer so eloquently put it, "Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." That, I believe from the above article and personal experience, is why the Church and Christianity are lacking credibility. Teaching the whole Word of God with an attitude of brokeness for the lost and holding those who profess Christ to high standards is indeed the model of Christ and His apostles. This is where the Church (the Body of Believers) can regain her credibility and effectiveness in the world. People need to see that while we cannot and will not tolerate wickedness, there is a lack of harshness and judgementalism to us about it. This, as has been said, is the balance that is so difficult to find and maintain without a deep and daily overfilling of the Holy Spirit. We can have our points of difference within the family, and we can do so strongly and with love. However, when it comes to dealing with anyone, "Christian" or not, we MUST do so with the picture in mind that we are all individuals for whom Christ paid the ultimate price - the ground is level at the foot of the Cross.
November 5, 2007
12. William Pawlyshyn says...
some very excellant points by the original author and those responding. What I have found, with all ages, the "christian" has almost become a cliche and we all know that a name isn't always the truth. We are be known by our fruits as well! One other quick thought, in a generation where not accepting blame for one's own actions, when the word SIN is mentioned, no matter what the sin is..there seems to be a need to escape and not be accountable. The young and the old are seeking "the solution" that void which only Christ Jesus can fill. There are other types of situations where hyprocrisy rears its head... As one preacher whom I know, during his service he "reads your mail" and tells the people things in their heart (e.g, you like music and I see you up here playing the drums, or you are a great speaker and I see you preaching the Gospel = these individuals by in large are unsaved and unchurched). Believing in all the giftings, there is a time and place for this type of ministry. It is not for gettting membership because someone can see into you, but for accountability. But with that said, we all need to bring back Sunday School and Bible studies and teach the Bible (verse memorization etc)in order that those who preach will understand what they are saying and those who are listening will hear the truth, not a fabricaton of what man thought it said - kind of like the difference in religion and relationship - the former is man's ideas of the Lord's plan and the latter is The Lord's plan - period! As I remember, Jesus cut to the quick and also showed mercy at the same time!
November 5, 2007
11. Jack Clegg says...
There are some good points in the article of course, but I'm not a real fan of the basic premise: ask non-believers how the church should preach. The whole "marketing" approach to analyzing the church seems odd to me. Having said that, I accept the challenge of preaching with both "grace and truth." One particular point that always comes up in these "marketing reviews" of the church is: why does the church single out homosexuality as a cultural evil above all other sins. Well, the last time I checked, homosexuality was the only sin that had a forceful lobby trying to mainstream the behavior. I don't know of a liars lobby, or an Alliance of Thieves trying to pass laws promoting their particular sin. Preachers were not the ones who singled out homosexuality for review--homosexuals were. Another problem with criticizing those who preach against homosexuality is the erramt doctrine of "all sin is the same to God." That simply is not biblical doctrine. Like all articles I read, with this one I will eat the fish and spit out the bones.
November 5, 2007
10. Michael Sims says...
What a wonderful story. Do we really think that our world has changed that much since the days of Jesus and His Apostles? We could lift any of Jesus' messages or any of Paul's or Peter's right off the pages of our Bibles and preach them unaltered in anyway and they would still have the power to convict and to deliver those who would listen today. Truth and love are universal and transcend time and culture. They are as relevant today as they were 2000 years ago. It is the Word of God that carries the anointing and has the power to convict, deliver and save. Not our cleverly researched and constructed sermons. Loving the people...teaching and preaching the truth; prayerfully,that is what everyone of us is concenrtrating on.
November 5, 2007
9. greg hall says...
the bible says he who wins souls is wise and if these people in your research don't feel christians/anity is not worth it then they're only hurting themselves the bible tells us to shake the dust off our feet when others don't want to accept the gospel and eternal life regardless of how they may see us or feel about us it's not for them to judge us the best thing for them to do is come to Jesus and let the power of the holy ghost take hold to be transformed thru the word of God and be a life long learner to renew the spirits of our minds day by day in the mean time with all our imperfections it's the blood of Jesua that cleanses us from all sin and if we sin we have an advocate with the Father in christ Jesus what do they have we are blessed with every spiritual blessing inheavenly places what do they have what they best do is join the family of God to receive all that the bible says we are by faith and what the word says about us regardless of what they think or feel about us it's what God says He will have mercy on whom he'll have mercy and compassion on whom he'll have compassion as the apostle paul said mine answer to them that do examine me is this there is only one lawgiver who are u to judge
November 5, 2007
8. Frank Sage says...
Luke 11;52 arrested my thinking recently as I pondered this dilemma of "...Do not Love the world or anything in the world" and "...For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son". -the default position taken by the church is so often the former, because it's so much easier to maintain, and closer to our natural instincts of self preservation than that of sacrifice. The arresting thought from Luke 11;52 was that bible experts had taken away the key to knowledge...knowledge of God. What then is the key to the knowledge of God for those who dont know him if not some expert dispensing of Gods Holy Law by those who purport to know him? Is it not in the life and actions of the one who made the charge against them? "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father..." The heart of the matter is grace expressing itself through love. Jesus could express truth like "the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom," "if you love Me, keep my commandments," "but he that believeth not is condemned already," - because of what He did! How He lived! and how He loved, too often we (The Church) reflect these truths as a commentary against other believers and indeed the world without the context of truly gracious, loving, sacrificial lives known and read by everybody. My prayer has been "Lord show me these keys to the knowledge of who you are for those who dont know who you are - without compromising the reality of Sins curse but without the smug expertise of an insider or "expert"" Blessings-Frank Sage
November 5, 2007
7. Kenton Wood says...
Three reasons come to mind as to why Christians are being seen with such hostility. 1. The demise of moral values in the country. As we slide further down, the difference between Biblical values and relativism becomes more noticeable. We will be hated. 2. The hypocrisy of many Christians, especially those in the news, subtracts any respect we may have for taking unpopular stands. 3. Lousy doctrine: We are selling the Gospel cheap. We are manipulating people into "receiving Christ", rather than letting them respond to God´s call. Salvation is of the Lord, not us nor our gimmicks. That´s why we have many who think they are believers, but really are not, and these give the church a bad name.
November 5, 2007
6. Jeff Strite says...
Ephesians 4:15 says we should be "speaking the truth in love...". Which is a somewhat difficult balance. We see that God hates sin and so should we. The problem becomes when we decide to take God's place as judge (James 4:11). At our congregation, we speak out against all sin as we find it described in Scripture - not just homosexuality, but impurity of any kind. On the other hand, we must realize Jesus came to die for those caught in sin. We once had a man join the church who we later discovered (from 2 witnesses) was homosexual. After prayer and discussion amongst the eldership, one of the elders and I went to visit this man. We apologized if we wrong, but if he were a homosexual he had to understand that not only was his membership in jeopardy... so was his salvation. We didn't want either of those to take place and so we were more than willing to help him leave that lifestyle and even help with any counseling necessary. Unfortunately, this man grew very angry and never came back. But he left because of his own guilt... not because of any self-righteous condemnation on our part. It is still our prayer that he'll reconsider his choice one day.
November 5, 2007
5. David Perkins says...
It's a good article and a thought that needs to be addressed. But the leadership of "The Church" was given a pass in presenting four parishioners as examples. I do not believe that Christians in America became conservatives politically by themselves. They had leadership. We need to take ALL politics out of "The Church" and still be free to preach what Jesus Christ Said and the political fallout from that. For example, for Christians to be FOR the death penalty in any form is against any teaching of Christ. Christ himself was murdered by state execution! How can a follower of Christ be for this? Why are we at war in Iraq? Why are Christians perceived -rightly- to be behind the President who took us there? Why do we torture, for any reason, good or bad, and Christians are perceived to be for these practices to "keep America safe." Why do some mainstream denominations teach the subjugation of women, where women can't even get into the pulpit, even if called by God to be there? Why do we single out gays and lesbians as sinners, when Paul listed many other sins, including lying, as equal? And Christ himself said only two sins were above all else and neither were homosexuality. If this is the "social Gospel" then it's what Jesus Christ said for us to do; "Love one another", "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Love your enemies." There is, just to bring the point home about Pharisees and lawyers shutting the doors, some Bible expert out there who will disagree with me and site several Bible passages to prove how right they are. Good for you and your knowledge. But sometimes the Bible, especially what Jesus Christ said to us, must be read with the heart! The kids of America are seeing something the leadership of our churches are not. Love David Perkins
November 5, 2007
4. James Thompson says...
The barriers came into play as the truth of God's Word became laced with tolerance. An incomplete truth is a total lie. Time, without a true washing of the Word only allows a stronger version of tolerance. Truth does not mean tolerance. Jesus said, "the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom," that's truth. He said, "if you love Me, keep my commandments,"that's truth. Jesus said, ". . . but he that believeth not is condemned already," that is truth. "It is the truth that sets men free," nothing more, nothing less. To sum it all up, teach the truth with a loving heart, but preach the truth. Anything else is tinkering with the Word of God. It is written.
November 5, 2007
3. Jeremy Grant says...
I heard Dave and his co-author Gabe at the Catalyst conference this year -- excellent work, gentlemen. In reflecting on my most recent sermon in relation to your people, I thought I did reasonably all right. But I did the V-8 conk when you mentioned about pointing out how our culture cannot keep Christ's high calling because they do not gratefully serve Him as an adopted child of God, a new creation with recreated affections. Thanks, Dave, for your insights here. May every preacher wrestle with helping their congregation be free from "unChristian" attitudes and actions!
November 5, 2007
2. Joe Schuck says...
For too long we have had a "Us v. Them" concept of the world. We have pushed away the very culture we are called to operate in and them wonder why they reject our message. Truth and grace...yes that is very relevant to any culture.
November 5, 2007
1. Don Shaeffer says...
Some encouraging thoughts tempered with a realism that causes one to pause and reflect about how to reach this 'new generation'. We all have been the four types Kinnaman has explored. The challenge all of us face is the 'how do we get through that Christ IS a part of our world and that we must show that Christ is truly alive in us and works through mankind to achieve His purposes. The preaching of a 'social gospel' is not what we are called to do. We are called to preach a gospel of truth as it has been revealed in God's holy word.
