So I mentioned on Monday that today I would blog about the perceptions many people hold in north America about Christians, church and religion. Most of these opinions are negative, according to statistics.
This particular subject is actually something I am extremely passionate about. I strongly believe that God is relevant for today’s society. For years, the age of enlightenment has taught us that we outgrew God. That modern science would replace our need for God, or at least prove He doesn’t exist. As much as I would like to delve further into that subject, I will save that for another time. The point is, the current trend that is taking place, at least in North America, is a moving away from the modern era, and moving steadily towards what people are deeming the next wave, calling it post-modernism. What are the differences you might ask? Well, in a nutshell, instead of leaning heavily on the sciences, and modern intelligence, a new generation is emerging that is extremely spiritual, and hungry for spiritual meaning. Now, you might think that is great news for modern religions, such as Christianity, that work to proselytize new believers to the faith.
Instead, what is actually taking place, is a movement away from traditional religions in their purest form, such as Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, the Muslim religion, and others. What IS happening, however, is that people are finding a sort of ‘choose your own adventure’ sort of faith, mixing varying traditional religious beliefs from many of the above religions, and then some, adding their own ideas & values, forming the ‘god’ that suits them best. A god that most represents themselves individually, forming something that people have best labeled, ‘tolerance.’ It’s the concept that you can believe what you want, and I’ll believe what I want, and we will respect each other’s opinions.
Now, for me, coming from a Christian upbringing, what I personally see out of that, is merely that we have become gods to ourselves as a generation who has been dis-enchanted and disillusioned by the traditional modern faiths of our time. What it looks like from my perception, is that we gave up on something greater than ourselves, and must rely on our own selves instead. The problem with this, I fear, is that… What if we’re wrong? What if there is absolute truth? What if there is a solid foundation to be grounded on? What if we are just floating around believing in whatever we ‘feel’ is best for us, and the same thing happens all over again? Another wave of disillusionment that comes from recognizing that what we have put our faith in (ourselves) is not enough. Then where will we turn? Because obviously, modernism and science did not feed the hunger in our souls for a god. What if our own melting pot of ideas, borrowed from this faith and that, does not accomplish the fulfillment or completion, or enlightenment we are looking for? What will we do then to fulfill this spiritual hunger that is escalating to an all-time high? Whether we admit it or not, we are hungry, as I mentioned on Monday, for purpose, a sense of meaning as to why we are here, a need for destiny, intimacy and hope.
The problem for those who admit they are hungry for something more, and are searching for truth, come up empty, raised without knowledge of the varying religious beliefs out there, many come out empty, wondering… “well, just what IS the right religion, or the one that holds truth?” But most people looking for faith in something often look elsewhere other than to the beliefs of Christianity, because of a very negative stigma the church carries. Sadly, they are right. It is true that some of Christian history is muddied by horrible atrocities done in the name of Christ, such as the crusades, using the predominant religion of it’s time, to justify a lust for power and conquest for control. The same could be said of Hitler and the holocaust. Hitler believed that he was a christian, and was quoted saying, “I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the almighty creator… I am fighting for the work of the Lord”. Persecution of the Jews, and murder were never the teaching of Jesus himself. Neither was the quest for power and control and pride. He spoke that the meak would inherit the earth, not the power hungry. He himself, was a Jew, why would he instruct his followers to persecute those he loved so dearly? It is sad to see how religion used for politics and military conquest can become something so totally against the teachings of Jesus.
But more recently, and before I get too far off track, the more current complaints against Christianity and perceptions of its faith, according to recent statistical research conducted by The Barna group, the main concerns people hold of Christians and their faith, are these 6 issues:
1. Christians are hypocritical.
2. Christians are only interested in getting converts to their faith.
3. Christians are anti-homosexual.
4. Christians are sheltered, disconnected from current culture, and therefore irrelevant.
5. Too political.
6. Judgmental.
Sad, but true. As Ghandi summed it up: “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” Amen to that Ghandi!
My passion, as a believer in Jesus, is to see Christians become like our Christ. Because the message Jesus preached was grace and love, and called himself “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
“For God so loved the world, that he sent his only son, that whoever believes in him, shall have eternal life.” John 3:16
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent us his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1John 4:10.
I believe Jesus is relevant to our emerging post modern culture, as a viable option to fill the deep spiritual hunger of this age. My mission: to see the Christians become like their Christ, and to erase the negative stigma the church currently holds as judgmental, hypocritical, sheltered, etc, as were mentioned above, and to become a solution to human need, instead of being part of the problem.
Great post, Katie. Unfortunately, I don’t think modern Christians offer much as a solution to any of our world’s problems. Homosexuality was a great mention, and I’ll use it as an example. We, too often, get caught in the game of whether homosexuality is morally acceptable, rather than asking how God would have us meet the needs of a culture that is sexually broken. And really–we are sexually broken. Statistically, one in four women has been sexually assaulted, one in six men has been assaulted, half of all marriages are ending in divorce, shocking numbers of men [and women] not only view pornography on a regular basis but have become addicted to it…the list goes on and on. This is just one example of a situation where, instead of acknowledging, as Believers, that we need Christ to heal us and make us whole so we can help others, we act as if we are better, unbroken, and “holy.”
I know that sounds judgmental and angry of me. I don’t think I’m either. I mention all of this as a frustrating point: How can we turn the tide? How can we offer solutions, when we can’t admit that we have been affected first-hand by the problems?
How do we turn the tide?
God, help us!
Pax Christi.
Thanks for responding! I totally agree with you that modern christianity does not offer much of a solution. That is precisely my point! As research indicates, christianity has become irrelevant to our culture, by and large because of being too sheltered from understanding the shift in culture. One cannot reach a post-modern culture without first understanding what is post-modern. Part of what is post-modern, is a search for authenticity, and realness. Which, as you made an excellent point, much of the church is trying to act as if we are better, unbroken, and more holy than everyone else. And I agree with you that this is entirely untrue. Jesus came to heal the broken, which should mean that most christians have at one point or another been completey broken enough to give Jesus the time of day. And the reality is, the current culture is affecting the church and it’s christians far more than the good news Jesus came to bring has affected our culture.
It is true, that statistics indicate the numbers are very similar for those who consider themselves christian and those who don’t, that things such as infidelity, and abuse, and divorce, and addictions affect christians almost equally as they do outsiders to the faith. I think part of what needs to happen is to be honest about the brokkenness that exists within the church and it’s christians, while still holding firm to the knowledge that God can, and continues to heal and mend and repair that brokenness. The reality is, that sin has affected everyone, christian and non christian alike.
I don’t think you sound judgmental at all. I think you are honestly and truthfully painting the same picture I am trying to paint. Christians are so unlike their christ. But just because of that, does not negate that Jesus is still relevant for all of us together. It’s a matter of knowing how and really embracing his ways in a real context. Christians need a re-introduction to the message Jesus was trying to send, as well as those who don’t even know what his message was.
I believe the tide can turn. But it will turn slowly. As a tiny rudder veers the whole boat in a new direction, slowly but surely, re-embracing the truth found in the bible, looking at it honestly and not through a lense of religion, as if for the first time, we christians will see the humility, and brokenness, grace and love represented in everything Jesus did. Jesus befriended sinners. He ate with and interacted with prostitutes, and tax collectors, (who were considered by the Jewish people of the time as people who were betraying Judaism by taking money from Jewish people and bringing it to the Romans who occupied Israel in Jesus’ day), he associated with the arrogant, and the sick, the lepers, and women, who were not highly regarded in that day, all while being judged by those around him. We must follow his example, and instead of reaching out in judgment, replace it with love and honesty…. I too, have first hand experienced the sexual brokenness of our day. I am not claiming I am holier than anyone, because I know I am not. I am trying, as you are, to expose what isn’t working: trying to maintain a facade in the church that christians are better than anyone else. It simply isn’t true. But as one who has recently been broken far more than you can possibly imagine… I hold on to the only one who is bringing healing to my own brokenness. I believe that person, for me, is Jesus.
Sadly, aside from my own personal bad experiences in every church I’ve been a part of, this is the main reason why I find myself unable to set foot back inside of a church 2 years after leaving. I find that the god being preached in church is not the God of the bible. Somewhere along the way, with our own human understanding, we have turned God into a hateful, judgemental, punishing man who waits with glee for us to mess up. I have repeatedley found myself over the years not able to approach God because of my own list of shortcomings.
What have I finally realized? That although the words of the people in the pulpits speak of the Grace of God; their actions show a works-based gospel. Somehow, we all have to be good enough.. Have to keep the rules, in order to be ‘saved’.
No wonder people, especially those who don’t fit into the ‘mold’ dictated by the mainstream church, don’t want anything to do with our ‘God’. Who would, really?
It’s time for people to climb down off their high horses, roll up their sleeves and get down to the business of being Christ-like… humble..broken…loving..caring..accepting.
I’m so tired of the church vilifying people, for example, the ‘homosexuals’. All people are God’s people… all people… let me say this again ALL people need love, forgiveness and healing… no one is better than the other and no one has a right to judge.
I’ve seen church leaders in comfortable, affluent churches pray and pray that God would bring in the hurt, the lost, the broken…. and when the drunk homeless guy came, they didn’t want him there because he stank… If he’s not who they were praying for…. WHO IS???
I too believe that God is most relevant today… so many people are confused and seeking.. but so many ‘christians’, so many ‘churches’ have mis-represented God for so long that people want nothing to do with the One True God
This is why I can’t get back into a church…. I’m not sure God is there anymore….