On page 46, it is noted that a comparison was made between born-again Christians and non-born-again adults. It was discovered that born-agains were distinct on some religious variables, but when it came to nonreligious factors – the substance of people’s daily choices, actions, and attitudes – there were few meaningful gaps between born-again Christians and non-born-agains.
Questions:
(1) Why do you think born-again Christians fail to display much attitudinal or behavioral evidence of transformed lives?
(2) How would you respond to the statement on page 51, “The truth is that few outsiders say they avoid Christianity because the moral standards are too restrictive”? Instead, they are repelled by Christians.
Unchristian: What A New Generation Really Thinks About Chrstianity . . . And Why It Matters by David Kinnaman addresses the increasingly negative reputation of Christians, especially among young Americans. It is the church's task to be effective agents of spiritual transformation. In this blog, I hope we can respond to the book and to each other to help accomplish this task.
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(1) Why do you think born-again Christians fail to display much attitudinal or behavioral evidence of transformed lives?
I am going to make the suggestion that transformation has not taken place and this failure is based upon lack of motivation.
Many presentations of the Gospel deal with the subject of getting into heaven and getting out of hell. Once I accept Christ all is well. Therefore, once I have made the decision to be born again I don't really have to worry about anything else. I can pretty much continue to live as I have but now I don't have to worry about eternity. Whereas, it seems to me, what is taught in Scripture is our inability to have any kind of relationship with God because of our sin. The first three chapters of Ephesians are spent setting the groundwork that will/should cause us to be motivated to change. The writer says, we were dead, without Christ, without hope, without God, strangers and aliens. He then goes on to explain how God made us alive, He is our peace, He broke down the wall of separation, He reconciled us to God through the cross, through Him we have access to the Father. It is so much greater than just an insurance policy!
The writer, after 3 chapters of reminding us of who we were and how we were brought into a right relationship with Christ, then calls us to a changed life! The first 3 chapters are intended to provide the motivation for transformation.
(2) How would you respond to the statement on page 51, “The truth is that few outsiders say they avoid Christianity because the moral standards are too restrictive”? Instead, they are repelled by Christians.
I grieve..and I have to ask myself am I part of the reason.
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