unChristian.4

4.19.13

“We are not likely to change another adult’s spiritual trajectory by a comment here or a small dose of Jesus there. If we really want to help outsiders see the unique freedom available through Christ a simplistic get-saved message is an insult to their intelligence.”

        The above quote is a great wrap up and way to set the mood of chapter four of unChristian. It focuses on certain perceptions held, or myths, of the significance of faith-sharing activities. And what the reality is along with what is really effective. Which I’m going to summarize as best as I can.

Myth: The best evangelism efforts are those that reach the most people at once.

Reality: The most effective efforts are interpersonal relationship based. Most young people come to Christ because of people they know, usually very well as compared to strangers.
       I find this true in any setting of life. Relationships allow you to connect with other. Understand what gets under their skin, and what lifts them up. Knowing the way a person learns, if they are an introvert or extravert will allow you to experience life with them easier. 

Myth: We cannot worry about the possibility of offending people when sharing the truth about Jesus.

Reality: Obeying the command to make disciples does not give us license to offend people. Especially when those offenses are actually inhibiting us from fullfilling that very commandment. True respect for people is a key factor in effective evangelism.
(2 Timothy 2:22-24) “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolishness and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”
         Yes, the Gospel is a powerful message that can be offensive. You are bringing peoples sin into the light. No one, not even myself, likes to hear they are a “bad person” especially to the magnitude that the Bible presents us with. It hurts. But that does not allow you to be unkind. Key thing to remember is truth without love is empty. It can do more harm than good.

Myth: Everyone has an equal chance of becoming a Christ follower.

Reality: Based on extensive research on this topic, our data points out clearly that the faith trajectory of the vast majority of Americans is mapped out before they become adults. We are not likely to change people’s trajectory by a comment here or there.
       I’ve come to understand this with my own family. They are practicing Catholics which is a works based faith. Me coming home and mentioning bits of the Gospel doesn’t change their outlook. It takes work. Development of deeper relationships and addressing deep rooted issues. And allowing the beauty and the truth of the cross to be repeated multiple times. 

Myth: We just need to help outsiders find a connection with God.

Reality: 42% of outsiders said they’re skeptical and distrustful of faith and religion. Part of that is fierce independence. They don’t want to be whipped up into a state of emotionalism and reliance on faith. 

     “Experiencing and feeling” God sounds paranormal to outsiders. It puts them out of their comfort zone and makes them skeptical sometimes. For part of the generation that does things by the book and logically based actions, religion doesn’t fit into that category.

        Scripture is clear that there is a basic starting point to the Christian faith: admitting that we need Jesus. People accept the message and enter the Christian faith without any hoops to jump through. And more than just going to church on Sundays but entering a community. Establishing relationships that allow spiritual transformation.
There are 3 outcomes that are most common in spiritual transformation of Christians:
1. Thinking. “Our research shows there is a primary reason why ministry to teens fails to produce a lasting faith is because they are not being taught to think.” Young people experience a one-size-fits-all message that fails to connect with their unique sensibilities, personality, or intellectual capabilities. Young people need to be taught how to process the rich complexities of life.
2. Loving. If we are transformed by our faith, we change the way we perceive and love people. Just because a person believes the right thing about Jesus, does not automatically make the person loving. “We do not look like Jesus to outsiders because we do not love outsiders as Jesus does.”
3. Listening. Knowing the right answers is not sufficient; we have to be able to apply what we know. The first step is realizing what we don’t know. Listening to God through the Bible and often through other people, is how we learn.

        To wrap up the “avoid the get saved” message that is often displayed is just a few comments.

Why should the most important message in human history be perceived as a cheap marketing gimmick? If outsiders stop listening, we can’t simply just turn up the volume.
I’ve come to remember with each and every person I encounter. They are broken. They are loved and accepted. They have just as much Grace that I have been blessed with. And most importantly, God views them as cherished treasures to be saved. Every person has a unique history and perspective on Christianity. Different lifestyles need different approaches.
And relationships are a commitment. An ongoing one that if abruptly ended, an outsider is hindered with the ability of the life-long joyful commitment to Christ.

unChristian.3

3.16.13

The third chapter discussed hypocrisy among Christians. I’m going to quote a lot of the book because it says everything I’d like to say in a clearer view.

“…Older born again Christians need to look more carefully at what Jesus teaches, that spiritual maturity is demonstrated in a life as an outcome of the condition of a person’s heart and soul, that behavior follows belief. And younger born again Christians need to take an honest assessment of their lives and realize that they are increasingly poor witnesses of a life and mind transformed by their faith. Embracing personal integrity and rejecting compromises to personal purity are crucial goals for young believers. We cannot hope to shed our hypocritical label if our lifestyle offers no proof of the “fruit” of Christlikeness. These are tough realities to think about, but we must do so if we hope to shift our reputation from unChristian to Christian.”
This paragraph sums up this chapter pretty well.

Unfortunately, a lot of outsiders are turned off to Christianity due to the hypocrisy in Christians. Now, understand the definition of hypocrisy: the practice of professing beliefs, feeling, or virtues that one does not hold or posses. “It is not hypocrisy when a pastor preaches against a sin with which he is personally struggling.”

Hope that clears the air, but the generation which is up and coming does not portray the life of Christ. Many young adult Christians still participate in drunkenness, gambling, pre-marital sex, same-sex relations, and illegal drugs. This allows those outside of the Christian faith to label Christians hypocritical as a whole since we claim to avoid those things.

As stated in the first half of the paragraph, older adult Christians have a lifestyle standard. Their Christian life follows the trend of “being a good person leads your relationship with God to be better.” However, that is not the good news of Jesus. The Gospel is that God’s work (sending His son to live a perfect life and die on the cross for our sins) has freed us from the endless striving to measure up to God’s standards (unachievable perfection). Which is why behavior follows belief. Not the other way around.
Yet the young adult Christian lifestyle portrays the opposite.

The balance should be easy. Found in the Bible: to be transparent first. To admit that we are all broken, sinful people that need to be saved by God. Not once. Not twice. But every single day.

"As an example, consider the difficult subject of abortion. For many women, it is easier to keep the “problem” hidden than to be candid. It doesn’t make the situation easier for young women who feel they have no other option. But what better place to deal with the difficulties of these pregnancies than within the church? Are we openly and honestly talking about sexual issue in our churches? Or are we hiding behind religious pretenses, pushing people away who have deep hurts and need? Are we helping people understand the gravity of their choices but also displaying a clear process to restoration, including providing financially for women and adoptive families? Do we wait until a person is forced to anguish over abortion, or do we nurture soft-hearedness and transparency in her life? Have we created relationships and expectations within our churches in which older women are accessible and transparent with younger women about their struggles – not just occasionally, but ongoing, real-life ways?
Based on our research, Christians are not defined by such transparency but by adherence to rigid rules and strict standards."

A general response (for Christians) from the book

• To be transparent and visible to others.
• Young people need leaders to be authentic. To be transparent and authentic require a certain balance.
• Don't use the cop-out "Christians aren't perfect, just saved." Scripture looks at the deep fractures of our heart and tells us to admit that we can never prove our worth; Jesus made us worthy by His sacrifice.
• Insure the motivation of transparency is right. Culture teaches people to be candid and blunt, but this usually revolves around self-centeredness. This is transparency for the sake of shock value and personal entitlement. Be motivated to confess your sins and bring light into the darkness before God.
• Out of that motivation, trust the outcome of restoration from God. "Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.." (James 5:16)

unChristian.2

3.4.13

Chapter 2

“It amazes me sometimes. Because you don’t see it often in this world anymore. But, you’re just a really kind person.”
That sentence will probably stick with me my whole life. 1) I don’t hear that adjective to describe me sadly. 2) My internal response was that I’m kind out of response of the kindness of someone greater than I.

That’s the feeling upon ending another chapter of unChristian. Simply understanding my own experiences that I do not portray how I would have dreamed of. Perceptions of my life are different depending on who you ask that interacts with me. There is no unison answer of “What a gentle person. One that is patient. Someone that brings joy to the atmosphere and loving to all.”
If only, right? Seriously though, I’d love to be described in such a way. But I’m not. I’ve got varying degrees of bad days each week. So people view me in a light of my actions and words.

“We have become famous for what we oppose, rather than who we are for.” -- unChristian
Christ was for the broken. He was for the lost. Mainly Jesus was for God and the love He has for us. If we are to be Christ-like, why then are people not filled with a sense of comfort and joy when knowing Christians as an outsider? Why don’t they feel loved? But instead feel weary and even frightened? Reading this book enlightens me as to how those who do not put their faith in Christ view us. Which is extremely saddening. With certain perceptions, they are blocked from being able to view Christ as He actually is.  

“Young outsiders are exposed to and can choose from virtually limitless options in life, from their perspective, why would they need Jesus?”
I believe technology leads to this. As a generation of satisfaction now, once disappointed we quickly move on to something in hopes of easing the pain or discomfort. And best case scenario, erasing the emotion completely to find fulfillment in the “next best thing.” We should show that the next, or the best thing of all, is Christ. Having a relationship with God.

unChristian

2.17.13

After finishing Gospel, which was truly amazing and you all should take some time to read it, I’ve started another book. This is unChristian by David Kinnaman. David is a researcher who has conducted a study on the people who consider themselves to be outside the Christian faith. (Not being a follower of Christ, so not necessarily non-religious, which he refers to as “outsider”).
I started last night and what to keep up with how I interpret the information displayed and hopefully keep up with posting. I have been away recently but I’m excited to transfer my notes as I read onto my blog and hope you feel comfortable agreeing, or disagreeing!
Here’s a sentence from the first chapter that is a great reminder for believers in Christ.  “Jesus is so much more than a logical proof. His life is the starting point where our lives can really begin.”
This is extremely significant to remember to progress in anyone’s walk as a Christian.  You cannot reduce the infinite God to something finite. His beauty is outstanding, and His glory and power is blinding. No human equation, theory, or analysis can comprehend Him. If you think you have, you’ve simply created a god to fit into a mold for your pleasures.

I made a post about a year ago in April quoting “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” – Ghandi

Which helps set the tone of the book for everyone I hope.

Epiphany

12.30.2012

You know when you have that “AH HAH!” moment? Where something so incredible becomes apparent to you? That the very thought of not realizing it seems to be unfathomable. I literally just had that, like seven minutes ago.

And it still gets me. My words are going to be a mess but I’m okay with that. I want the truth to be real, for it to be raw. So here it is. 

My pastor gave me a book to read about 2 days ago. I’ve been struggling deeply with my family. Our views don’t line up, and I’m entering the stage of adulthood where I leave the nest. Unfortunately, my controlling mother is extremely manipulative and things got out of hand this past week. I stayed with my best friend’s family to help alleviate the tension. After a blowout with my mother, my pastor gave me Gospel to help me stay in the word and direct me back the good news of God. Today I began reading it in hopes that it would help ease the tension. That I would become more knowledgeable in the true word of God. Which in turn, I could fix the relationship with my family. At least 3 hours prior to reading I was journaling about my fears. How I’m scared of a lot of things in this life. But analyzing the fear is strictly my human desire to fix things. And how I want my desire to be in Christ. How I want my relationship with God to be so deep, I won’t have to fear because my hope will be in Him. The glory of God will be so much more powerful and encompassing that it would eliminate my fear in anything.

So back to this book and how I really can’t stop thinking. How I can’t read on because of how moved I just was.

The author was trying to make clear the difference in religion and the gospel. How religion will not, in the end, give us what we need. How the gospel will, in the end, give us everything that we need. As I was reading, I kept thinking “How can I apply this to my family (my family is Catholic-works based denomination) and how can I give them the tools to fix their mindset” I just couldn’t get what I wanted out of reading. It was all very fascinating and so impacting in my knowledge. But my heart was not responding as it should to the wonderful news of my acceptance in Christ.

So I began to pray. I asked God that these words would impact me. That I would stop using this as a tool to change my family. To fix the broken relationship that we have.
Eventually I got to that point. I was reading, that the difference in religion and the Gospel is serving God to get something from him, and serving God to get more of God(<-- gospel) And then I read this bit, “True religion is when you serve God to get nothing else but more of God. Many people use religion as a way of getting something else from God they want – blessings, rewards, even escape from judgment. This is wearisome to us, and to God. But when God is His own reward, Christianity becomes thrilling. Sacrifice becomes joy.”

First thought: yeah, I realized that this summer. God doesn’t owe me anything, and I keep turning to him with a list I think I deserve. Check. But if my family could just….BAM. Then I realized I was just writing that in my journal. “If I could get closer to God, then he will fix my fear.” And so on.

I couldn’t read anymore. I knew the book probably went on in the rest of the paragraph with awesome words but I couldn’t. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. My mind, that is usually racing from thought to thought, literally was silent. Hovering on that one thought. Then I was more amazed. More in awe. I actually had fear for what God was doing. How quickly I was convicted. Genuinely convicted, not the guilt we experience from our flesh. I was saddened by my own deception. But then I found how joyful I was. I was extremely thankful for God showing me this key thing. I was not asking for God to make me thirsty for Him so that I could experience Him more. I was not asking Him to deepen my relationship so that I would in turn, simply beg for more of God. Even as it was simple, I did thirst more of God. I did have this desire to know Him in a deeper way, but strictly to help myself.  Or to “fix” my family. I was amazed how blinded I was. 

This may or may not sound fascinating, but I’m amazed at how quickly I naturally went into a mode of wanting God so that he could help me. How selfish I was. And then seeing the truth in that God is my reward. That He is the greatest reward I could ever experience.
I’m excited for more of Him. This one “little” epiphany opened my eyes so much. Stirred my Spirit to yearn for more. That this is a simple realization and there is so much more ahead. That there will be many battles. Some that my flesh fights to win. And then like this moment, my spirit came alive and God gifted me with this conviction. And that my hope was rested in His power. Even though it’s terrifying to trust people. Scary to trust someone who isn’t standing before me, but not being able to resist. That I can trust Him. He who created me, the earth, the moon, the stars, the sky, and the sun. So much power and deliverance displayed before, it’s hard not to.