The Gregorian Rant

  

        Recently in a sermon, I shared some interesting information form a book that I am reading entitled unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity ... and Why It Matters (Baker Books, 2007). The premise of authors David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons is that people who are unchurched do not see Christianity in a very favorable light. In fact, their research shows that Christians are best known for what they are against. They are perceived as being judgmental, anti-homosexual, and too political. Many unchurched people—especially young people—are quick to point out that they believe that Christianity is no
longer as Jesus intended it. It is unChristian—thus the title of the book.

      The authors go on to describe six themes where this is played out, and then give
six chapters that propose ways of addressing these perceptions. I’ll warn you now,
some of these are hard to hear—but it’s what’s out there:

• The first perception is that Christians are HYPOCRITCAL—they say one thing, but LIVE something entirely different.
• Second is that Christians are too focused on GETTING CONVERTS—they are insincere and are only concerned with converting people, and chalking up another score on their tote board.
• Third is that Christians are ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL—they are bigoted and only show contempt for gays and lesbians, and they are fixated on “curing” them and leveraging political solutions against them.
• Fourth, Christians are OLD-FASHIONED—they are boring, and out of touch with reality.
• Fifth, Christians are TOO POLITICAL—they are overly motivated by a political agenda and promote right-wing politics.
• Sixth, Christians are JUDGMENTAL—Christians are prideful and quick to find fault with others.
  

Those are the areas that the author’s research has found to be what folks who don’t go to church—or may have tried it and left—think about Christians—US—you and me.
     Since talking about this, I’ve been thinking about St. Columba’s and how we compare with this list.
     As to being HYPOCRITCAL and saying one thing while living another, I think we come out all right on that score. We as a parish do try to walk the walk and talk the talk. Our food programs are living examples of how we reach out in care to others and try to be the face of God’s love.
     As to only want to “rack up” the CONVERTS, no one has ever accused Episcopalians of being overzealous there. Yet, through our Threshold Project, we are reaching out to let folks know that there is a different way. Rather than dragging people in to meet our goals and needs, we are intentionally reaching out to help people address their needs. It may be that we cannot be the answer for everyone, and sometimes we
have to wish people well as they seek to meet their needs elsewhere. Yet, those who do come are welcomed into to the community with open arms.
     Then comes ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL. There are those who are afraid our church has moved too far, too fast on this issue and others who wish we would go farther and sooner, rather than later. Yet, again, we have been able to treat people as individuals and not as a “them” or a group. I don’t care what a person is, as much as who they are, and I think that is true for most of us. When you know someone as a child of God and as the person God created them to be, then of course you love them and care for them, rather than trying to “cure” them or legislate them away. The more we can see loving people, the more loving we are in return.
     Christians are OLD-FASHIONED, boring, and out of touch with reality: yes, sometimes we are. Our liturgy, with its rich heritage, is not for everybody. Again, it goes back to needs and how one feels he is best able to worship God. Yet, I would also say that we are not out of touch with reality; we might have our focus on a different reality or on how the world truly could be. I think that, through our Labyrinth and other services we do from time to time, we are exploring new ways of expanding our spirituality and our relationship with God.
      As to being POLITICAL, St. Paul says that Christians are to pray for their governments and participate in them. Again, some think the church is too political and others think it’s not active enough in the political arena. Many people feel called to work for the better betterment of others through political means as a direct response to their faith. Unlike other places, at St. Columba’s we do not publicly endorse candidates or tell you how to vote from the pulpit.
     As for the perception of being JUDGMENTAL, prideful and quick to find fault with others. I think you could just as easily substitute the word “human beings” for “Christians” and have an equally correct statement.  Each of us has to be careful about pointing out someone else’s faults and not dealing with our own. That is why we gather together in community and in love to confess our faults and support one another in becoming the people God has made us to be.
     As we continue to invite people and welcome them into our midst, we need to be aware of these beliefs
about Christians and work to counteract them by the way we live our lives. As people know we are Christians
and see that we do not fall into these perceptions, they may then want to take a closer look at just what we have and what we are about. But the key is to be the loving and caring individuals we are called to be.

Faithfully Yours,

 

Fr Greg+