For three years, David Kinnaman surveyed the new emerging generation about what they thought on a range of subjects, but specifically their thoughts about Christianity.  The top opinions held were: hypocritical, over evangelical (meaning, they only talk to people to get them saved), antihomosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental.  I'm not going to get into it, if you want to find out about that, buy the book. What I got out of this book was that what our Christianity looks like to the outsider is the exact opposite of what Jesus intended it to be.  And aren't what outsiders think about it what really matters?  Aren't we supposed to make other people want what we have, not drive them away in droves?  Let's think about this.

Jesus came to the earth to shake things up.  The Pharisee show up a lot in the NT, usually debating with Jesus.  We seem to think of the Pharisees in a negative light, and rightly so.  But truthfully, modern American Christians seem to show a lot of the same characteristics.  We have set up what we think "church" is, and we make others conform to it.  We know what sin is, yet we try to make up rules to get as close as possible without sinning.  We do things that once had the right meaning, but now we just do them because we always have.  Judgmental sticks out a lot to me because it turns people off the most.  I think about the story in the Gospels of the woman caught in adultery.  Sure the Law said to stone the woman, and the Pharisees were ready, and right, in doing it. But what did Jesus do?  He turns the Law back to the original meaning, which is Love God, and Love People.  Plain and simple.  He says, if you haven't sin, stone away.  These Pharisees were quick to judge because it somehow validated them.  As Christians today, don't we look at others a judge them so we don't feel like we're as bad, when actually we all sin just the same?  

The other thing that this book made me realize is that it's time to stop trying to make the church cater to the people in the church.  Isn't our job to get others to come in.  Sure we want those inside to grow and become stronger, but I feel like a lot of times that's our main goal, not bringing in the people who need the salvation.  I don't think we need to do things that make us sit in our churches and feel good about ourselves.  The church of the apostles didn't do that.  They had a sense of urgency to get others inside and into the Kingdom of God.  I have a friend that's going on a missions trip overseas.  The place she is going is not what most Americans would consider safe, some unrest and things are happening.  And people don't understand why she wants to go.  They keep asking if she's canceling her trip.  The part I don't understand is why people feel like being a Christian is just hanging out in safety, making each other feel good about themselves.  Where's the danger and adventure?  Jesus didn't shy away from those who needed help, no matter where they were.  The temple of the ground of Sadducees and Pharisees, his chief opponents.  Yet that is where Jesus went to reach people who needed to understand that God loved them and wasn't just trying to rule over them.  Firefighter, such as Tim Pride, run toward the burning building to save those trapped inside.  Shouldn't we do the same thing when eternity hangs in the balance?

Honestly, saying these things and doing them are two very different things.  How do I step out of my comfort zone?  How do I put my life in danger for the Gospel, when every inclination of my being is self-preservation?  These are things we need to all actively struggle against.  We are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves.  And according to research, that larger thing has bad reputation, because of how we live that out.  It absolutely breaks my heart that I may have had a part in furthering the wrong view of Christianity.  I know what you may be saying, "It's just their opinions, so what. We know that they are not totally correct."  I agree with that, but I also understand that perception is reality.  For my generation, many will miss out on salvation because of the reputation our faith in society.  I don't want to be a part of it.  I want my life to direct people to a God who so passionately loves us that He would sacrifice something so much greater than anything I will ever have.

Let's break the cycle, together.  Stop perpetuating a stereotype.  Help others see the true, measurable impact Christ has on us and others.

For more on redefining Christianity in the eyes of the current generation visit, www.fermiproject.org.