Unchristian: What a New Generation Things About Christianity...And Why It Matters

"Christianity has an image problem."

Last Sunday night I sat in our church sanctuary near the back. In front of me were 35 or so mostly grey-haired people listening to three grey-haired people who sang southern gospel music and shared about the “good ol’ songs” and “The Billy Graham Crusades”. I, on the other hand, sat in my pew subtly reading this week’s book—Unchristian, What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity. Admittedly, I didn’t get very far. But after the offering and the altar call, a lady came up to me and asked why more people my age didn’t come to things like this. “Well,” I said, “let me share with you something I’ve just been reading…”

This book came to me highly recommended—several people I trust suggested that Unchristian presented the reality of Christianity’s image problem among young adults. This especially struck home with me—given that most young adults I know are familiar with the Christian faith (most, in fact, had attended worship at some point) but either because of apathy or because of an incident with another Christian have chosen to live life outside the Church. And so when this book set out to help me “find out why these negative perceptions exist, learn how to reverse them in a Christlike manner, and discover practical examples of how Christians can positively contribute to culture,” I read on.

I appreciated the book was based on research from the Barna Group—examining the perceptions of young adults outside and inside the Church. David Kinnaman then described in real ways how Christians foster that perception and healthy, Biblical ways of approaching the issue from a new direction. Here are six top perceptions he addresses:

Hypocritical

Everyone in my church gave me advice about how to raise my son, but a lot of the time they seemed to be reminding me that I have no husband—and besides, most of them were not following their own advice. It made it hard to care what they said. They were not practicing what they preached. – Victoria, 24

PERCEPTION: Christians say one thing but live something entirely different.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians are transparent about their flaws and act first, talk second.

Get Saved!

Christians are too concerned with converting people. They are insincere. All I ever hear is “Get saved!” I tried that whole “Jesus thing” already. It didn’t work for me before, and I am not interested now. – Shawn, 22

PERCEPTION: Christians are insincere and concerned only with converting others.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians cultivate relationships and environments where others can be deeply transformed by God.

Antihomosexual

Many people in the gay community don’t seem to have issues with Jesus but rather with those claiming to represent him today. It’s very much an “us-versus-them” mentality, as if a war has been declared. Of course each side thinks the other fired the opening shot. – Peter, 34

PERCEPTION: Christians show contempt for gays and lesbians.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians show compassion and love to all people, regardless of their lifestyle.

Sheltered

Christians enjoy being their own community. The more they seclude themselves, the less they can function in the real world. So many Christians are caught in the Christian “bubble.” – Jonathan, 22

PERCEPTION: Christians are boring, unintelligent, old-fashioned, and out of touch with reality.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians are engaged, informed, and offer sophisticated responses to the issues people face.

Too Political

Twenty years ago, when I was looking at evangelical Christianity from the inside, it seemed like a movement bursting with energy to spread good news to people. Looking at it from the outside today, this message seems to have been lost in exchange for an aggressive political strategy that demonizes segments of society. – Brandon, 32

PERCEPTION: Christians are primarily motivated by a political agenda and promote right-wing politics.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians are characterized by respecting people, thinking biblically, and finding solutions to complex issues.

Judgmental

Christians talk about hating sin and loving sinners, but the way they go about things, they might as well call it what it is. They hate the sin and the sinner. – Jeff, 25

PERCEPTION: Christians are prideful and quick to find faults in others.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians show grace by finding the good in others and seeing their potential to be Christ followers.

Hypocritical, too concerned with conversion, antihomosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental—I have experienced every single one in my church, and I still have hope in the Christian faith. But I can certainly understand why people want to stay clear. But now I’m left to pondering how I can hold a mirror up to myself and others in the Church to work hard re-engage in a relevant way a new generation.

I welcome your thoughts… What do you make of Kinnaman’s list of perceptions? And how would you go about helping a church change its way of doing things in order to change our image in the world?
Peace,
rc