Think About It
The Christian Post reported the findings of a new study released Monday from The Barna Group which shows that negative perceptions toward the Christian faith outweigh the positive, as more younger Americans associate with a faith outside Christianity.
Only 16 percent of non-Christians aged 16 to 29 years old said they have a "good impression" of Christianity. Common negative perceptions among non-Christians is that present-day Christianity is judgmental (87 percent), hypocritical (85 percent), old-fashioned (78 percent), and too involved in politics (75 percent). Just 10 years ago, a vast majority of Americans outside the Christian faith - including young people - felt favorably toward Christianity's role in society.
Here is the money quote from the report: When asked why they had a negative impression of Christianity, 25% of the people answered, " Because Christianity No Longer Looks Like Jesus." While you might dismiss their answer as simplistic or just plain wrong, I think it is a scathing indictment of how we have "institutionalized" Jesus and made our mission about ourselves and not His kingdom.
Think about it--what concerns you most when you think about personal spiritual matters? Is it having your needs met or living in a way that pleases the Heavenly Father? What concerns you most when you think about your church? Is it having the most beautiful, comfortable, easily accessed campus in town or is it going "out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in (to the kingdom, not just your church building)?"
Maybe we don't look very much like Jesus!
Sandy (Comment this)