HippoChurch

Just dipping my toes into the new book UnChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, which is the result of their recent efforts to find out what unchurched 16-29 year olds think of Christianity. Dave is president of the Barna Group, sort of Christianity’s Gallup organization, which is significant because their findings are not the result of assumptions or the perceived feel of the author, but through verifiable research. What I read this morning, served to confirm a feeling I’ve had for a while - Outsiders perceive Christians as “too political”. Aside from their findings that 87% felt we were judgmental and 85% saw us as hypocritical, 75% viewed us as too political. There’s a whole list on p. 28 of their book, but the “too political” finding was up my alley.

My undergrad degree was in Political Science, so I studied all the mechanisms of our governing system, and I’m a Christian, so reading that this morning confirmed an uneasy feeling I’ve held for the last few years - I think the Church, while possibly setting out with good intentions, has probably become too cozy with our political system. Duh! That’s been going on since the beginning of time :-), but I say that simply to raise awareness of that for those out there who are striving so hard to help people see past Christianity, as simply a religion with a political platform and more as a movement with the message, “You’ve got to check out Jesus. There is truth, freedom and life in Him.”

Now, do I desire to elect and have as my representatives God-fearing, moral and common-sensical men and women? Absolutely! Do I thank God every day that I live in a country where I can worship Him freely and openly, and understand what a privilege that is? Absolutely! But, I wonder how many resources elements of the Church pour into gaining favor and influence with the powers-that-be to the detriment of other avenues that might better represent and introduce people to the ultimate and final Power-that-always-will-be. If 75% of the unchurched 16-29 year olds answer that we are way too political, and it therefore becomes a barrier to them investigating Christ, how do we modify our efforts in that arena?

I think recently there’s been some distancing from some of the more active conservative political organizations that we’ve learned have only polarized people against Christians because of their platforms that basically try to legislate morality. We should know by now large, impersonal organizations aren’t the influence needed to change someone’s spiritual trajectory, only a relationship with Christ can make someone want that. Perhaps, we as the Church can spend more time relationally and less time politically working towards that end. 75% seems to tell me the political ways aren’t working that well. What are your thoughts?