UnChristian? my scorecard

Barna research group leader David Kinnaman has compiled a book of research about what outsiders think of Christianity. This book, UnChristian, has been recommended by many influential people and several people in my world have been reading it, so I did, too, and I thought I'd blog about it here.

Kinnaman describes 6 common criticisms that outsiders have about Christians, and for a few I'm pretty guilty....others, by the grace of God, not so much.

hypocritical -- I don't think so; I try to practice what I preach or not preach it at all.

focused on "get saved" -- I understand the importance of building a relationship and living my faith in practical ways, and, through the relationship, explain that Christ's work in my life is the reason I make such choices

antihomosexual -- this one is a toughy. I'm very much against promoting homosexuality as a valid lifestyle for a believer, and I'm angry at our society for its acceptance, even promoting, the lifestyle in so many ways. do I understand it? no. Is it more complicated than my simple mind can understand. yes. do I desperately want to love the people in my life who are living this lifestyle. yes. do I know how to do that without saying their choice is ok.. no.

sheltered - guilty!- and praising God all the way for it! but perhaps a better word to describe me is naive, not as Kinnaman describes sheltered-- boring, unintelligent, old-fashioned, out of touch with reality. Working with the brilliant at MIT keeps me out of that definition I think. I have to think critically and Biblically and cry out to God frequently for the messy stuff I see in the world. I have made choices in my life that may shelter me from the junk of the world, but most of the credit for my blessed and protected life must go to God. Philippians 4:6-7 comes to mind here..

too political -- after reading this book, and living in New England for 3 years, I can see this differently than if I'd never left Texas. Jerry Falwell doesn't represent who I am, but when my neighbors hear what I do, that's the image that comes to mind. I do think we should fight for our beliefs in politics, but do it in a Christlike manner. My former mentor Larry Goff used to say "you attract more bees with honey than with vinegar".

judgemental -- so guilty!-- perhaps even in writing this blog I'm being judgemental of myself. maybe I'm not judgemental in my actions so much, but my thoughts are often very judgemental. I need to balance that with realizing the grace of God in my life and offering that grace to others.

anyway, UnChristian is an interesting read. Read it slowly and watch the world around you with teachable eyes and heart... and seek to offer grace and salt and light in this dark place.